Category: Politics

The Saudi cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has expressed strong support for the Kingdom’s intention to hold a combined Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh. The proposed summit will focus on settling the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and protecting the Palestinian people’s basic rights. The cabinet pointed out Saudi Arabia’s steadfast commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights on international venues.

Additionally, the council emphasised its commitment to Sudan’s security and stability. Saudi Arabia vowed to continue making efforts to support peace initiatives and end the current conflict in the country.

During the Riyadh meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefed the cabinet on his recent diplomatic activities. He emphasised his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, during which both leaders reiterated their shared support for the Palestinian and Lebanese people and pledged to provide humanitarian relief to alleviate their suffering.

The crown prince also spoke on his recent official visit to Egypt, where he met with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The discussions emphasised the importance of Saudi-Egyptian ties and aimed to improve collaboration in a variety of industries.

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has officially commenced his second term in office, following his landslide re-election with 90.7% of the vote. His inauguration on Monday followed a turbulent first term highlighted by many arrests and a crackdown on political opponents.

In his speech, the 66-year-old former law professor called for a “cultural revolution” to tackle unemployment, confront terrorism, and root out corruption, with the objective of “building a country where everyone can live in dignity.”

Saied’s re-election on October 7 comes after a contentious first term in which he suspended Tunisia’s parliament, revised the country’s post-Arab Spring constitution, and detained numerous critics, including political leaders, journalists, and civil society members. He has justified his actions as necessary to combat corruption and eliminate state enemies, promising to target “thieves and traitors” associated with foreign interests, whom he blames for preventing Tunisia’s progress.

Despite Saied’s pledge to safeguard liberties, several journalists were prohibited from covering his inauguration. The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists slammed the move, calling it a continuation of the “blackout policy” that limits journalistic work in the nation.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Meseberg Castle in Berlin for talks aimed at strengthening economic and political ties.

The talks come as Germany looks for new energy partners following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted its energy supply. Qatar, a major player in the energy market, has been increasingly significant in Germany’s energy diversification policy.

Saad al-Kaabi, Qatar’s energy minister, and Mansoor Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, the head of the Qatar Investment Authority, which owns stakes in significant German businesses like Deutsche Bank and Volkswagen, are with the Emir. One significant agenda is Qatar’s potential acquisition of a stake in Schwedt, Berlin’s largest refinery, which is now held by Russia’s Rosneft.

Beyond oil, global security issues will be tackled, with Qatar actively serving as a mediator in the Middle East, particularly between Hamas and Israel. Given the Gulf state’s strategic importance in the region, Germany regards it as a key partner. Some critics, however, dispute growing ties with Qatar because of worries about its human rights record, which came to light during the 2022 World Cup.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting kicked off on Monday in Samoa, with leaders and officials from 56 countries discussing crucial topics such as income disparity, structural discrimination, and violence against women. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland referred to these challenges as a “plague in our world.”

Participants from both established and developing countries, including large economies such as the United Kingdom, India, Canada, and Australia highlighted the ongoing difficulties of gender inequality. Despite previous accomplishments, Scotland emphasised that gender-based violence and limits on women’s leadership roles remain prevalent in many Commonwealth countries.

“Significant hurdles remain,” Scotland said, asking women to collaborate and remain vigilant. She was the first woman to serve as Secretary-General since 2016, and she warned that hard-won gains may be quickly lost if efforts faltered.

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa’s Prime Minister and the first woman to head a Pacific Island Commonwealth nation echoed the call for more gender equity measures.

In addition to gender issues, climate change and increasing sea levels were highlighted, with leaders expecting to announce ocean preservation measures. King Charles, the Commonwealth’s head, is scheduled to attend the summit mid-week, emphasising the group’s ability to address global issues collaboratively.

South Korea’s state-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently outbid France on a nuclear power plant project in Europe, a feat termed a “David versus Goliath” battle. According to South Korea’s Minister for Trade, Industry, and Energy, Ahn Duk-geun, this achievement marks the country’s emergence as a “major global player in the nuclear energy sector.”

Ahn emphasised that this result serves as a strategic “bridgehead” for South Korea to grow its nuclear exports to Europe, where nuclear energy is on the rise as part of efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and strengthen energy security.

KHNP is currently conducting a feasibility assessment for a nuclear plant project in the Netherlands and is in contact with potential partners in Finland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Analysts believe South Korea’s increase in nuclear power exports is driven not only by global clean energy initiatives but also by geopolitical factors. Professor Jerng Dong-wook of Seoul’s Chung-Ang University said that Russia, the current leader in nuclear exports, is facing sanctions as a result of its invasion of Ukraine, while China is focused on domestic demand, offering South Korea a unique advantage. Furthermore, the ageing infrastructure in the United States and France strengthens South Korea’s competitiveness.

