December, 2021

• 16 December

  UAE Suspends $23 Million Deal to Buy F-35s From US While US Says Committed to Sale

  

  While the United Arab Emirates seems to really want to buy F-35 fighter jets from the United States , conditions placed by the US on the sale could lead the UAE to scrap the whole sale. The UAE on Tuesday told the US that it was suspending discussions on the …

  Read More »
• 16 December

  Arab Gulf Countries Call on Iran To Make Progress in Nuclear Talks

  

  Arab Gulf countries meeting in Saudi Arabia called on Iran to ease tension and make progress in its nuclear talks with the world powers, and Iran just may be listening. The final communique issued at the end of the 42nd Gulf Cooperation Council summit on Tuesday in Riyadh said that …

  Read More »
• 16 December

  Turkish lira tumbles ahead of key decision on rate cuts, wages

  

  As Turkey’s battered lira pushes to new lows against the dollar, all eyes turn to Thursday’s central bank meeting and critical talks on the minimum wage. Turks woke Monday to watch their currency plunge to 14 against the dollar early in the morning, then go past it to 14.62 until …

  Read More »
• 16 December

  Qatar’s presence in eastern Mediterranean benefits Egypt, Turkey

  

  Qatar is enhancing its presence in the eastern Mediterranean that is rich in oil and gas reserves at a time when tensions are ripping through the region over the maritime borders and excavation rights. Qatar has strengthened its presence in the eastern Mediterranean, which is rich in oil and gas …

  Read More »
• 16 December

  Fatah wins small victory in Palestinian local elections

  

  The slight victory of candidates supporting Fatah in the local council elections appear to have boosted the morale of the Palestinian leadership and opened the door for elections in major cities. Will the Hamas leadership agree to that in Gaza? Ever since his April 31 decision to scrap the legislative …

  Read More »
• 16 December

  Er lächelt’s einfach weg

  Mark Rutte bleibt den Niederländern trotz Lügen und Skandalen erhalten. Egal, den Preis bezahlen ja die Bürger. Hinterher ist man halt schlauer. Hätten die niederländischen Wähler vorher gewusst, was nach der Wahl im März passieren würde, hätten sie Mark Rutte wohl nicht noch einmal das Vertrauen geschenkt. Denn der Dauerpremier …

  Read More »
• 15 December

  How Poland Blew Its Chance To Get Billions In EU Recovery Cash

  

  The EU’s Justice Commissioner received “brutal” treatment last month in Warsaw, a member of his delegation said, during talks aimed at defusing a dispute over the independence of Poland’s judiciary that is blocking billions of euros in economic aid. In a carefully staged media appearance, Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro …

  Read More »
• 15 December

  Why The Casual Attitude Toward Inflation?

  

  The Federal Reserve and the Biden administration seem to have a very casual attitude toward inflation. When inflation started to draw some attention, the Federal Reserve’s official line was that it was transitory. In June, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said it was temporary, and John Williams, President of the …

  Read More »
• 15 December

  Putin Laments Soviet Breakup As Demise Of ‘Historical Russia,’ Amid Ukraine Fears

  

  Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as the demise of “historical Russia,” a comment that could fuel speculation about his foreign policy intentions amid a buildup of tens of thousands of Russian troops in regions bordering Ukraine. “It was the disintegration of …

  Read More »
• 15 December

  Playing Cat And Mouse: UAE Energy Company Agrees To Build Power Plants In Iran – Analysis

  

  Increasingly, compliance with US sanctions against Iran could emerge as a litmus test of the United Arab Emirates’ close ties to the United States. At the sharp edge of a potential rift between the allies is a reportedly recently concluded agreement by a private UAE company to build gas-fired thermal, …

  Read More »