Iran, Saudi Arabia Formally Restore Ties in Beijing Meeting |
The countries’ foreign ministers reestablished diplomatic relations (AP) and pledged to work toward economic cooperation and regional stability, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian tweeted today. In addition to reopening embassies in each other’s capitals, Tehran will open a consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh will open one in Mashhad, Iran, Iran’s state news agency reported. The last time Iran and Saudi Arabia held such high-level talks was in 2016 (BBC).
A joint statement from the officials said China and Switzerland helped broker the rapprochement (Bloomberg), which mends ties that were severed after Iranian protesters invaded Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran in retaliation for Riyadh’s execution of a Shiite Muslim cleric. That incident exacerbated the countries’ decadeslong rivalry, escalating proxy wars and destabilizing oil markets.
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“[The Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement] by no means lessens the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and regional policies. In the short run, however, Washington should welcome the lowering of tensions in the Middle East, which enables the United States to focus on other global priorities without the pretense of a steadfast commitment to the region,” the Istituto Affari Internazionali’s Maria Fantappie and Johns Hopkins University’s Vali Nasr write for Foreign Affairs.
“The Saudi leadership has reluctantly come to accept two unpalatable truths. The first is that Iran is now a powerful military force with a huge arsenal of missiles and proxy militias across the region, a force that Saudi Arabia and its allies are unlikely to ever defeat. The second is that Riyadh can no longer rely on Washington, despite the nominal strategic alliance between the two countries,” the BBC’s Frank Gardner writes.
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Macron Calls for China to ‘Bring Russia to Its Senses’ on Ukraine |
French President Emmanuel Macron made the appeal (France 24, AFP) at the start of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today, saying China could have a “major role” in ending the war in Ukraine. Xi said he hoped peace would be achieved through a “political solution” but used softer language than Macron, urging “restraint from all political partners” in Ukraine.
At this CFR meeting, experts discuss the U.S. policy options available to help end the war in Ukraine.
China/Taiwan: China sent an aircraft and three military vessels (Bloomberg) to the waters around Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States yesterday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said. China had responded more aggressively when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan last year.
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Azerbaijan Arrests Men Accused of Planning Coup |
Authorities accused the six men (Bloomberg) of trying to overthrow Azerbaijan’s secular government and install a pro-Iran theocracy at Tehran’s behest.
India: The central bank maintained its interest rates (FT) instead of raising them as expected, potentially reflecting concerns about persistent global inflation. Separately, economists at the World Trade Organization (WTO) said high rates worldwide factored into the organization’s decision to downgrade its expectations (WTO) for global trade growth this year.
For Foreign Affairs, Anusha Chari and Peter Blair Henry write that the battle to bring down inflation won’t end quickly.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Israel Raids al-Aqsa Mosque for Second Time in Twenty-Four Hours |
Israeli forces said the second raid was in response to “law-breaking juveniles” (CNN) throwing fireworks and stones. During yesterday’s raid at the mosque compound, home to sites revered by Jews and Muslims, Israeli police arrested more than three hundred Palestinians. That raid prompted an exchange of rocket fire between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. |
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South Africa Says Recently Docked Chinese Ship Is Not a Spy Vessel |
South Africa’s port authority called the ship a research vehicle but said it does not know the full extent (Bloomberg) of the ship’s mission in South African waters. The same ship docked in Sri Lanka last year, raising security concerns from China’s rival India.
Nigeria: The country plans to use $800 million (AfricaNews, Reuters) from the World Bank to cushion the impact of removing fuel subsidies. While officials characterized the money as a grant, the Nigerian daily Business Day said it viewed documents that showed the funding is a loan.
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Poland Pledges Additional Fighter Jets to Ukraine |
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit yesterday, Poland said it will soon send ten more jets (FT) to Ukraine. Poland has already delivered four jets to the country.
The Center for Preventive Action tracks the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine: The deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office told the Financial Times that Kyiv would discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if Ukrainian forces reach the Russia-occupied peninsula’s border. The comments were a departure from previous statements that Ukraine would only accept the full liberation of Crimea.
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Former Peruvian President Loses Bid to Block Extradition From U.S. |
A U.S. federal judge ordered the arrest (MercoPress) of Alejandro Toledo Manrique, who is under investigation in Peru for allegedly receiving millions of dollars in bribes.
Brazil: Former President Jair Bolsonaro testified to police (Reuters) as part of a probe of potential wrongdoing related to his receipt of jewelry and other gifts from Saudi Arabia’s king.
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Federal Government Proposes New Limits on Mercury Emissions |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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