Latest news with #MiddleEastConflict
Sky News
6 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is meeting Donald Trump for the first time, so will it be another Starmer love-in, or a Zelenskyy-style brush off?
The German chancellor will hold his first face-to-face meeting with President Trump later. On the agenda are discussions around the war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and tariffs. It's understood Donald Trump and Friedrich Merz will have a working lunch and early afternoon meeting before potentially holding a news conference. The question is, will Mr Merz emerge smiling like Sir Keir Starmer, or be berated like [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelenskyy? There's no doubt the leader of Europe's largest economy has a lot to discuss with Mr Trump, the head of Germany's most important trading partner. Berlin was trying to recover from two years of recession, only to be hit by the Trump administration's 25% tariffs on vehicles and the new 50% tariff on steel and aluminium. The president's threat of a 50% tariff on all European goods is also still looming for July unless a deal with Brussels is struck. In the past, the US leader hasn't minced his words, calling the Germans "very bad" as he bemoaned "the millions of cars they sell to the US". 10:47 While the EU is leading negotiations on tariffs, Mr Merz knows he must be careful not to anger Mr Trump. The president has been clear that he believes Europe has been ripping America off and a misstep could reinforce this view, potentially making it harder to agree a deal. Germany's reliance on the US for defence has also triggered Donald Trump in the past. During his first term, he tweeted that Germany "owes vast sums of money to NATO and the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defence it provides to Germany". However, Mr Merz will be hoping to avoid a fight over this after Germany said it would boost defence spending and the chancellor vowed to create the strongest army in Europe. This, plus his efforts to crackdown on illegal migration, may help to counter views that German leadership is weak. While the Germans are focused on a productive meeting, Mr Merz's past criticism of the US could come back to haunt him. 👉 Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app 👈 Following a 10-day period of intense criticism of Europe and Ukraine by the Trump administration in February, the chancellor warned that Europe could no longer rely on Washington. Merz mimicked the US president Referring to the president's assertion that European security was no longer America's primary focus - a stunning reversal of decades of US foreign policy - he said it was clear that "the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe". More recently, when asked about his first phone call with Mr Trump, he mimicked the president, highlighting how often he uses the word "great". Ahead of Thursday's meeting, a spokesperson for the German government played down concerns of a clash, saying the pair had spoken several times on the phone and that the chancellor was well prepared. It's understood he had a call with the French president in the lead-up. Perhaps Emmanuel Macron was able to offer some advice after he and Mr Trump rekindled their first-term bromance during their White House encounter in February. We have been told the chancellor will also be bringing a gift for the president. King's invitation went down well There's no doubt that when Mr Starmer produced an invitation to the UK from King Charles, it boosted the mood in the Oval Office during his first visit. From the moment the embossed letter was handed over, the atmosphere became more relaxed. The spokesperson wouldn't reveal what Mr Merz is bringing, clearly determined to maintain the suspense. It could potentially be something from Rhineland-Palatinate, the region in southwest Germany's wine country where Donald Trump's paternal grandparents were born. The chancellor knows the area well, having completed his military service there in the 1970s, and has already invited the president to visit his ancestral home. 3:12 Germans appear confident Whatever it is, the Germans seem confident the meeting between the two leaders will be a success, underlining the German leader's firm belief in the transatlantic relationship and his experience holding top-level meetings with politicians. In reality, however much he prepares, his team knows he must expect the unexpected. It could be that vice president JD Vance decides to revisit his blistering attack on Europe, which left the audience at the Munich Security Conference speechless, earlier this year. Or, perhaps the Trump administration will lash out again about the far-right Alternative for Germany party being classified as right-wing extremists by Germany's domestic intelligence service; the potential pitfalls are many. What will happen is anyone's guess and the uncertainty ensures this meeting of political heavyweights will be a fascinating watch.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
For all his bragging, Trump knows he has little leverage with either Putin or Netanyahu
