Category: Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Appointed as Adviser to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for ASEAN Role

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his personal adviser. Thaksin will support Anwar during his leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.  

Anwar announced the appointment on Monday during Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Malaysia. Paetongtarn is Thaksin’s youngest daughter and the fourth member of his family to hold Thailand’s top political post.  

Thaksin’s role will be informal, alongside advisers from other ASEAN member states. “Thank you for agreeing to this,” Anwar said, calling Thaksin a “statesman” whose experience will benefit ASEAN.  

Thaksin, 75, is a major figure in Thai politics, influencing multiple administrations over the past 20 years. Although he was found guilty of abuse of power and conflicts of interest, he evaded charges for 15 years in self-imposed exile.  

In August 2023, Thaksin returned to Thailand and was jailed for eight years. However, his sentence was reduced to one year by the Thai king. Despite his legal troubles, Thaksin’s political influence remains strong.

France’s new Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, will meet with parliamentary group leaders on Monday and Tuesday, starting with Marine Le Pen from the far-right Rassemblement National. Bayrou shared this plan during an interview with La Tribune Dimanche.

Appointed on Friday, Bayrou is the fourth person to serve as French Prime Minister this year. His primary task is to navigate the 2025 budget through a divided parliament — a challenge that led to the downfall of his predecessor, Michel Barnier. Barnier’s three-month term was the shortest in modern French history.

Bayrou will meet party leaders in order of their parliamentary strength. Le Pen’s Rassemblement National holds the most seats after President Emmanuel Macron’s snap election in June, though it failed to secure a majority. The largest bloc, however, is the leftist alliance known as the New Popular Front.

“My first job is to be a builder and, failing that, a repairman,” Bayrou told the newspaper. Barnier had aimed to reduce France’s deficit, projected to hit 6% of GDP this year, by increasing taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals. However, he failed to secure parliamentary support. Le Pen criticized him for not addressing her party’s concerns.

The UK officially became the 12th member of the trans-Pacific trade pact (CPTPP) yesterday, joining countries like Japan, Australia, and Canada. This move aims to strengthen the UK’s trade ties in the Asia-Pacific region and boost global trade connections after Brexit.

Last year, the UK announced its decision to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking its biggest trade deal since leaving the EU.

With this accession, the UK can now apply CPTPP trade rules and lower tariffs with eight of the 11 current members – Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The deal with Australia will take effect next Tuesday, while agreements with Canada and Mexico will begin 60 days after they ratify it.

For the first time, the UK will have free-trade deals with Malaysia and Brunei. While it already had deals with the other members, CPTPP offers more flexible “rules of origin” provisions.

Unlike the EU, CPTPP does not require regulatory harmonization. The UK expects the deal to boost its economy by £2 billion (US$2.5 billion) annually in the long term – a small but notable 0.1% of GDP.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Devin Nunes, CEO of his social media platform, as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Trump also announced that his former intelligence chief, Richard Grenell, will take on the role of “Presidential Envoy for Special Missions,” focusing on hotspots like Venezuela and North Korea.

“Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform. “Ric will continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put AMERICA FIRST.” Trump did not mention any other countries, such as Iran, in his announcement.

Grenell, who previously served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s 2017-2021 term, also held roles as U.S. ambassador to Germany and a special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace talks.

Devin Nunes, a former U.S. lawmaker and current CEO of Trump’s Truth Social platform, will now chair the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. The board provides independent evaluations of intelligence agencies’ performance and planning. Nunes, known as a staunch Trump ally, previously chaired the U.S. House Intelligence Committee during part of Trump’s first term. Despite his new position, he will continue to serve as CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, Trump confirmed in a separate Truth Social post.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, which aims to streamline elections across India. The bill is set to be tabled during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, which runs from November 25 to December 20.

The proposal for simultaneous elections has been a key agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for several years. The idea is to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections to reduce election-related costs and administrative burden. Earlier reports had hinted at the bill’s approval, with government sources suggesting it was under consideration. In September, reports claimed that the Modi government had given the green light for implementing the concept of unified elections.

“This is today’s ‘nth approval’,” remarked a political analyst on LinkedIn, reflecting on the frequent discussions surrounding the bill’s progress.

The government aims to present the bill in Parliament during the current session and send it for further scrutiny by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). This step is seen as a significant move toward electoral reforms, with many political experts closely watching the bill’s impact on India’s democratic process.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on Sunday, ahead of the 4th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting. Jaishankar will co-chair the HJC alongside his Bahraini counterpart on Monday.