Iran, Russia, and Oman began cooperative naval drills in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, according to state television. The exercise, known as IMEX 2024, aims to strengthen regional security, promote multilateral cooperation, and demonstrate the participating countries’ commitment to sustaining peace, friendship, and maritime security.

According to reports, the drills are intended to increase international maritime trade security, secure critical sea routes, improve humanitarian operations, and boost rescue and relief efforts. Furthermore, they act as a forum for disseminating essential knowledge on marine safety procedures.

This naval practice comes amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States as Iran aligns its military activities with Russia and China. The IMEX 2024 drills are another milestone in this growing partnership. Several countries, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, are represented as observers, emphasising the event’s international significance.

Earlier this year, in March, Iran, Russia, and China held their fifth combined naval practice in the Gulf of Oman, signalling a strengthening of military ties. As regional tensions mount, particularly with the Zionist entity preparing for a possible clash, these exercises reflect Iran’s goal of fortifying its allies and readiness.

Saudi officials officially launched the Global Harmony Initiative in Riyadh on Wednesday night, a scheme aimed at celebrating the Kingdom’s different ethnicities and cultures. The program seeks to investigate the professional and personal lives, social activities, economic contributions, success stories, and cultural integration of its participants.

This collaborative project, which includes the Quality of Life Program, Saudi Vision 2030, the General Entertainment Authority, and the Ministry of Media, will host a variety of activities during the Riyadh Season. These activities will highlight the cuisines, cultures, styles, music, and legacy of countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.

The opening ceremony, presented by journalist Fatma Fahad at the Movenpick Hotel, featured a video presentation emphasising unity through variety, with important statements including “No language or culture separates us” and “Saudi Arabia will remain your land, and its people are your people.”

Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s envoy, praised the program as a constructive move towards developing relations between expatriate communities and Saudi society, while Indonesia’s ambassador expressed optimism about the project’s future extension, citing the Kingdom’s rapid progress under its leadership.

US President Joe Biden will visit Berlin on Thursday for high-level talks with the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to discuss Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. With Kyiv pleading for immediate assistance from its Western friends, Biden’s summit will seek to discuss diplomatic steps to end the conflict, which has lasted two and a half years.

The meetings will also address the fast-rising situation in the Middle East, where efforts to curb destruction have stalled.

Biden’s journey comes after Hurricane Milton forced him to postpone his planned three-day state visit to Germany last week. He’s now making up for it with a shorter, more focused visit. After landing in Berlin late Thursday, Biden will meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday before attending a larger European gathering in the afternoon.

This journey followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s diplomatic tour of Western countries, during which he unveiled his “victory plan” for bringing Russia to the bargaining table. The war in Ukraine, its future course, and continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty will dominate conversations.

Growing concerns for a larger battle in the Middle East, notably between Israel and Iran, will also be an important focus.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will lead the Saudi delegation to the European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council (EU-GCC) Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on October 16. This move follows King Salman’s directions and reflects Saudi Arabia’s continuous commitment to regional cooperation.

Prior to the conference, Crown Prince Mohammed travelled to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Their discussions centred on improving Saudi-Egyptian relations in a variety of sectors, as well as regional security and stability challenges, notably in the Arab and Islamic spheres. The leaders emphasised the importance of ongoing partnership in addressing Middle Eastern concerns.

During their visit, both presidents saw the signing of agreements to form the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council and encourage mutual investment. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian colleague Badr Abdelatty both signed the council agreement. In addition, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Egyptian Minister of Investment Hassan El-Khatib inked an agreement to preserve and expand bilateral investments.

After leaving Cairo, the Crown Prince thanked El-Sisi for the warm reception and reaffirmed the strong connections between the two countries.

Tuesday’s meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi in Cairo focused on regional de-escalation and covered $5 billion in new Saudi investments. According to Sisi’s administration, both leaders called for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, expressing worries over prolonged regional violence associated with the Palestinian issue.

The decision to strengthen mutual investments and the establishment of a Saudi-Egyptian coordination committee were among the outcomes of the conference. They talked on “regional security and stability” prior of Prince Mohammed’s journey to Brussels for an EU-Gulf summit, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In light of Egypt’s economic difficulties, the crown prince proposed a $5 billion investment in Egypt last month, indicating the kingdom’s support for Egypt’s privatisation initiatives. Mostafa Madbouly, the prime minister, hinted at impending statements about the privatisation of banks and airports.

As Cairo battles a serious economic crisis, Saudi investments are essential to Egypt’s economic recovery and complement larger backing from the UAE and international organisations. Concerns about transparency and initiatives to enhance Egypt’s investment climate have caused development to be sluggish despite recent investment pledges.