Aaron Stein, FPRI
(FPRI) After three days of talks in Turkey, representatives from Washington and Ankara failed to reach agreement on the terms of a proposed safe zone in northeastern Syria. The two sides, treaty allies since 1952, share such widely divergent interests in Syria that compromise appears exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The reasons for these divergent interests are often described as an outcome of a half-hearted American intervention in Syria, where a small and limited... Читать дальше...
Fehim Tastekin, Al-Monitor
It is hardly an auspicious time for geostrategic adventures for Turkey. The governance mess after the country's transition to an executive presidency system, a worsening economic downturn and mounting political tensions since the March 31 local polls require Turkey to focus on its domestic woes. Yet, on top of its Syrian stalemate and soon after landing in the losers' club in Sudan, Ankara is cruising into another regional crisis the one in Libya.Turkey came back into... Читать дальше...
BBC News
The persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near "genocide" levels, according to a report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.The review, led by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, estimated that one in three people suffer from religious persecution.Christians were the most persecuted religious group, it found.Mr Hunt said he felt that "political correctness" had played a part in the issue not being confronted.
David A. Graham, The Atlantic
On June 13, 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 12 officers of the GRU, the Russian intelligence agency, with committing large-scale cyber operations to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Three days later, President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. Speaking at a press conference beside Putin, Trump absolved Russia of any hacking. He just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be, Trump said. Читать дальше...
Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post
Why doesn't Israel simply decide for itself and by itself what it wants and then implement that vision?Sometime next month, the United States will unveil the peace plan it has been working on amid great hype, hope and attention ever since President Donald Trump moved into the Oval Office in 2017.What the plan contains is a closely guarded secret in Washington, Jerusalem and Ramallah. Three people hold the keys: Senior Adviser to the President Jared Kushner, Mideast... Читать дальше...
Joe Minihane, CNN
(CNN) Pulling out from beneath St Pancras's magnificent wrought iron roof, the Eurostar slipping through tunnels towards the Kent countryside, it's easy to feel blas about taking a train from London to mainland Europe.From the ease of checking in at the UK's finest rail station just 30 minutes before departure to arriving in the heart of Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam without having to deal with baggage reclaim, traveling by rail to northern Europe feels both seamless and everyday.
Sky N.
Support for the main parties - led by Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn - was clearly down in these elections.It was supposed to be all about Brexit, but the local elections illuminated the deeper fault lines that continue to threaten to break the British party system apart.Despite expectations of a backlash from angry Leave voters against the government's handling of Brexit, the Conservatives endured many of their worst results in areas that voted Remain in 2016.
Peter Harrell, Foreign Affairs
A Long-Term Strategy to Ramp Up Economic PressureRussia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, its war in eastern Ukraine, its interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and other aggressive acts against the United States and its allies demand a strong Western response. For the past four years, that response has been dominated by sanctions and other coercive economic measures. U.S. and European officials have hoped that the economic measures would not only exact... Читать дальше...
Nvine Schepers, IISS
Before Saudi Arabia can embark on a full-scale nuclear energy programme, Riyadh will need to re-negotiate its current safeguards agreement. It is in Riyadh's interest to demonstrate that its nuclear intentions will remain peaceful, writes Nvine Schepers.Recent media reports have drawn a lot of attention to Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy ambitions and US nuclear diplomacy toward Riyadh. This explainer provides context and background information in order to better understand the dynamics at play.
Tan Hui Yee, Straits Times
BANGKOK - Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne three years ago, was officially crowned on Saturday morning (May 4) at the start of elaborate rituals lasting three days.It was Thailand's first coronation in 69 years.Dressed in a white, gold-trimmed one-shoulder robe, the monarch on Saturday morning sat in a pavilion in the Grand Palace while Thailand's Supreme Patriarch, the most senior Buddhist monk in the country, poured water down his back and on his hands. Читать дальше...
