In the weeks preceding the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia for the July 16, 2022 Jeddah Security and Development Summit, Arab and international media published numerous reports claiming that one of the main topics slated to be discussed at the summit – attended by Biden and …
Read More »US focus of ire as Turkey threatens Syria‘s Kurds
Syrian Kurdish leader says Turkish intentions unclear. Will Turkey mount yet another military incursion against US-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria “at any time, any moment,” as the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been threatening for some time? The threat seemed to subside as Erdogan came back “empty handed,” …
Read More »Mohammed Shia al-Sudani nominated for Iraqi premiership
The Coordination Framework, which is the largest bloc in the parliament, has nominated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for the prime minister position. Amid the longstanding political deadlock followed by the parliamentary elections in October 2021, the Coordination Framework, which is the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament, nominated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani …
Read More »Iran says US dollar officially ditched in trade with ally Russia
The Islamic Republic took the step following the Russian president’s meeting with Iran’s leader in Tehran, where the two explored options on how to push back on international sanctions. Iran’s Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi announced on July 26 that the US dollar has officially been ditched in his country’s trade …
Read More »Israel rushes to de-escalate diplomatic crisis with Russia
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is now trying to discreetly resolve the diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Jerusalem so that the Jewish Agency can continue its activities there. Five months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel finds itself at a stand-off with President Vladimir Putin. The sophisticated balancing act executed by …
Read More »Security threats in Africa call for new approach, outgoing AFRICOM leader says
The U.S. needs a revised approach to security in western Africa, as militant groups make inroads and Russian-backed mercenaries proliferate, U.S. Africa Command’s Gen. Stephen Townsend said Tuesday. Townsend, who has commanded military efforts in Africa from his Stuttgart headquarters for the past three years, said the tumult stretches from …
Read More »Navy sets long-term priorities to counter Chinese and Russian aggression in new force-design plan
Navy leaders are strengthening their commitment to developing more advanced weapons and other capabilities over some traditional ships to challenge the increasing aggression from China and Russia around the globe, according to the service’s 2022 Navigation Plan released Tuesday. “Retiring legacy platforms that cannot stay relevant in contested seas — …
Read More »Biden’s Trip: A Total Disappointment to Allies
The Islamic Republic of Iran did not murder just one American journalist… in 1983, Iran murdered 241 American servicemen in the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. To top it off, then in 2018, Iran was ordered by a US federal court to pay billions of dollars in compensation to …
Read More »Five Takeaways from Biden’s Visit to the Middle East
Russian, Iranian presidents aim to prevent Turkey from a new offensive in northern Syria. The leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran are gathering in Tehran, with Ankara’s threat of a new incursion into northern Syria likely to top the agenda. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has both domestic and …
Read More »Five Takeaways from Biden’s Visit to the Middle East
Forget retrenchment: Strategic competition and boosting security cooperation, particularly to counter Iran, will keep Washington focused on the region. President Biden made his first trip to the Middle East last week, visiting Israel and Saudi Arabia. While the trip yielded little in the way of flashy announcements — like new …
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