Latest news with #FriedrichEbertFoundation
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Middle East caught in crossfire: Has the Israel-Iran conflict forced allies to secretly choose sides while staying silent?
The recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered under US President Donald Trump, appears to be holding, despite minor disruptions. As the immediate threat subsides, Middle Eastern countries are reevaluating their diplomatic strategies and regional alignments in light of the conflict's impact. One theme is consistent across the region: the attempt to maintain a delicate balance in public positions and behind-the-scenes actions, particularly concerning both Israel and Iran. Ambiguous positions from Jordan and Saudi Arabia Several Arab and Muslim-majority countries, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, condemned Israeli attacks in a joint statement. However, these same countries reportedly took covert actions that benefitted Israel. Jordan's air force blocked Iranian drones and rockets from crossing its airspace, citing civilian protection. Saudi Arabia is believed to have allowed Israeli aircraft through its airspace and possibly even intercepted Iranian missiles directly—though this remains unverified. Both countries have long-standing military ties with the US and receive significant financial or security support. Jordan alone gets $1.45 billion annually in US foreign aid, making it one of the top recipients globally. Despite public criticism of Israel, both Jordan and Saudi Arabia remain cautious not to strain ties with Washington or Tel Aviv. Gulf states, Egypt, and their balancing acts with Iran Regional actors like the Gulf states and Egypt appear to be positioning themselves for long-term stability. Analyst Simon Wolfgang Fuchs suggests that although Iran's regional influence has weakened—especially with the decline of its proxies like Hezbollah and shifts in Syria—Gulf nations still view Iran as a key actor, not one to be further destabilized. Egypt's role has also drawn attention. While backing the ceasefire and calling for diplomacy, Cairo suppressed pro-Palestinian marches, including detaining activists in Ismailia. Egypt, receiving around $1.3 billion in US military aid, remains cautious about endangering its US ties, particularly under the current administration. Uncertainty over Iran's future leadership Some countries in the region may actually prefer the current Iranian regime to remain intact. As Marcus Schneider from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation notes, there is little organized internal opposition to the Iranian government, and exiled groups such as monarchists and the People's Mujahedin lack widespread support. Schneider warns that a weakened Iran is manageable, but a desperate one could behave unpredictably. Fuchs adds that President Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, especially his use of social media, is disrupting traditional alliances and priorities. He believes that US focus may drift away from the Middle East entirely, except in relation to Israel and the guns fall silent, Middle Eastern countries are left navigating a fragile web of diplomacy, security interests, and US influence.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia: Instrumentalizing Soviets' victory over Nazi Germany
Vladimir Putin (AP) Babies in military uniforms, toddlers in cardboard tanks, primary school children marching in lockstep. Ahead of the big military parade on Moscow's Red Square on May 9, young Russians in other cities have already started commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. In the city of Kemerovo in southwestern Siberia, newborns in a maternity home were dressed up as soldiers, with little field caps on their heads, and wrapped in olive green sleeping bags. On its website, the establishment calls on citizens to join up, reminding users that even the smallest citizen of Russia is part of history and suggesting that the clothing symbolizes the "connection between generations." Meanwhile, hundreds of kindergarten children took part in a "military parade" that included homemade military vehicles and airplanes, in a residential district of the central Russian city of Voronezh. Operation Sindoor 'Pakistan army moving its troops in forward areas': Key takeaways from govt briefing 'Pak used drones, long-range weapons, jets to attack India's military sites' 'Attempted malicious misinformation campaign': Govt calls out Pakistan's propaganda In Vladivostok, in Russia's far east, more than 1,500 "great-grandchildren of victory" marched through the city center, in what the governor of the Primorye region Oleg Kozhemyako described as the "first children's parade in the region." He announced that some of those heading the columns had participated in the war in Ukraine: "Today, there are children whose fathers are fighting on the front marching in the columns. We are rightly proud of the courage and bravery of our fighters, and are certain that the enemy will be defeated, just as it was in the distant year of 1945." Victory Day has become 'an instrument of mobilization' For 80 years, many Russian families primarily associated "Victory Day" with commemorating the loss and devastation of World War II. But that is now shifting. Alexey Yusupov, a Russian political scientist at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation , told DW that increasingly, the state was instrumentalizing the May 9 Victory Day to shape a new identity and ideology. He explained that over the past two decades, the Kremlin had learned to "militarize this day, or rather to activate it, because it has become engraved in the collective memory of many Russians as something that united the country. It has become an instrument of mobilization for the regime." The Kremlin used certain particular dates, he added, such as this year's 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, to draw historical parallels between the Soviet Union and today's Russia, and to demonstrate the strength and legitimacy of the current regime. According to Ilya Grashchenkov from the Moscow-based Regional Policy Development Center, Victory Day is not only important for Russian families, but for the Russian government. "Over the past 20 years, the state has done everything it can to be an integral part of this commemoration. For [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, the victory in World War II is a constant, on which the entire Russian state is based, and of which he as president is a part. " But he added that for millions of ordinary people, May 9 remained an anniversary that brought "tears to their eyes." He pointed out that for many years after 1945, May 