Category: Politics

On Monday, the military-dominated parliament of Mali sanctioned a five-year democratic transition plan. The plan allowed the military government of Colonel Assimi Goita to continue on his post and rule the country up for more than five years.

Additionally, the legislature declared that the president, who serves in an interim capacity, would not be permitted to run for office at that time – theoretically, it is preventing Goita from taking office. The restriction, however, would not apply if Goita resigned and ran for president as a private citizen rather than as an official candidate.

However, the bill did not specify what date the elections would be held, which could allow Goita to rule uninterrupted until February 2027. Mali’s interim parliament voted for the bill almost unanimously, with 120 of its 121 members in favor.

Following the first coup in February 2022, the government promised democratic elections. Nevertheless, the junta in December 2021 indicated that the transition would take place between mid-2022 and late 2026, suggesting that it will be held at an unspecified time.

Mali’s transitional president initially was Goita, the leader of the military junta that deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in 2020.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to strengthen ties with African countries while in Dakar, Senegal as part of a four-day trip to West and Central Africa.

On Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall said during a joint press conference, “We will continue to enhance our relations with African countires on the basis of sincerity and solidarity. We exchanged ideas on how we can further advance our relations in every area, we once again gladly observed that we share the same determination to deepen our cooperation”.

Turkey and Senegal exchanged $540 million in bilateral trade in 2021. Erdogan said he is targeting $1 billion in trade by 2022.

Since 2007, The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has completed 186 projects in Senegal. The total value of which was $12m, is determined to maintain its activities.

Erdogan is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Dakar Olympic Stadium and visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea-Bissau. President noted that the 3rd Turkey-African Partnership Summit was held in December in Istanbul and set out a roadmap with Africa in relation to Turkey for 2022-2026.

On Tuesday, the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi expresses gratitude to India for proving the first consignment of humanitarian air of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. India has provided wheat to the war-ravaged country at a time when the nation is facing major food insecurity.

Foreign Minister of India Harsh V Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli was present at the ceremony held at Amritsar to flag off the first convey of 50 trucks carrying 25000 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

Afghan embassy said in a statement, “The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi expresses its gratitude to the government and people of India for the timely assistance of 50,000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan at a time when the country is facing a major food insecurity”.

In the statement issued, it was said that the remaining amount is expected to be shipped within a month as per the agreement between the government of India and the World Food Program (WEP). WFP will be distributing the wheat within Afghanistan.

India’s External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar met his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock to discuss bilateral issues. The wide range of discussion indeed the Indo-Pacific, development surrounding Ukraine and situation in Afghanistan.

He tweeted, “A wide-ranging discussion with German Foreign Minister @ABerbock. Focused on climate action and SDGs, bilaterally and globally”.

Mr. Jaishankar also met his Iranian counterpart H Amirabdollahian to discuss bilateral economic cooperation, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, and Afghanistan.

Over the Afghanistan issue, he said, “Covered Afghanistan, Indo Pacific, and Ukraine. Looking forward to building further on today’s meeting”.

On Friday, Mr. Jaishankar visited Germany to take part in the Munich Security Conference (MSC). During the MSC meeting, the escalating tension between the NATO countries and Russia over Ukraine will be extensively discussed.

The EAM is also expected to participate in a panel discussion of the Indo-Pacific along with leading the discussion at an ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ event. This event will be hosted by the Indian consulate in Munich and the Observer Research Foundation.

While his visit he also met his counterparts from Australia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Georgian, and various other countries.

As part of the trade dispute, the EU challenged China at the World Trade Organization on Friday, saying Beijing was interfering with European businesses’ ability to use foreign courts to defend patents.

The EU-China relationship has become increasingly strained, and the latest salvo comes just weeks after Brussels filed a separate case at the WTO alleging that Beijing was illegally punishing EU member state Lithuania for its stance on Taiwan.

Valdis Dombrovkis, the executive vice president said in a statement, “EU companies have a right to seek justice on fair terms when their technology is used illegally. That is why we are launching WTO consultation today”.

From phones to electric cars, the manufacturing of high-tech products requires a huge amount of patented technology. Companies from China are accused of years for violating patent terms and unfairly punishing rivals.

According to the EU, since 2020, Chinese courts have threatened companies in the EU with heavy fines and other legal actions if they take their complaints to other courts around the world.

EU said that these court actions were lodged by Chinese manufacturers that were seeking cheaper or free access to technologies in Europe.

