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New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Trump's Gulf tour reshapes Middle East diplomatic map
NOTHING captured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's isolation more starkly last week than the image of United States President Donald Trump shaking hands with Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa — a man Israel has branded "an al-Qaeda terrorist in a suit". "He's got the potential. He's a real leader," said Trump after talks with Ahmed on Wednesday in Riyadh — a meeting brokered by his Saudi hosts, with whom the US president agreed a slew of arms, business and technology deals. Trump's four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates was more than just a diplomatic spectacle marked by lucrative investments. It sealed the emergence of a new Sunni-led Middle East order and leaves Israel sidelined, according to three regional and two Western sources. Amid growing irritation in Washington with Israel's failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, Trump's tour was a snub to Netanyahu, a close US ally who was the first foreign leader to visit Washington after the president returned to office in January, said the sources. The message was clear: in Trump's less ideological, more results-driven vision of Middle East diplomacy, Netanyahu could no longer count on unconditional US support for his right-wing agenda, said the sources. "This administration is very frustrated with Netanyahu and that frustration is showing," said David Schenker, a former US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs under former president George W. Bush. "They're very, very transactional, and Netanyahu isn't giving them anything right now." The Trump administration wanted to deliver the message to Netanyahu that the US had its own interests in the Middle East, and it does not like him standing in its way, the sources added. US patience has been strained not just by the Israeli prime minister's refusal to countenance a Gaza ceasefire but also his objection to US talks with Iran over its nuclear programme. While publicly insisting US-Israeli relations remain strong, Trump administration officials have privately expressed irritation with Netanyahu's refusal to fall into line with Washington's positions on Gaza and Iran. Six regional and Western sources said friction between the US and Israel was building before Trump's regional trip. The tension began when Netanyahu flew to Washington on a second visit last month seeking Trump's backing for military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites — only to discover, to his shock, that Trump was opting for diplomacy. An unbending advocate for a hardline stance against Teheran, Netanyahu was caught off guard, learning just hours before his meeting that negotiations were about to start. In the following weeks, Trump's declaration of a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen, rapprochement with Syria's new leadership and bypassing of Israel on his Gulf visit showed how the traditionally close relations had become strained, said the sources. During his election campaign, Trump made clear he wanted a ceasefire in Gaza and the hostages there released before he returned to the White House. Months into Trump's presidency, Netanyahu has continued to defy ceasefire calls, expanded the offensive and offered no endgame or a post-war plan after 19 months of conflict. The death toll in Gaza has passed 52,900 in recent days, according to local health officials. Any hope that Trump could use his regional visit to cement his image as a peacemaker and announce a deal to end the bitterly divisive war were dashed. Instead, Netanyahu — who is charged with war crimes in Gaza by the International Criminal Court — has doubled-down on his aim of crushing Hamas. Netanyahu is also on trial in Israel over corruption charges, which he denies. As Trump wrapped up his visit, Israel launched a new offensive last Friday in Gaza. Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians in recent days. Trump's other key priority — expanding the Abraham Accords establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab states to include Saudi Arabia — has also been blocked by Netanyahu's intransigence. Publicly, Trump himself has dismissed any talk of a rift. But Trump is forging ahead without Netanyahu. With unapologetic self-interest, the US president is driving a realignment of US diplomacy towards wealthy Sunni states. Although Netanyahu led the fight against Iran, the new regional order is being shaped in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Rudaw Net
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Trump-Sharaa meeting, a 'turning point' in US-Syria ties: Former US official