Donald Trump loyalists point to the fact that he has never initiated a war in either of his two terms as US president. That suggestion is true insofar as he has scrupulously avoided new deployments of US ground forces in potential conflict zones across the world. This does not mean that Binyamin Netanyahu is not being armed and encouraged by the Trump administration in his war against Palestinian people located in Gaza , in the occupied West Bank and in southern Lebanon . Nor does it mean that Hamas allies such as the Houthi regime in Yemen cannot be the subject of aerial bombardment in response to its threat to international shipping in the Red Sea, or the launching of ballistic missiles from Yemen to targets in Israel. Trump's recent statements about Vladimir Putin going 'crazy' in his missile and drone bombardment of Ukrainian civilian targets betokens a slowly emerging realisation. He is beginning to see that he does not share the constructive and productive relationship with Moscow that he used to pretend. READ MORE Trump's vainglorious boast that he would end the Russian–Ukrainian armed conflict in 24 hours once he assumed the presidency now looks clownish and ridiculous. He has been exposed badly as misunderstanding Putin's war aims, strategy and tactics. All of this underlines the absurdity of his Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelenskiy , which was clearly a premeditated strategy to humiliate, isolate and subjugate Ukraine with the intention of 'doing a deal' with Putin – largely on Putin's terms. Trump, for all his social media posturing and accusations of Putin's 'craziness', does not believe that he has usable leverage – military, economic or diplomatic – with which to confront and control Putin's war methods and aims Trump's willingness to betray Ukraine in pursuit of a deal with Putin, while never explicitly admitted, was all too obvious to Nato allies in Europe and indeed in Canada and to American allies across the world. If Trump's bottom line on Ukraine is that Kyiv simply cannot hope by conventional military means to recover all Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia since 2014, there may be a good deal of realpolitik in such an approach. Sometimes we forget that the Crimean Peninsula was only incorporated in Ukraine as late as 1954, having been depopulated ruthlessly in the postwar era by Stalin and Beria. Before that, it was generally accepted that Crimea was part of greater Russia. That said, it is unreasonable to expect Zelenskiy to concede territory in eastern Ukraine and Crimea as a precondition for negotiation of a comprehensive settlement to end the war between Kyiv and Moscow. For one thing, any such concession would not merely violate international law, but would also violate the Ukrainian constitution and Zelenskiy's constitutional duties as president. [ 'Emotional overload': Kremlin responds to Trump's description of Putin as 'crazy' Opens in new window ] As I have written here before, conventional military theory suggests that successful territorial campaigns depend on a three to one advantage in military personnel and equipment combined with air superiority. Ukraine is simply not in a position to assemble or deploy such forces. And so it must, for the foreseeable future, concentrate on defending unoccupied territory in its struggle with Russia. Part of the diplomatic prequel to the infamous and cowardly Oval Office ambush on Zelenskiy was a demand that America should share in the postwar development of Ukrainian mineral and energy resources. While some hoped that such a deal would confer on the US a selfish motive for supporting the Kyiv regime in its struggle with Moscow, this was not the case. The ambush perpetrated in the Oval Office demonstrated that Ukrainian acceptance of such terms would not be enough to buy Trump's unconditional support for the maintenance of Ukraine as a sovereign independent member state of the United Nations, or as the beneficiary of a US security guarantee conferred on it after the implosion of the Soviet Union in exchange for surrendering its nuclear arsenal. [ Almost all of Gaza's farmland rendered unusable as famine risk rises, finds UN report Opens in new window ] Trump, for all his social media posturing and accusations of Putin's 'craziness', does not believe that he has usable leverage – military, economic or diplomatic – with which to confront and control Putin's war methods and aims. The same applies, apparently, to his complete lack of leverage over the Israeli government. Trump appears to believe that he can supply Israeli forces with weaponry with which to pursue their barbaric campaign in Gaza, but cannot set out red lines of any kind within which Netanyahu is to pursue his naked ambition to subjugate the Palestinians, to deport them and to annex their lands. Just as Trump folded his tent in the Doha discussions on the future of Afghanistan, and just as he gave up on his threats to use force to end North Korea's ICBM programme, his capacity to do a deal in the Middle East has been exposed as the vapourings of a paper tiger.
