Iran’s strategic setbacks have enabled Türkiye to expand its influence in the Middle East, aggravating tensions between Ankara and Tehran. Their rivalry has escalated even though they agree on major regional issues, such as the Gaza conflict and the broader Palestinian-Israeli dispute. Türkiye’s leaders have warned their Iranian counterparts to …
Read More »Trump, Putin, and Europe: The U.S. Now Has No Friends or Enemies, Only Interests
What does friendship mean? How deep are historic diplomatic ties? Dramatically, President Trump announced tariffs against Canada and Mexico, the two closest U.S. neighbors and longstanding traditional allies as well as threatening tariffs against the European Union. Whether or not these tariffs are implemented, they are unfriendly menaces towards countries …
Read More »Iraqi PM says Daesh leader for Iraq and Syria killed
The leader of Daesh in Iraq and Syria has been killed, Iraq’s prime minister said on Friday, describing him as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, also known as Abu Khadija, had been killed by …
Read More »Hypothèses du chaos actuel suivi de certains regards sont pourtant clairs
Pas d’intro ici. Pas nécessaire. Se lancer et relancer direct suffisent… Tout le faux chaos ne serait qu’une «mise en scène» mondiale, conçue par les principaux grands décideurs mondiaux. Et dont les politiciens seraient des figurants ? À moins que ces politiciens décident et jouent leurs rôles «ensembles», soit concoctent …
Read More »Spotlight on Iran (March 5-12, 2025)
The Iranian foreign minister stressed the right of the Palestinians to continue their “resistance” against Israel, criticized President Trump’s proposal to transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, and called for international sanctions on Israel. He also reiterated Iran’s opposition to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Iranian media reported …
Read More »How Syria rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani reinvented himself
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani spoke to supporters at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus hours after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has dropped that nom de guerre associated with his jihadist past, and been using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in official communiques issued since Thursday, …
Read More »America First Or Peace In The Middle East? – OpEd
This report highlights the contradictions in Trump’s second-term discourse—the inconsistency between the idea of “America First” and peace. There is substantial evidence suggesting that Trump’s strong return to power will only accelerate the destruction of the remnants of the status quo in the Middle East—a process he initiated during his …
Read More »Ukraine World’s Biggest Arms Importer: US’ Dominance Of Global Arms Exports Grows As Russian Exports Continue To Fall – Analysis
Ukraine became the world’s largest importer of major arms in the period 2020–24, with its imports increasing nearly 100 times over compared with 2015–19. European arms imports overall grew by 155 per cent between the same periods, as states responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty over the future …
Read More »A Swan-song For Europe
It didn’t have to be this way. I’m pleased to say that a little Substack bird has told me that we have just passed 9000 subscribers. Far more than I ever hoped for, let alone expected. Thanks to all of you, and especially those who subscribed recently. And especial thanks …
Read More »Why did Syria’s Kurds sign a deal with the new regime?
On March 10, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with Syria’s interim government, integrating the SDF’s 100,000-strong, predominantly Kurdish force into the new Syrian military. This move is surprising, given the deep distrust Syria’s Kurds have toward the interim government led by Ahmed al Sharaa. Sharaa, formerly the …
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