Also in Interview Plant believed to eliminate 95 percent of cervical cancer cells Iraq is successfully distanced from regional conflicts: UNAMI chief Kurdish parties must 'work quickly' to form government: US official President Trump can get deal with Iran done: US Deputy State Department Spox A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Senior US diplomat and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf described the landmark meeting between US President Donald Trump and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh as a 'historic' moment and a pivotal 'turning point' in US-Syria relations. Speaking to Rudaw, Leaf also hailed the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s decision to disarm as a significant step toward broader regional stability. During the high-profile meeting - hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and attended remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - President Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel and to assume responsibility for detention centers currently housing Islamic State (ISIS) affiliates in northeast Syria (Rojava), now controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A day earlier, Trump announced his intention to lift US sanctions on Syria as part of a broader strategy to normalize relations with Damascus. Speaking to Rudaw on Wednesday, Leaf said the move to lift 'all US sanctions' would 'have a tremendous effect on regeneration of the Syrian economy. She also pointed to the symbolic weight of the Syrian interim presidet's appearance alongside President Trump and MbS, calling it 'a very dramatic and strong signal of support for this transition' that Sharaa is leading in Syria. However, Leaf stressed that expectations of Sharaa are now substantial, particularly 'from the Syrian people, regional partners, and now very explicit expectations proffered by the US president.' 'Many of those expectations on the American part have to do with terrorism - that is to say, getting rid of all the foreign terrorist fighters who are still in Syria,' she noted. The senior US diplomat additionally ruled out an eventual normalization of ties between Syria and Israel. 'I think that's a very distant prospect,' she said, 'but on the other hand, I think there is room to hope that there will be a calming of tensions between Israel and Syria over the coming months.' Sharaa, then the commander of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led a coalition of opposition forces that ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8. He was appointed interim president in late January. While HTS remains designated as a terrorist organization by the US, Washington previously offered a $10 million reward for Sharaa's capture, but the bounty was dropped in late December. Leaf acknowledged Sharaa's controversial past but emphasized the vision he presented during their meeting. 'He laid out a clear sense of his hopes - his ambitions - for what he said was a new Syria,' she explained, 'a new Syria that would have good relations with all of its neighbors and with the broader region, a Syria that would no longer present threats to its neighbors and would not allow other parties or actors to present threats, whether it was to Israel, to Turkey, to Jordan or anyone else.' On the topic of the PKK, Leaf underscored the importance of the group's decision to disarm and dissolve, calling it 'the most significant recent event' that could pave the way for securing the rights of Syria's Kurds within a unified state. Founded in 1978, the PKK originally sought to establish an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its demands toward securing broader cultural and political rights for Kurds in Turkey. On Monday, the group announced that it would end its decades-long armed campaign against the Turkish state, describing the decision as a step toward a peaceful resolution. According to Lead, the PKK's decision further aligns with President Trump's push for the 'calming of tensions and conflict in this area through and across Syria." The following is the full text of the interview with Leaf. Rudaw: Hello Ms. Barbara. Thank you for this opportunity. Today, we witnessed a historic event. Donald Trump met Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh. Will the new Syria commit to normalizing ties with Israel, as the White House said and as Donald Trump requested? Barbara Leaf: Well, look, I think this was, as you say, a historic meeting. First of all, he preceded this by an announcement yesterday [Tuesday] that he was going to lift all US sanctions [imposed on Syria]. That is going to have a tremendous effect on the regeneration of the Syrian economy. And then to see him standing there near the president with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia [Mohammed bin Salman] is a very dramatic and strong signal of support for this transition. You were the first US official to visit Ahmed al-Sharaa in the previous months. Did you expect that five months after your visit, the US President would meet him? I want you to talk about the process over the past four to five months. Well, I think there are a lot of expectations that have been heaped on him, expectations by the Syrian people, expectations by regional partners, and now very explicit expectations proffered by the US president. Many of those expectations on the American part have to do with terrorism, that is to say, getting rid of all the foreign terrorist fighters who are still in Syria. But also the president raised expectations or hopes that eventually there would be a cooling or warming of relations, rather, with Israel and potentially normalization of relations. I think that's a very distant prospect. But on the other hand, I think there is room to hope that there will be a calming of tensions between Israel and Syria over the coming months. An interesting point that I want to ask you is that during your visit to meet Ahmed al-Sharaa a few months back, there was a reward for Ahmed al-Sharaa's arrest, but after your visit, the bounty was scrapped. How did this happen? Yes, there was a $10 million bounty on his head for some years put by the US government, because he was originally, he still is under US law. He is designated as a terrorist and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham is designated as a terrorist organization. But given the decision