Erdogan, Starmer discuss progress on fighter jets sale to Turkey
Erdogan said developments in the defense sector would positively contribute to cooperation between the sides, it said.
Turkey has been in talks to purchase the jets, which are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launches new UK political party
LONDON: Former leftist Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced Thursday he was forming a new political party alongside another ex-member of Britain's ruling party, as the UK's political landscape continues to splinter. Corbyn, who lost two elections as Labour leader in 2017 and 2019, and fellow independent MP Zarah Sultana referred to the new left-wing outfit as 'Your Party,' but later said its name still had to be decided. 'It's time for a new kind of political party. One that is rooted in our communities, trade unions and social movements,' they said in a joint statement. In their announcement, they called for a 'mass redistribution of wealth and power' and said they would 'keep demanding an end to all arms sales to Israel.' They also committed to a 'free and independent Palestine.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pulled Labour to the center since succeeding Corbyn as leader, faces growing calls within his party to recognize a Palestinian state. Corbyn, 76, stepped down as Labour leader after overseeing its worst result in decades, when it was trounced in the 2019 general election by the Conservatives, then led by Boris Johnson. Labour under Starmer suspended him in 2020 after he refused to fully accept the findings of a rights watchdog's probe into claims that anti-Semitism had become rampant within Labour's ranks under his leadership. The Equality and Human Rights Commission ruled the party had broken equality law when Corbyn was in charge. Corbyn said anti-Semitism had been 'dramatically overstated for political reasons.' Last year Corbyn announced he would stand as an independent in the July 2024 general election after Labour failed to put him forward as a candidate. He was expelled from the party but still went on to win comfortably his Islington North seat in London, which he has represented for more than 40 years. Sultana, an MP since 2019, was suspended by Labour last year after she and several other members of parliament voted to scrap a controversial cap on child benefits. While it remains to be seen whether the new movement will take off, its formation appears to confirm a trend in British politics toward a multi-party system. British politics has long been dominated by Labour and the Conservatives, but three other parties are challenging that order. The center-left Liberal Democrats won 72 seats in the 650-seat parliament in July 2024, while Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party won about 14 percent of the vote. It picked up five seats, an unprecedented breakthrough for a hard-right party in Britain. Farage's Euroskeptics swept dozens of council and mayoral seats in local elections in May and are leading national opinion polls, although the next general election is not expected until 2029. While Reform are picking up support on the right, Labour is also losing votes to the Greens on the left. Starmer, a former chief state prosecutor who is seen as too right-wing for some left-wingers in his party, recently suspended four lawmakers who rebelled over his attempts at reforming welfare. They currently sit as independents and Westminster watchers will be keeping a close eye on whether they are tempted to join Corbyn's new party. 'I do think there is space for a left-wing populist party in the UK with a charismatic leader that could pose an enormous threat to Labour and the other parties, but it's going to take a lot to convince me that Jeremy Corbyn can be it,' Chris Hopkins, political research director at polling firm Savanta, told AFP.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
EU Approves Counter-tariffs on US Goods, Says Trade Deal within Reach
The European Commission said on Thursday a negotiated trade solution with the United States is within reach - while EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. The 27-nation bloc's executive has repeatedly said its primary focus is on reaching a deal to avert 30% US tariffs that US President Donald Trump has said he will apply on August 1. "Our focus is on finding a negotiated outcome with the US ... We believe such an outcome is within reach," an EU spokesperson said in response to reporters' questions, Reuters reported. Alongside negotiations, the Commission has pressed on with plans for potential countermeasures, merging two packages of proposed tariffs of 21 billion euros and 72 billion euros into a single list and submitting this to EU members for approval. The rate would be up to 30%, designed to mirror US tariffs, EU sources said. Diplomats said EU countries overwhelmingly approved the measures on Thursday, which the Commission later confirmed. The first package of countermeasures would enter force on August 7, with tariffs on soybeans and almonds delayed until December 1, an EU official said. The second package would enter force in two stages on September 7 and February 7. So far the EU has held back from imposing any countermeasures, despite Trump's tariffs already covering 70% of EU exports. EU member states authorised the first package of countermeasures in April, but these were immediately suspended to allow time for negotiations. CLOSING ON DEAL The EU and United States now appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal, according to EU diplomats, which would result in a broad 15% tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring a framework agreement Washington struck with Japan. Trump would still need to take any final decision. The White House said discussions of a deal should be considered "speculation". Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro told Bloomberg News the report from the EU should be taken with "a grain of salt." French Finance Minister Eric Lombard and Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told a joint press conference in Paris they were not aware of a draft agreement, Urso adding he would only pass judgment when one was reached. There was little information available about what the EU would offer the United States to secure a deal. One EU diplomat said the bloc was not looking at a pledge of investment in the United States, as Japan has agreed. Another said the EU might reduce some of its own duties. Its current import duty for cars is 10%. Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15% rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing US duties, which average just under 5%. There could also be exemptions for sectors such as aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, diplomats said. Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its 50% tariff on steel.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Serious gaps remain in joint GCC-EU security efforts