In a pact with Australia, the UK committed 25 million pounds (S$46 million) to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific, and the leaders of both countries expressed “grave concerns” about Chinese policies in Xinjiang.

A video call between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Thursday (Feb 17) also called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and warned Russia against invading Ukraine.

In a joint statement post-meeting, the leaders said, “They agreed on the need for de-escalation and underscored that any further Russian incursion in Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake and have a stark humanitarian cost”.

Johnson and Morrison further added that the funds pledged for the Indo-Pacific security agreement can help in strengthening the regional resilience in areas that will include cyberspace, state threats, and maritime security.

Taiwan is considered by China to be a renegade province that needs to be reunified, if necessary, by force.

The Taiwanese air force has frequently invaded Taiwan’s air defense zone, part of what Taipei says is Beijing’s harassment of Taipei.

On Monday, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time since 2013. In a pivot toward economic partnership, the two countries mend ties strained by animosity.

The Gulf state’s de facto ruler Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan greeted Erdogan. Crown Prince visited Ankara last November where investments worth billions of dollars were signed.

At Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport before his departure, Mr. Erdogan said, “During the visit, we aim to develop the momentum we have captured with the United Arab Emirates and to take the necessary steps to go back to the level they deserve”. He further added that the dialogue and cooperation between the two nations carry great importance for the peace and stability of the entire region.

As the Arab uprisings erupted a decade ago, the UAE and Turkey have clashed over influence in the region, supporting opposing sides in Libya’s civil war and engaging in disputes from the eastern Mediterranean to the Gulf. The improved diplomatic relations come at a time when Turkey is experiencing economic turmoil and the UAE is pursuing a more conciliatory foreign policy based on economic priorities.

A deal worth more than $500 million will be signed between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Moroccan army to provide the Barak MX air and missile defense system.

As a flexible and modular missile defense system, the Barak MX system can protect against a wide range of missile threats and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). There are three types of interceptors in the Barak family: Barak-MRAD, which intercepts missiles up to ranges of 35 kilometers; Barak-LRAD, which can intercepts missiles up to the range of 70 kilometers; and Barak-ER, which can intercepts missiles up to the range of 150 kilometers.

This system is supported by the radar and various other launchers for the best coverage of combat aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, cruise Missiles, ground-to-ground missiles, and ground-to-air missiles.

Last November, when the Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, visited the COuntry, Morocco initially enquired about Israel providing these and other systems. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two nations about the defense collaboration. Other such deals were also signed during Gantz’s visit in November.

As per the defense source, both the nation spoke regarding the needs and several alternatives of which the Barak system was chosen. According to them, the main reasons for this are its flexibility and capabilities in various areas.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli leader to make an official visit to Bahrain. This historic trip highlighted the strengthening ties between Israel and some Arab governments.

Mr. Bennett’s visit would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but builds on a diplomatic thaw that began in 2020 when Israel forged formal ties for the first time with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, revived diplomatic relations with Morocco, and improved relations with Sudan.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s most powerful nation, considers Bahrain as a proxy for Saudi Arabia, a tiny but strategically important country. Some Arab leaders are less concerned about pressing Israel to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict swiftly than they are about containing a nuclear-capable Iran – a concern they share with Israelis.

All Arab states, except Egypt and Jordan, had previously been deterred from formalizing relations with Israel due to their support for the Palestinians. Mr. Bennett visited the Emirates in December, the visit provided financial and military support to the UAE, the largest oil-producing island nation in the region. Bahrain has 1.5 million people but exerts much less influence than the Emirates.

On Monday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob flew from Kuala Lumpur and arrived at 8:30 at the Brunei International airport for an official visit. The two-day visit is his first after becoming the prime minister in August. On Tuesday, Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah is scheduled to meet Datuk Seri Ismail.

PM’s wife Datin Seri Muhaini Zainal Abidin and PM Ismail were welcomed by Brunei’s Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and Pengiran Anak Puteri Masna upon arrival at Brunei International Airport at 8.30 pm. A welcoming ceremony was planned at the international airport to welcome the prime minister. A national anthem from Malaysia was followed by one from Brunei Darussalam, ‘Allah Peliharakan Sultan’.

After inspecting the guard of honor, the prime minister was received by members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Besides Mr. Ismail, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Senior Works Minister Fadillah Yusof, and Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim have accompanied him.

Malaysia and Brunei are expected to discuss the vaccinated travel lane by air between the two countries, among other bilateral issues. Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his entourage will leave on Tuesday at 5:30 for Kuala Lumpur.