by the Trump administration that we should meet with him and begin engagement, diplomatic engagement, it was just logical that we would remove the bounty. And so I was asked to let him know that, and we had, there was a bit of joking about it on the part of the foreign minister who suggested that he could, that President Sharaa could offer himself up and get the $10 million bounty himself. But in any case, it was an important gesture at the time. Did he speak about this topic when you met him during your visit? Well, look, he laid out a clear sense of his hopes, his ambitions for what he said was a new Syria, a new Syria that would have good relations with all of its neighbors and with the broader region, a new Syria that would no longer present threats to its neighbors and would not allow other parties or actors to present threats, whether it was to Israel, to Turkey, to Jordan or anyone else. So he laid out a very ambitious agenda and he was at pains to reassure this first American official that he had met, that he intended to turn the page on a very dark history that the Assad family had made; a history of violence towards its own people and insecurity towards all of its neighbors. At today's meeting, were the rights of Kurds in Syria on the table between Trump and Sharaa? Did they speak about the Kurds and Rojava? I have not gotten all the details. They are just coming out now. It was a meeting [that lasted] for about a half an hour. We know that President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan of Turkey called in during the meeting. I think that is a significant piece [of information] right there. I also think, of course, that the most significant recent event was the decision by the [Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK to disarm and demobilize and to dissolve as an organization. So I think all of these events come together and offer some real promise for Syrian Kurdish rights within a unified Syria. This is something that Ahmed al-Sharaa, again, was emphasizing in my meeting with him, that he regarded and he would take the approach that Syria's Kurds had exactly the same rights as any other Syrian citizen, and that he would look to protect them. You made an important point regarding the PKK. On Syria, will the principle of self-administration or federalism as a Kurdish right in Syria be implemented in the Syrian constitution? So I think all of those details are issues that have to be worked out in a political set of compromises among Syrians, with Damascus, with the transitional and interim government. I think there is a lot of room for compromise to allow the kind of self-government or decentralized government, I might say, across the country. But these are issues that Syrians themselves really need to discuss around the [discussions] table. There is another topic. The David Corridor is a project that is frequently mentioned. Is it just social media rumors, or is there actually a project to expand Israel's hegemony in northeast Syria and until the Rojava-Kurdistan Region border? If you mean a project of Israel towards Syria, I think Israel's approach to Syria is premised, I think, still on the notion that there are many threats in this new Syria, that there are foreign terrorist fighters there, may be extremist Palestinian groups that are still active in Syria. So I think, frankly, that events this week, the move by President Trump, will have its impact in Israel as well. And my hope and expectation would be that there would be channels opened up eventually between Israel and Syria to manage their… even if they don't have diplomatic relations, even if they don't have formal relations, they can have an arrangement where they can manage their security concerns directly or with the assistance of a friendly government, be it the US or someone else. About the PKK, you said that the meeting discussed the process of the PKK laying down arms. Can you give us the details? Look, I think it's very clear what the PKK leader has laid out in terms of the future of this group, that it has met its goals and that it is time to disarm, demobilize, and no longer carry out militant actions. So I think this also adds to the positive nature of the conversation that President Trump and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and President Erdogan had today [Wednesday]. In the end, I think the US wants to see what a lot of regional neighbors want to see, which is a calming of tensions and conflict in this area through and across Syria. The Syrian people, be they Syrian Kurds or Syria's many other communities; they have suffered enormously because of the conflicts that have raged through the country. Will the US participate in the practical process of the PKK's disarmament? If it participates, will it participate as an observer or a guarantor? Well, if you mean oversee the PKK, I don't think the US has a direct role. Of course, the PKK has been listed as a foreign terrorist organization under US law for many years. So I don't think the US will have a direct role, but of course the US will monitor it closely. Is the US looking to have a role in deploying Iraqi border guards and Peshmerga forces in the places that the PKK will evacuate? Well, if the government of Iraq or the Iraqi security forces ask for some sort of technical support, advice, consultations, of course, I would imagine that we will be willing to offer that. Again, I don't see us having a direct role unless we're asked by the parties, unless we're asked by one of the governments or several of the governments to do so. Thank you so much.
