January, 2021

• 11 January

  With Sudan signing Abraham Accords, Israel tightens grip in Africa, Red Sea basin

  With Sudan signing today the Abraham accords for renewal of diplomatic ties, Israel is sending feelers also to other Red Sea basin countries for establishing some sorts of relations. Sudanese Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari signed on to the Abraham Accords today in Khartoum, officially agreeing to normalize diplomatic ties with …

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• 11 January

  European Union to ‘redouble efforts’ to revive Iran nuclear deal

  The announcement follows Iran ramping up uranium enrichment and comes in the waning days of US President Donald Trump’s administration, as incoming President Joe Biden has raised the possibility of reentering the deal.

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• 11 January

  Sudan joins Abraham Accords to recognize Israel

  The United States will help cover Sudan’s more than $1 billion in arrears to the World Bank in exchange. Sudan’s Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari signed an agreement with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday agreeing to normalize ties with Israel as part of the Trump administration’s Abraham Accords initiative.

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• 11 January

  Egypt, Ethiopia escalate war of words over stalled Nile dam talks

  Ethiopia is accusing Egypt of deliberate hostility amid stalled negotiations on the controversial dam and tension between Addis Ababa and Khartoum. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ethiopian chargé d’affaires to Cairo Dec. 30 to clarify statements by Dina Mufti, the spokesperson of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign …

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• 11 January

  Turkey draws road map with Egypt, but will Cairo follow it?

  Turkey is once again hinting at openness for dialogue with Egypt, but real progress remains elusive. Once again, Turkey is reaching out to Egypt for political rapprochement. Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters Dec. 30 that Turkey and Egypt are working on shaping a road map for …

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• 11 January

  Intel: Biden to pick Brett McGurk for top White House Middle East role

  Picking the former defeat-ISIS envoy to oversee US Middle East policy sends a strong signal to Turkey. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to choose Brett McGurk, the former envoy to the US-led international coalition to defeat the Islamic State (IS), for a White House role managing US policy in the …

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• 11 January

  Israel side-eyes Turkish offers of friendship as Ankara shelters Hamas

  Turkey’s overtures to Israel have been greeted with bemusement and contempt while hundreds of Hamas operatives remain in Istanbul. Turkey’s recent flurry of overtures to Israel has been ill-conceived, ill-communicated and ill-received by the Jewish State. Be it the now-scotched nomination of an overtly anti-Israeli pundit with close ties to …

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• 11 January

  Turkey, Iran jockey to reap dividends of Qatari ‘victory’

  Fearing a secret agreement that may include reducing their presence in Qatar, the Muslim Brotherhood have launched a smear campaign against boycotting countries.

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• 11 January

  Iran uses domestically made drones in large military exercise

  Iran’s military training and exercises regularly focus on potential conflict with the United States. Iran’s military conducted a major drone drill on Tuesday, using unmanned aircraft produced in Iran.

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• 11 January

  Israel, Greece advance major defense deal

  Israel and Greece will soon sign a $1.68 billion agreement for the purchase of Israeli jets and the opening of a military flight school operated by an Israeli company. Israel’s Defense Ministry announced this morning that it is set to sign a $1.68 billion security agreement with Greece effective for …

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