On Monday, British trade ministers began their first combined travel to the Gulf, to explore a new trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Trade Policy Minister Douglas Alexander are leading conversations with their GCC counterparts. Trade has been a difficult sector for the UK recently, with Brexit frequently identified as a contributing cause. The administration, founded following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party's majority victory in J
On Monday, the British Foreign Office announced the launch of three strategic assessments aimed at increasing the country's worldwide impact and international position. By the end of the year, the external expert-led reviews should be complete. They are part of the UK's broader efforts to rebalance its foreign policy in response to changing global dynamics. These studies will look at major issues crucial for Britain's future on the global stage. The first priority will be to reinforce Britain's diplomatic partnerships to better adapt to geopolitical shifts. The second assessment will look
On Tuesday, Turkey will discuss the Israeli war in Gaza and regional relations during the Arab League ministerial meeting in Cairo for the first time in 13 years. While Turkey has condemned Israel's conduct in Gaza and supported efforts to accuse Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, its relationship with the Arab League has been strained. Despite better relations with Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, Ankara remains at odds with other members, most notably Syria. Turkey's participation in a joint contact group formed by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic C
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited AEM Holdings Ltd., a renowned semiconductor business, to explore partnerships in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Modi emphasised India's growing presence in the sector and expressed his commitment to increasing possibilities for young people. "Semiconductors and technology are critical for India-Singapore cooperation. "I look forward to working with you to grow this industry," PM Modi said on X. Both leaders were briefed on AEM's role in the global semiconductor supply chain, and they discussed st
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Singaporean CEOs and other prominent business leaders to explore opportunities to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. He asserted that he believes India's reforms to boost investment and innovation will strengthen bilateral ties. In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Interacted with top business leaders and CEOs in Singapore. We discussed ways to enhance economic linkages, focusing on reforms that will encourage investment and innovation.” Goh Chok Tong, Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister and former prime minister was also a guest of
Thailand received a new cabinet after King Maha Vajiralongkorn confirmed 35 members led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Wednesday. Paetongtarn took office on August 16, following Srettha Thavisin's removal after a court determined that he broke ethical regulations by choosing a Cabinet member with a criminal record. Paetongtarn is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in 2006 but remains prominent in politics. Paetongtarn leads the Pheu Thai Party, which took power after the Senate rejected the Move Forward Party's prime minister nominee despi
During his first bilateral visit to Brunei, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that relations between the two countries will be elevated to an "Enhanced Partnership." At a banquet celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah invited PM Modi to highlight the strong historical ties between the two countries. PM Modi emphasised the importance of increasing economic, scientific, and strategic collaboration. He and the Sultan discussed long-term LNG cooperation and agreed to strengthen partnership in the space sector through satellite developm
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi visited Ankara on Wednesday for the first time in 12 years to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking a significant step towards normalising relations between Egypt and Turkey after a decade of conflict. The leaders will co-chair the inaugural session of the High-Level Strategic Collaboration Council, which aims to improve bilateral collaboration. According to the Turkish presidency, the summit would evaluate all aspects of Egypt-Turkey relations and discuss new ways to strengthen the partnership. Several agreements are expected to
On Thursday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss ways to boost post-Brexit cooperation with Europe. Paris was the second stop on Starmer's tour of key EU capitals, after Berlin, when he launched treaty talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Macron greeted Starmer warmly with a hug and a handshake, signalling a positive start to their conversations. France, like Germany, is an important security partner for the United Kingdom, with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and one of Western Europe's nuclear-armed states. Both countr
On Thursday, France's President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to Belgrade to boost ties with Serbia and encourage it to align with the European Union, as Serbia attempts to strike a balance between the EU, Russia, and China. During his two-day visit, Macron met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss a variety of issues, including the purchase of France's Rafale fighter jets, energy cooperation, and advances in AI. This is Macron's second meeting with Vucic this year, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Belgrade in May, highlighting Serbia's key location on the EU's