Ammon
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
MEI announces distinguished military and diplomatic fellows
Ammon News - The Middle East Institute (MEI) is proud to announce the establishment of two new expert cohorts: the Distinguished Military Fellows and the Distinguished Diplomatic Fellows. These new designations bring to MEI a remarkable group of former senior officials who have shaped US defense and foreign policy at the highest levels. The rosters include retired US military leaders and former US diplomats, whose experience spans some of the most consequential commands and diplomatic missions in the Middle East and around the world. Their tenures include command roles in US Central Command and Special Operations Command, ambassadorial appointments across the region, and pivotal roles at the State Department and the National Security Council. They join MEI's Board Chairman, General John P. Abizaid, USA (ret.)—a former Commander of US Central Command and US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia—in exemplifying the Institute's unmatched bench of senior leadership on Middle East defense and diplomacy. The Distinguished Military Fellows include: General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (ret.) 6th Commander, US Central Command; Chairman Emeritus, Board of Governors, MEI General Joseph L. Votel, USA (ret.) 13th Commander, US Central Command; 10th Commander, US Special Operations Command; Member, Board of Governors, MEI General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., USMC (ret.) 14th Commander, US Central Command Lieutenant General Sam Mundy, USMC (ret.) Former Commander, Marine Corps Forces Central Command Lieutenant General Michael K. Nagata, USA (ret.) Former Commander, US Special Operations Command–Central Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, USN (ret.) Former Commander, US Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces Major General Scott Benedict, USMC (ret.) Former Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Colonel Liam Collins, USA (ret.) Former Director, Modern War Institute at West Point The Honorable Michael 'Mick' Mulroy Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East The Distinguished Diplomatic Fellows include: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon Ambassador W. Robert Pearson Former US Ambassador to Turkey and Director General of the US Foreign Service Ambassador Robert S. Ford Former US Ambassador to Syria and Algeria Ambassador Barbara K. Bodine Former US Ambassador to Yemen Ambassador Gordon Gray Former US Ambassador to Tunisia Ambassador Barbara A. Leaf Former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs The Honorable Mara Rudman Former Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs The Honorable Jonathan M. Winer Former US Special Envoy for Libya The Honorable Alan Eyre Former Member, US Nuclear Negotiating Team on Iran 'This is an extraordinary group of professionals,' said Kenneth M. Pollack, Ph.D., Vice President of MEI's Policy Center. 'Together, they represent decades of hands-on experience in the Middle East, from leading combat operations and special forces to shaping US diplomacy and crisis management. We're thrilled to welcome them to MEI and look forward to working with them closely as speakers, authors, and strategic advisors across all of MEI's programs.' 'These fellows are an invaluable addition to MEI's institutional capacity,' said Institute President Stu Jones. 'As we continue to expand our role as the premier center for scholarship, dialogue, and policy innovation on the Middle East, the expertise and credibility of these leaders help position MEI at the forefront of the policy conversation in Washington and beyond. We look forward to featuring them in a wide range of research, public programming, private briefings, and policy engagement in the months ahead.' Founded in 1946, the Middle East Institute (MEI) is America's leading nonpartisan policy and cultural institute focused on the Middle East. Based in Washington, DC, and working at the intersection of policy, education, and culture, MEI is the leading convener of Middle East experts and officials, fostering dialogue between diverse stakeholders. Its experts provide cutting-edge analysis of a complex region, while its Arts and Culture Center promotes understanding and cultural diplomacy through the universal language of the arts. MEI's Policy Center boasts a roster of leading regional experts, including former diplomats and US defense and security officials who provide decision makers with trusted analysis of the region's challenges and identify opportunities to advance US national interests.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A word (or two) of advice: Who's speaking at MetroWest college graduations?