9 had been a day of mourning without a military parade. Military parade is 'superfluous' in times of war The self-exiled Russian political scientist and former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov told DW he felt the May 9 parade in Moscow, at a time when Russia was at war with Ukraine, would be "superfluous." He argued that such parades were "a replacement for war that are needed in times of peace when the army is not fighting but wants to show itself." He said that given the fact that the Russian army had not yet achieved its main goals in the past three years, the parade would come across as not being "serious. " "Before 2022, everyone thought Russia was significantly stronger than Ukraine. But it's turned out that wasn't the case. Nobody can call this a high-quality conduct of war," he added. Grashchenkov expects that on this May 9, parallels will be drawn with the war in Ukraine, as was the case at the "first children's parade" in Vladivostok, but that they will not play a prominent role. Instead, he said that for Putin, it was important that the commemorations be as "international as possible." He pointed out that the foreign guests attending would be there to mark the historic victory of 1945: "The message of Victory Day is that Russia paid a very high price for peace in Europe. Putin will certainly project the victory of 1945 onto today's fighting in Ukraine. But he will not place a huge emphasis on it." Gallyamov said the parade was "a universal instrument" for the outside world, and for Russian society: "The propagandists will say that they are perpetuating the glorious traditions of the heroes of the victory of 1945. But Russian society will not be influenced by these narratives." He said that the parallels being drawn were too contrived, and that it was too obvious that the comparisons were not actually in the Kremlin's favor: "In the past three years, the Russians have not even had full control of the regions to which they lay claim, let alone managed to capture Kyiv. " However, he did say that Moscow's elites would be in a mood for victory on May 9. "We will see a lot of show," said Yusupov. "We will hear a lot of statements. We will see a lot of television programs." He added that the Kremlin would do its utmost to prove that today's Russia is the same "power for good" that it was 80 years ago.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany's Steinmeier wants Europe to stand firm against US
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday called on Europe to stand firm in the face of attacks by US President Donald Trump, saying the US administration's campaign against liberal democracies "is shocking." Steinmeier, speaking at an event in Berlin to mark the 100th anniversary of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, said, "the fact that even the leading power of the democratic West is now declaring the peace and post-war order in Europe obsolete is something we could never have imagined until recently." The foundation is associated with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Steinmeier and the outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz. The fact that the very country to which Europe owes its post-war democracy is now campaigning against liberal forms of democracy and even strengthening anti-democratic forces in the countries of Europe is shocking, he said. "But it must not leave us speechless. We must protect, consolidate and revitalize what we hold in our own hands, a united, strong, democratic Europe. And we must regain trust in democratic institutions and their representatives in Europe and in Germany." Steinmeier applauded the work of democratic foundations, many of which face poor conditions in some countries, as a way to strengthen mutual understanding and global stability. He noted that in some countries, like Russia and Iran, conditions for such foundations are so bad that many had to stop working. "The fact that authoritarian states go to such great lengths to take action against political foundations shows just how necessary their commitment to democracy, human rights and global cooperation really is," he said.
Jordan Times
11-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
GFJTU, German delegation discuss 'stronger' labour cooperation
Vice President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions Khaled Abu Marjoub, on Tuesday discusses with an German delegation, workers' rights, ways to improve work environment and exchange expertise and training (Petra photo) AMMAN — Vice President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) Khaled Abu Marjoub, on Tuesday discussed with an official German delegation, ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in labour and union issues. Abu Marjoub noted the challenges facing the federation and its key achievements, pointing to the "continuous" support from the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in its current "transitional" phase, according to a GFJTU statement,GFJTU's advisor Nizam Qahoush, referred to its executive programme and progress made so far, and aspects of joint cooperation with the German foundation to achieve its future the meeting, the two sides went over workers' rights amid of the region's current economic and social transformations, ways to improve work environment and exchange expertise and training. Both sides discussed mechanisms to support women in the labour market, and steps to encourage their "greater" representation in leadership positions within labour unions.
Jordan News
11-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
GFJTU, German delegation discuss 'stronger' labor cooperation - Jordan News
Vice President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU), Khaled Abu Marjoub, on Tuesday discussed with an official German delegation, ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in labor and union issues. اضافة اعلان According to a GFJTU statement, Abu Marjoub noted the challenges facing the federation and its key achievements, pointing to the "continuous" support from the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in its current "transitional" phase. GFJTU's advisor, Nizam Qahoush, referred to its executive program and progress made so far, and aspects of joint cooperation with the German foundation to achieve its future vision. During the meeting, the two sides went over workers' rights amid of the region's current economic and social transformations, ways to improve work environment and exchange expertise and training. Additionally, both sides discussed mechanisms to support women in the labor market, and steps to encourage their "greater" representation in leadership positions within labor unions.