“Delighted to meet FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani today. Look forward to a productive meeting of India-Bahrain High Joint Commission tomorrow,” Jaishankar shared on X.

What’s on the Agenda?

The High Joint Commission will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Bahrain, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Cultural Visit to Shreenathji Temple

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar visited the 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple in Manama, calling it a “true symbol of the longstanding India-Bahrain friendship.” His visit highlighted the deep cultural and historical ties between the two nations.

Address at IISS Manama Dialogue 2024

Jaishankar later spoke at the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue, emphasizing India’s commitment to the Gulf and Mediterranean regions. He highlighted India’s focus on advancing economic, political, connectivity, and security cooperation within and beyond the region.

Key Diplomatic Engagements

On the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue, Jaishankar met with Czech Republic’s National Security Adviser Tom Pojar.

UK PM Keir Starmer Seeks Stronger Economic and Defense Ties with UAE and Saudi Arabia

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has begun his first multi-day visit to the Gulf region since taking office. His goal is to strengthen economic, defense, and security partnerships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, two of the UK’s most important modern-day partners, according to a government statement.

Starmer arrived in the UAE yesterday and is set to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today. Later, he will travel to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The visit aims to boost investment and push for progress on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement. Starmer also seeks to attract investment from wealthy Gulf nations to modernize UK infrastructure and support the clean energy shift.

Rebuilding ties with the UAE is a key focus, following strained relations under the previous UK government over a failed Abu Dhabi-backed bid to buy the Telegraph newspaper. Starmer stressed the importance of Middle East stability, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and faster delivery of humanitarian aid.

Japan and the Philippines have taken a major step toward bolstering maritime security. On Thursday, the two nations signed a 1.6 billion yen ($10.65 million) security assistance agreement to enhance the Philippines’ maritime surveillance capabilities amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.

As close allies of the United States, both countries have maintained a firm stance against what they perceive as China’s aggressive maritime activities in disputed waters.

Under Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance Programme, the Philippine Navy will receive vital equipment, including rigid-hulled inflatable boats and coastal radar systems, aimed at improving maritime domain awareness. The Japanese Embassy in Manila highlighted the project’s importance, stating, “The project is expected to contribute to maintaining and strengthening regional security and to enhance the security of the vital sea lanes, and will be of significance to Japan’s security.”

The agreement also extends to the Philippine Air Force, which will acquire tools to bolster its air surveillance radar system, further enhancing its monitoring capabilities.

“This strengthened security cooperation reflects Japan and the Philippines’ shared commitment to regional peace and stability,” said the Philippine Department of National Defense in a statement.

This deal follows a landmark military pact signed in July, allowing Japanese and Philippine forces to deploy on each other’s soil.

India and Bhutan strengthened their cooperation on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming India’s support for Bhutan’s Gelephu special administrative region project. During discussions with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, PM Modi assured continued assistance for the initiative.

The “Gelephu Mindfulness City,” an economic hub envisioned by King Wangchuck near the Indian border, was a key focus of the talks. The leaders also discussed India’s support for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024-29) and the Economic Stimulus Programme.

In a joint statement, King Wangchuck shared updates on the progress of the Gelephu project and emphasized its potential for regional benefits. PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment, saying the project “will bring prosperity and well-being in Bhutan and also the border areas, and further strengthen economic and investment linkages between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, sources indicated that Bhutan’s earlier government had nearly reached an understanding with China to resolve their unsettled border, a development that had raised concerns in New Delhi.

South America’s Mercosur trade bloc is set to meet in Uruguay on Thursday, with a chance they could announce a long-delayed trade deal with the European Union. Last-minute negotiations are ongoing to finalize the agreement.

The deal, backed by most South American countries and strongly supported by Germany and Spain, faces resistance from France. French leaders worry that increased agricultural imports could harm their powerful farming sector.

Negotiators from all sides met in Brazil last week, according to senior diplomatic and government sources. Virtual talks have continued this week, and there are plans for delegations to travel to Montevideo if they reach an agreement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might attend the Dec. 5-6 summit in Uruguay’s capital, two European sources revealed. One source noted that she has even reserved a plane ticket, although most officials caution that no deal is expected to be signed yet.

“The last round of negotiations ended with important progress,” said Mauricio Lyrio, secretary of economic affairs at Brazil’s foreign ministry. “We’re hopeful. Pending issues are being submitted to the leaders to be finalized.”

The outcome remains uncertain, but the involved parties appear committed to pushing the deal forward.