The time is nearly here for caps and gowns, as the Class of 2025 prepares for commencement exercises at area colleges and universities. On their way out, they will be treated to words of wisdom from business people, academics, media figures, state officials and, in the case of Dean College, one of their own. What follows is some basic information about who has been chosen to deliver keynote speeches at undergraduate graduation ceremonies throughout MetroWest: When: 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 Where: DCU Center Arena and Convention Center, Worcester Commencement speaker: NBC10 Boston news anchor Latoyia Edwards. Known for her work with NBC10 Boston and NECN, she has been a prominent figure in New England journalism for more than two decades. She was named one of Boston Magazine's Most Influential Bostonians in 2023. 'Her inspiring journey, commitment to community engagement and dedication to storytelling as a vehicle for making connections resonate deeply with our mission to empower students to lead with purpose and integrity,' Framingham State University President Nancy Niemi said in a prepared statement. When: 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 Where: In front of Dean Hall, along Awpie Way, Franklin Commencement speaker: Communications major Amanda Shields (student speaker). For two years, she has been a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), the nation's largest leadership honor society. Students are nominated by their college or university for membership based on academic standing and leadership potential. Shields has also served as student manager of Dean's baseball team. When: 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 Where: Bentley University Football Stadium, Waltham Commencement speaker: Jerry Jacobs Jr., CEO of Delaware North and an alternate governor of the Boston Bruins. A graduate of Georgetown University, he joined Delaware North, a multinational food service and hospitality company based in Buffalo, New York, in 1989. In 2015, Jeremy Jacobs Sr. named Jerry Jr. and his brother Louis co-heads of Delaware North. When: 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 18 Where: Gosman Sports and Convention Center, Waltham Commencement speaker: American Judaism historian and professor Jonathan D. Sarna. He teaches in Brandeis' department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and serves as director of the university's Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. Sarna is regarded as one of the most prominent historians of American Judaism. His 2004 book, "American Judaism: A History, received the National Jewish Booh Award. When: 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 Where: MassBay's main campus in Wellesley Hills Commencement speaker: Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts secretary of education. For the time being, he's also interim commissioner of the Department of Early and Secondary Education after Russell Johnston's departure in March. Tutwiler holds a PhD from Boston College's Lynch School of Education and Human Development. When: 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 Where: Leader Bank Pavillion in Boston's Seaport District Commencement speaker: Beverly Malone, president and CEO for the National League for Nursing, which promotes excellence in nursing education. The American Nurses Association (ANA) named her as its 2024 Hall of Fame Award recipient. Malone also served as federal deputy assistant secretary for health under President Clinton. When: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16 Where: Severance Green, Wellesley Commencement speaker: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Isabel Wilkerson. In 1994, she became the first Black journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for individual reporting and first Black woman to win a journalism Pulitzer, according to the National Association of Black Jourmalists. Former Chicago bureau chief for The New York Times. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Who's speaking at MetroWest college graduations?
Al Manar
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
US Diplomat Calls for Direct Clash between Lebanese Army and Hezbollah
David Schenker, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affair, considered that this would be the best time to disarm Hezbollah, provoking the Lebanese to engage in an internal strife for the sake of the US-Israeli interests. In an article published by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and titled 'There Is No Better Time to Disarm Hezbollah', Schenker said that national dialogue proposed by the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will waste the 'historical chance' to demilitarize the Resistance in Lebanon. 'As in previous failed national dialogues, it appears that Hezbollah is once again embracing talks as a delay tactic.' Schenker presented the political approach of President Aoun, who is committed to sustaining the national unity, as a failed strategy that will fail to disarm Hezbollah. The former US diplomat, well-known for his pro-Israeli stances, also said that Aoun's talk about integrating some of Hezbollah fighters into the Lebanese Army is rejected with respect to the US administration and the Zionist government. Finally Schenker expected that if the Lebanese government persists and broadens its efforts against Hezbollah, there will be a violent clash. However, he said, 'Despite the risks, however, there will never be a more favorable time to disarm Hezbollah—with or without its consent—than now.'