Russia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia and the Arab League can reshape the world together
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent an official telegram to the leaders of the member states of the League of Arab States, as well as to the Secretary-General of the League, extending a formal invitation to participate in the first Russia-Arab Summit, scheduled to take place on October 15, 2025. The message, published on the official Kremlin website, coincided with the opening of the 34th Arab League Summit, which is being held against the backdrop of a highly complex international situation, particularly given the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In his address, President Putin conveyed his sincere respect to Russia's partners in the Arab world and reaffirmed Russia's commitment to deepening a stable, respectful, and constructive dialogue with the League. He emphasized that Russia views the League as one of the most important regional organizations – one that plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, stability, and security both within the Arab world and beyond. Within this context, Putin expressed Russia's interest in expanding multilateral cooperation with Arab countries based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for national sovereignty. Special attention in the telegram was given to the current political situation in the Middle East. Putin noted with deep concern the ongoing escalation of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and has been accompanied by grave humanitarian consequences. He underscored that the intensifying violence threatens to further destabilize the region, exacerbating social, economic, and political challenges in neighboring countries and posing a serious risk to international security as a whole. Against this backdrop, Putin said the Arab League is increasingly vital as a mechanism for coordinating the positions of Arab nations, advancing peaceful initiatives, and contributing to the resolution of regional crises through diplomacy, dialogue, and adherence to international law. He reaffirmed Russia's support for political and diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a fair and long-term settlement of conflicts in the region. According to Putin, the first Russia-Arab Summit represents a unique opportunity to deepen political dialogue, align positions on key global issues, and reinforce joint efforts to promote sustainable peace and security both in the Middle East and North Africa and on a global scale. The Russian side anticipates that the October summit will mark the beginning of a new era in Russia-Arab relations – one founded on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to stability and prosperity. The Arab world, represented by the Arab League, stands at the threshold of a profound redefinition of its role in global politics, the economy, and the international security architecture. For decades, the region was primarily viewed as a source of energy resources and as a theater of chronic conflicts. Yet, in the context of a shifting world order – marked by the eastward pivot of the economic and political center of gravity, accelerating multipolarity, and a global energy transformation – member states of the League are increasingly seeking to transcend their traditional role as hydrocarbon suppliers and position themselves as full-fledged actors, not mere objects, on the world stage. With a population exceeding 450 million – comparable in size to the European Union – the Arab world represents one of the largest consumer markets of the 21st century, characterized by a predominantly young demographic. The combination of a youthful population and rapid urbanization provides a foundation for dynamic economic growth, innovation, and the expansion of a vibrant middle class. At the same time, it places significant pressure on governments to create jobs, improve education systems, and expand opportunities for youth participation in economic and political life. Investment in human capital is becoming a decisive factor in long-term competitiveness. Modernization programs in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar aim to diversify their economies and cultivate technological, scientific, and medical capacity, thus enabling these nations to evolve beyond wealth into centers of intellectual and technological sovereignty. Economically, the Arab world remains a formidable global player. The combined GDP of Arab countries is estimated at approximately $3 trillion, with the Gulf states maintaining a steady trade surplus. Energy remains a key pillar of influence, as nearly half of the world's proven oil reserves and a significant share of natural gas are concentrated in the region. Nevertheless, global decarbonization trends and the intensifying 'green agenda' are prompting the Arab states to accelerate their transition toward a post-hydrocarbon model. This has led to a dual strategy: maximizing short-term oil and gas revenues while simultaneously investing in the 'economy of the future.' Saudi Arabia's NEOM project exemplifies this ambition – a futuristic metropolis envisioned as a global hub of innovation and sustainable development, built on ecological principles and digital transformation. Politically, Arab countries are increasingly asserting their sovereignty in foreign policymaking. More frequently, regional leaders are rejecting external prescriptions – whether Western or otherwise – and pursuing a balanced, diversified foreign policy. This shift is reflected in the strengthening of partnerships with China, India, Türkiye, Russia, and the Global South, while pragmatic relations are maintained with the West. Such multidirectional diplomacy enables Arab states to act as mediators in international conflicts, as facilitators of negotiations, and as initiators of regional stabilization efforts. The Arab world is also poised to play a growing role in global food security. Amid mounting climate risks, water scarcity, and agricultural vulnerability, many Arab countries – especially Egypt, Sudan, and Morocco – are seen as potential hubs for expanding agro-industrial production, including with the involvement of foreign investment. At the same time, acute water shortages and the consequences of climate change, such as desertification and dwindling freshwater supplies, could both spur innovation in resource management and exacerbate internal and interstate tensions. The region's military and strategic significance is likewise on the rise. Ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Libya, and Sudan underscore the Arab world's persistent security volatility. However, some countries – most notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE – are expanding their defense capabilities, striving for greater autonomy from external suppliers, and increasingly contributing to regional security through collective defense frameworks and equal partnerships with global actors. Culturally and religiously, the Arab world retains a unique global position. As the spiritual heart of Islam, it wields substantial soft power through its humanitarian outreach, educational influence, and cultural exports – from media to the arts. The widespread use of the Arabic language and the global relevance of Islamic thought make the Arab world a critical voice in shaping global discourse and identity, particularly across the Global South. Amid a global geopolitical realignment, intensifying great-power competition, and the emergence of a multipolar world, the countries of the League of Arab States are evolving into independent centers of decision-making. Armed with resources, demographic vitality, and strategic ambition, they are not only adapting to new realities but actively shaping them. The future role of the Arab world in global affairs will depend not solely on its oil and gas wealth, but on its capacity for strategic thinking, internal cohesion, technological modernization, and its ability to serve as a bridge in global diplomacy – rather than a battleground for external rivalries. Relations between Russia and the Arab world are undergoing a phase of strategic expansion and consolidation – one that mirrors the global shift toward multipolarity, sovereignty-based diplomacy, and equitable cooperation. Historically grounded in mutual respect, non-interference, and sovereign equality, ties between Moscow and the member states of the Arab League were forged during the decolonization era, when the Soviet Union supported the Arab nations in their struggle for independence and development. Although this development experienced a pause in the 1990s, the past two decades have seen its steady and purposeful revival. Amid a global reconfiguration fueled by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the diplomatic agency of key Arab states has grown significantly. Most notably, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a credible and neutral convener of high-stakes international dialogue. In early 2025, Riyadh hosted confidential talks between Russian and American officials – discussions that went far beyond the Ukrainian crisis and touched upon the broader spectrum of bilateral relations, including strategic stability, humanitarian cooperation, prisoner exchanges, and conflict prevention mechanisms. The fact that such talks took place on Arab soil reflects the region's rising stature as a legitimate and respected mediator in international affairs. Alongside Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are playing increasingly active diplomatic roles. Maintaining balanced relations with both Russia and the West, these states advocate for political solutions, humanitarian engagement, and global stability. Qatar has been involved in key humanitarian negotiations and prisoner exchanges, while the UAE has positioned itself as a discreet venue for informal consultations and a participant in international de-escalation initiatives. The broader posture of the League of Arab States illustrates a collective desire to strengthen multilateralism, uphold international law, and contribute to the creation of a more balanced and inclusive global governance system. Faced with unprecedented pressure from the collective West, Russia has welcomed the principled neutrality of the Arab world. Rather than yield to calls for isolating Moscow, most League member states have preserved an independent foreign policy course, continuing political dialogue and even deepening economic cooperation. As the Western powers severed key trade and diplomatic channels, many Arab countries chose to reinforce engagement with Russia – an assertion of their sovereign right to shape external partnerships based on national interest rather than geopolitical coercion. At the core of this alignment lies a shared worldview. Moscow and the leading Arab capitals – Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha – are united in their belief that the unipolar era has ended. In its place must emerge a just, multipolar international order, where every state, regardless of size or power, participates equally in shaping the global agenda. This convergence of principles is reflected in mutual support across various international platforms, including the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and OPEC+. One of the most promising vectors of Russia-Arab cooperation is their growing convergence within alternative centers of global influence. The expansion of BRICS in 2024, which welcomed Egypt and the UAE as full members, underscored this trend. Far from being passive observers, these Arab states have brought fresh economic and energy capacities to the group while enhancing its political legitimacy in the Islamic and Arab world. BRICS is increasingly seen as a mechanism for reshaping the international financial system-one that supports de-dollarization, promotes the use of national currencies, and envisions the creation of independent payment and investment infrastructures. As these discussions evolve from rhetoric to institutional action, the role of Arab members becomes more decisive. Equally significant is the growing engagement of Arab states with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. While most League members are not yet full members of the SCO, interest in the platform is steadily rising. Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia now hold observer or dialogue partner status. Through the SCO, Arab countries gain access to multilateral frameworks for cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cross-border crime, and economic development. Moreover, the SCO facilitates connections with broader Eurasian and Asian strategies, aligning with China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union. On a bilateral level, economic relations between Russia and the Arab world have shown sustained growth. In 2023, trade turnover exceeded $23 billion, with ample room for expansion. Egypt, the UAE, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia remain Russia's most significant trade partners in the region. Energy cooperation is particularly strategic: Russia's participation in OPEC+ has helped stabilize global oil markets – a contribution valued highly by Arab hydrocarbon producers. Food security has emerged as another cornerstone of this partnership. As one of the world's largest exporters of grain – particularly wheat – Russia plays a vital role in supporting the food security of countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Yemen, and Lebanon. Amid global inflation and supply chain disruptions, Russia has consistently fulfilled its agricultural commitments without using food exports to gain political leverage. Instead, Moscow has positioned itself as a reliable partner, reinforcing trust and paving the way for deeper cooperation in agri-tech, logistics, and food infrastructure. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation is also on the rise. Arab countries are showing increased interest in Russian education, science, and culture. The number of Arab students in Russian universities is growing, as is collaboration in medicine, scientific research, and innovation. With their ambitious modernization agendas, the Arab states view Russia as a source of advanced technological expertise – in areas ranging from nuclear energy and agriculture to defense and telecommunications. Symbolically, the prominence of Arab countries at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) underscores their importance in Russia's international economic strategy. In recent years, Qatar, the UAE, Oman (in 2024), and Bahrain (in 2025) have served as SPIEF's guest countries of honor. This reflects more than diplomatic courtesy – it is a recognition of the Arab world's expanding economic and strategic relevance for Russia. For Moscow, League countries are not only priority destinations for non-resource exports, but also crucial partners in the development of new logistics corridors and connectivity initiatives, such as the North–South Transport Corridor and the integration of Red Sea and Gulf ports. Taken together, these developments underscore the need for a new institutional framework to govern the expanding Russia-Arab relationship. Over the past several years, regular consultations have been held at the level of foreign ministers, addressing both acute regional crises (Syria, Libya, Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) and broader strategic alignment. The logical next step is the convening of the first-ever Russia-Arab Summit at the highest level, scheduled for October 15, 2025. This summit represents far more than a symbolic gesture. It is a milestone that formalizes the evolving partnership, institutionalizes high-level political dialogue, enhances energy and economic coordination, and opens new pathways in cultural and educational exchange. In an era marked by global turbulence and the erosion of legacy security architectures, Russia and the Arab world are demonstrating the viability of a new approach – one grounded in mutual respect, sovereign equality, and shared aspirations for stability and prosperity. The summit will provide a platform to chart a long-term roadmap for strategic cooperation, laying the foundation for a lasting alliance across the key domains of the 21st century.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Israel ‘preparing strike on Iran's nuclear facilities'
Israel is preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities without Donald Trump's backing, according to reports. In what would be a major break with Washington, US intelligence sources said the chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear site had 'gone up significantly in recent months'. The sources told CNN that if US negotiations with Iran over ending its nuclear programme do not result in the removal of all Tehran's uranium, an attack could be made more likely. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has long been under pressure to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, especially after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at Israel last October. US officials believe a strike could be imminent, due in part to intercepted Israeli communications and observations of military movements, the official said. This includes the movement of air munitions and the completion of an air exercise. An attack could risk triggering a broader regional conflict in the Middle East, which the US has sought to avoid since the war in Gaza began. Mr Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a new nuclear deal. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran began last month. In mid-March, the US president set a 60-day deadline for a deal to be agreed, which has since passed. The US began their first talks with Iran over its nuclear programme 10 years ago last month. Israel also fears that after years of uranium enrichment, Iran could produce enough weapons-grade material to build a simple nuclear bomb within months. The US may decide to help Israel if it hits Iran, one official told CNN, while another said Mr Trump was unlikely to help carry out strikes without provocation. Other officials believe Israel does not have the ability to destroy Iran's nuclear programme without American help, such as providing the bombs needed to penetrate deep underground nuclear facilities. An Israeli source told CNN that Israel would be prepared to carry out military action on its own if the US negotiated a 'bad deal' with Iran that the Jewish state cannot accept, like allowing Iran to continue producing uranium. During recent talks with Tehran, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, suggested Tehran must relinquish plans to enrich uranium, which can be used for both a bomb and civilian energy purposes. Mr Witkoff recently told ABC News the US 'cannot allow even 1 per cent of an enrichment capability'. ' We've delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them,' he said. Iran insisted it had a right to enrich uranium under a United Nations treaty on nuclear non-proliferation, and called US efforts to stop it a 'big mistake'.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Israel ‘preparing strike on Iran's nuclear facilities without Trump's backing'
Israel is preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities without Donald Trump's backing, according to reports. In what would be a major break with Washington, intelligence sources told CNN that the chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear site 'has gone up significantly in recent months'. US negotiations with Tehran aimed at dismantling the regime's nuclear programme could make a strike more likely if the talks do not lead to the removal of all of Iran's uranium, sources added. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has long been under pressure to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, especially after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at Israel last October. Such a move could risk triggering a broader regional conflict in the Middle East, which the US has sought to avoid since the Gaza war began. Mr Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a new nuclear deal. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran began last month.
