June 6, 2023 Eurasia
China, Russia, and their autocratic friends are leading another epic clash over the world’s largest landmass. The war in Ukraine may have many positive outcomes: A Russia bled white by its own aggression, a United States that has rediscovered the centrality of its power and leadership, a democratic community that …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia
Let me just express my concern about the war in Ukraine by wondering what “victory” might actually mean for the Ukrainians. Let’s assume for a moment that the coming, much-publicized Ukrainian counteroffensive will indeed punch serious holes in the lines of a battered and demoralized Russian military and that Ukrainian …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient, Turkey
Authorities announced Saturday that one member of the PKK terrorist group has surrendered after long persuasion efforts by security forces in Türkiye’s eastern province of Hakkari. “One male member of the PKK/KCK was convinced to turn himself into Türkiye. He was brought to Hakkari, reunited with his family and later …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient
50 Iraqi prisoners belonging to ISIS group and 168 families of ISIS militants were returned from Syria to Iraq on Saturday, an Iraqi official source revealed. The source explained that terrorists brought back from Syria will be interrogated by the Iraqi security and tried in Iraqi courts, AFP reported. Families …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient, Turkey
Türkiye’s president has just won reelection, but events in northern Syria may prove more complicated than expected. The general elections in Türkiye are now over, which is likely to provide more clarity with respect to how Ankara will deal with the situation in Syria in the coming months. While some …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient, Turkey
An impressive campaign by Hakan Fidan’s media team has made almost an entire nation worship him. I received a text message from my Persian yoga teacher asking, “Is Hakan Fidan the new [Mohammad] Mossadegh for CIA and Mossad?” I was baffled by the comparison between the head of the Turkish …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Iran, Middle Orient
There have been several incidents involving US and Iranian naval forces in the strategic waterway in recent years, prompting the US to increase patrols. The US Navy said an American destroyer and UK Navy frigate responded to a distress call by a commercial ship pursued by fast boats belonging to …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient, Turkey
As Turkey’s annual inflation eases further in May, eyes are on the policies the reelected president’s new economic team will pursue with Mehmet Simsek at the helm. Turkey’s year-on-year inflation dropped to 39.59% in May, official data released on Monday showed, broadly in line with expectations after the government made …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Middle Orient, South East Asia
The kingdom wants to diversify its economic partnerships and values China with regards to energy and geopolitics, according to one expert. Saudi Arabia and China will participate in a business conference in Riyadh this month, expected to draw major businesses and investment firms, as the kingdom continues to pursue stronger …
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June 6, 2023 Eurasia, Iran, Middle Orient
The move is the latest sign of rapprochement between the two countries since reaching a China-brokered deal to resume ties. Iran will reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, months after the two countries signed a China-brokered agreement to restore ties after a …
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