When the Gulf Cooperation Council and EU heads of state and government held their first summit last October, they endorsed the blueprint proposed by their ministers on security cooperation. While the two blocs have been closely engaged for decades, mainly on economic and political issues, it was the first time that they decided to work closely on security, as part of their intention to 'elevate their strategic partnership to the next level,' by working together to safeguard 'global and regional security and prosperity, including preventing the emergence and escalation of conflicts and resolving crises,' according to the joint communique issued at the time. Regional security, whether in the Middle East, Europe or elsewhere, has to be anchored in 'multilateralism, international law and international humanitarian law, as well as sustainable development and prosperity,' in a reference to the weakening, if not total abandonment, of these principles in many parts of the world. Nine months after that summit was held in Brussels, it is appropriate to assess how much has been done in security cooperation. A meeting of experts was held this week in Cambridge, a neutral territory, to evaluate progress. The meeting was organized by the Gulf Research Center, a well-established Saudi-based think tank. The GRC, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is probably the most prolific producer of scholarly and policy-oriented literature on the Gulf. As part of its program, it organizes an annual gathering in Cambridge of academics and policymakers from around the world, to discuss Gulf-related issues over several days of intense deliberations. This year marked the 15th of such convocations; there was more than 400 in attendance. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan opened the meeting, followed by the GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and other senior officials from the two organizations. Although the GCC-EU security dialogue started only last year, it has made considerable progress in delineating the parameters of cooperation on some specific issues. The summit agreed to 'deepening security cooperation, including on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber issues, nonproliferation, and disaster preparedness and emergency management.' In meetings held since the summit, the two organizations agreed on detailed frameworks for each of these five security areas; the next step will be their actual implementation. They also agreed to explore cooperation on peacebuilding efforts such as mediation and negotiation, and combating organized crime, drugs, human trafficking, and smuggling. It is no secret that the EU is divided on Gaza Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg On regional security, mediation and conflict resolution, much has been done, especially by the GCC side, but there are serious gaps given the severity of the ongoing crises. There are at least five areas where the two blocs need to double their efforts to live up to the promises made in the October summit to work together toward safeguarding regional security. First, there is the Gaza genocide. The mass starvation and forced displacement of Palestinians have only intensified in recent months. While GCC states, especially Qatar, have been heavily involved in trying to achieve a ceasefire and allow aid in scale and without hindrance, it is no secret that the EU is divided and, in fact, a few of its members are providing political and material support for the mayhem perpetrated by Israel. Because of the rules of unanimity and weighted majority, the EU has been paralyzed by this division. It has not been able to get its members to agree on an effective course, such as using the leverage of its association agreement with Israel. Rule of weighted majority gives more leverage to large EU member states, who have been able to block action by the organization. In the words of one participant in the Cambridge discussions, the result has left the EU 'sitting on its hands,' satisfied with issuing occasional statements expressing concern about Gaza. Similarly, while good progress has been made on plans for the day after in Gaza by the Arab League, Egypt, and others, the EU has yet to lend effective support for this plan. Second, on the two-state solution, Saudi Arabia and a number of partners are making great efforts. One achievement has been the establishment of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which includes about 100 countries and organizations from around the world. It has held several substantive meetings dealing with different aspects of this challenge. These efforts are being undermined by Israel so far ruling out negotiations and continuing to change facts on the grounds in the West Bank, including expanding settlements and unleashing unchecked violence against Palestinians. The aim is to make a two-state solution impossible to implement. Although the EU is part of this global alliance, it has yet to use its considerable leverage to get Israel to change course. Third, on the Israel-Iran war, the EU appears to be aligned with the GCC position. Both are pushing for a diplomatic solution and a return to the nuclear talks in order to prevent a likely resumption of hostilities. Both organizations believe that a military solution is not desirable or effective. GCC countries have engaged closely with Damascus Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg Fourth, on the Syrian Arab Republic, the two groups are aligned and have welcomed the new government, which took charge last December. However, the EU has yet to give tangible support, while GCC countries have stepped up to the plate and engaged closely with Damascus, most recently in the form of the Saudi-Syrian investment forum held in Damascus this week, in addition to substantial humanitarian and development aid by Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries in recent months. The EU is nowhere to be seen in Syria, according to one European participant, instead focusing on the shortcomings of the new government. Fifth, on maritime security, the two sides are working hard to safeguard freedom of navigation and combat illicit activities, but there is little systematic coordination. Considering the now-frequent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, maritime security has become one of the most urgent areas on which to focus. All GCC states, plus a dozen EU members, are members of the Bahrain-based, US-led 44-member Combined Maritime Forces, the largest international coalition of its kind. It has five task forces operating in the Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea. Separately, both the GCC and EU have their own platforms. The GCC Maritime Operations Coordination Center, also based in Bahrain, coordinates the work of GCC security forces, while the EU has three outfits — Operation Agenor in the Gulf, Operation Atalanta off the Somali Coast, and Operation Aspides in the Red Sea. Although there has been limited practical cooperation in some of these areas, such as maritime security, more needs to be done, and a specifically GCC-EU framework needs to be established soon for coordination of all these efforts. The next summit is expected to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said last October that he expects to see real progress by the time the next forum convenes in Riyadh. To make that happen, the two sides need to speed up implementation in all areas of the GCC-EU strategic partnership, including security cooperation. To do that, the two sides must double their efforts, especially on the EU side. It is also urgently needed to scale up the currently meagre funds and manpower allocated for this ambitious partnership.
