Section: Non-Middle East media focused on Middle East
Opinion: Confronting Russia with Safe Zones
As a result of its military intervention, Russia has now complicated the situation in Syria in an unprecedented manner. Moreover, Moscow’s entry into the conflict is being conducted in full view of the entire world, and lacks any kind of convincing rationale whatsoever. Throughout the last four and half years of the Syrian conflict, Moscow...
Russia to US: talk to us on Syria or risk “unintended incidents”
Residents ride a motorcycle past damaged buildings in a rebel-controlled area of Aleppo, Syria, on July 24, 2015. (REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail)Moscow and Washington, Reuters—Russia called on Friday for military-to-military cooperation with the United States to avert “unintended incidents” as it stages navy exercises off the coast of Syria, where US...
Possible EU sanctions alarm Israeli banks
Following the recommendation of a prominent think tank, Israeli investors fear that the European Union will decide to “mark” Israeli banks that operate in the West Bank, devastating the entire Israeli banking system. …read more Source:...
Philip Hammond: There may be an opportunity to normalize ties with Iran but we should not blind ourselves to the risks
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond attends a joint news conference with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides (not pictured) following their meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, on July 17, 2015. (EPA/KATIA CHRISTODOULOU)London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Since becoming the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary on July 15, 2014, Philip Hammond has had...
International intrigue surrounds missing Czechs in Lebanon
Speculation has it that the disappearance of five Czech nationals in the Bekaa Valley is connected to an alleged Lebanese smuggler who is wanted by the United States, is being detained in Prague and has supposed ties to deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. …read more Source:...
Opinion: Greece and the Return of Ideology
Ever since the Soviet Empire collapsed, a mantra of Western political analysis has been “the death of ideology.” The argument is that, having experimented with a variety of ideologies, from nationalism to Fascism and Nazism and, more recently, Khomeinism, mankind has concluded that trying to organize and regulate its life based on ideological...
Iran nuclear deal close; impasse over weapons, missiles persists
US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi (L) meet at a hotel in Vienna, during negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, on July 9, 2015. (Carlos Barria/Pool Photo via AP) Vienna and London, Reuters/Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear...
Iran says makes new proposal in nuclear talks, West unimpressed
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini talks to media in front of the Palais Coburg where closed-door nuclear talks with Iran take place in Vienna, Austria, on July 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) Vienna, Reuters—Iran has offered “constructive solutions” to resolve disputes in nuclear talks with six major powers, the Iranian...
Opinion: The Russians are coming to Saudi Arabia
Last week I attended a closed seminar organized by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in the US capital. It mainly focused the crises in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The looming nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran dominated the discussion, since it represents an important political turning point. Some of the attendees asked about...
Kremlin says nothing new in tough G7 line on Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a news conference after a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei in Moscow, Russia, on June 8, 2015. (Reuters/Maxim Zmeyev) Moscow, Reuters—Russia said on Monday it saw nothing new in the tough line taken by leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Moscow over sanctions and...
