Geopolitics

By Z Khandaker

News
Trump provokes global anger by recognising Israel's claim to Golan Heights
The Guardian - Oliver Holmes in Jerusalem
Syria has vowed to retake the Golan Heights as Donald Trump’s call for the US to recognise the occupied territory as part of Israel elicited strong responses from Russia, Turkey and Iran. The president
World News
Erdoğan praises New Zealand PM after row over mosque attacks
The Guardian - Patrick Wintour, diplomatic editor, and Bethan McKernan in Istanbul
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has tried to smooth over his diplomatic row with New Zealand by saying Jacinda Ardern’s empathy after the deadly mosque attacks in Christchurch was an example
World News
Russia, Iran and Syria slam Trump's Golan Heights comments
DW News - DW English
A statement by President Donald Trump that the US should recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is likely to stir tensions. Russia, Iran …
Israel
Israel to hold referendum on replacing Britain in EU
timesofisrael.com - By Deborah Cicurel
Benjamin Netanyahu has promised the Israeli people a referendum on joining the European Union, after Brussels said a space was up for grabs after …
Iraq
Iran just struck a hoard of deals with Iraq, and Washington isn't happy
CNBC - Natasha Turak
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has returned from his first-ever trip to Iraq with a raft of agreements for expanded trade, cross-border …
Great Britain
Why Brexit Is Europe’s Finest Hour
foreignpolicy.com - Michael Hirsh
It used to be that Feb. 21, 1947, was the date some historians marked as the end of Britain’s long run as a great power. That was the day London …
Long-form Journalism
Why Israel is quietly cosying up to Gulf monarchies
The Guardian - Ian Black
In mid-February 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, flew to Warsaw for a highly unusual conference. Under the auspices of the US vice-president, Mike Pence, he met the foreign ministers
World News
Baltic states no longer a bridge between east and west, says Latvia
The Guardian - Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
The Baltic states can no longer cast themselves in the role of a bridge between Russia and the west, the Latvian foreign minister, Edgars Rinkēvičs, has said in an interview with the Guardian. Successive
China
China says 13,000 'terrorists' arrested in Xinjiang since 2014
DW News - DW English
A new policy paper has defended China’s attempt to strike hard at extremism. The crackdown forms part of a strategy that includes "standardized" …
Bosnia & Herzegovina
New Zealand mosque massacres revive old wounds in the Balkans
straitstimes.com
BELGRADE (AFP) - As the gunman drove to the two New Zealand mosques where he carried out his mass killings, a Serb nationalist song was heard playing …
Malaysia
‘Let’s learn from Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad’: is Thailand about to ditch China for the US?
scmp.com - Bhavan Jaipragas,Meaghan Tobin
“It’s time for a rebalance”, “we’re too close to China”, “let’s learn from Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad”.Those were some of the views on the future of …
News
Senate passes resolution to end US support for Saudi war in Yemen
Guardian US - Associated Press
The Senate has voted to end US support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition’s war in Yemen, bringing Congress one step closer to a unprecedented rebuke of Donald Trump’s foreign policy. Lawmakers have before
Djibouti
Macron warns of Chinese risk to African sovereignty
Reuters - By John Irish
DJIBOUTI (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Tuesday of risks to the sovereignty of African countries from China's increasing economic presence as he began a visit to the east of the
Calling Dr. Strangelove: The threat of nuclear war cannot prevent World War III forever
rt.com
On July 25, 1945, in the waning moments of World War II, then US President Harry S. Truman jotted the following words in his diary, “We have …
Pakistan
Pakistan forges closer ties with Saudi Arabia – and Iran isn't happy
The Conversation UK - Scott Lucas and Umer Karim
New relationships are being forged within Pakistan – and between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. These relationships and their importance were captured in …
World News
'Alarming' Burkina Faso unrest threatens west African stability
The Guardian - Ruth Maclean in Ouagadougou
A rapid and alarming deterioration of the security situation in Burkina Faso is threatening to spread to its three southern neighbours, a senior US military figure has warned, heralding the potential of
Belt and Road Initiative
China tells US to mind its own business after Italy is warned not to join Belt and Road Initiative
scmp.com - Zhenhua Lu
Foreign ministry in Beijing says US stance is ‘laughable’ after White House warned Italy’s image would suffer abroad if it signed up for the …
News
Rumours grow of rift between Saudi king and crown prince
The Guardian - Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington and Nick Hopkins in London
There are growing signs of a potentially destabilising rift between the king of Saudi Arabia and his heir, the Guardian has been told. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
European News
A roadmap for European renewal | View
Euronews
Citizens of Europe, If I am taking the liberty of addressing you directly, it is not only in the name of the history and values that unite us. It is because time is of the essence. In a few weeks’ time,
Imran Khan
Imran Khan vs Narendra Modi: Who won the war of perception?
bbc.co.uk - Soutik Biswas
With the imminent release of the Indian pilot captured by Pakistan, tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries over the attack in Kashmir are expected to abate. So who won the battle of perception
World News
Opinion: Serbia-Kosovo land swap will open Pandora's box
DW News - Christian Schwarz-Schilling
A momentous step shrouded in secrecy is currently underway: Serbia and Kosovo are planning to trade territories. But shifting borders in the Balkans …
Pakistan
India and Pakistan Are Trying Hard To Avoid A Nuclear War. Can They Stumble Into One?
Forbes - Michael Krepon
First the obvious bad news: India and Pakistan have dialed up hostilities to the worst level since their 1999 war, when Pakistani troops crossed the Kashmir divide and Indian troops drove them back. There
World News
The lunch that never was: Trump walks away from North Korea negotiations
globalnews.ca - By Deb Riechmann And Jill Colvin
The table was set, with flowers in vases and menus tucked inside white napkins. Water glasses were filled. Wicker fans provided a cool breeze. But …
World News
Gunfire Between India and Pakistan Continues in Kashmir as Civilians Flee Border Towns
TIME - Roshan Mughal and Aijaz Hussain / AP
India and Pakistan exchanged gunfire through the night into Thursday morning in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, a day after Islamabad said it shot down two Indian warplanes and captured a pilot.
World News
The trouble with Kashmir
The Washington Post - By Emily Tamkin
World In 1947, India won independence from Britain, and Pakistan was created in the partition of British India. The partition was a bloody one — at least half a million were killed, and millions more displaced.
North Korea
Kim Trump summit: North Korean leader talks up denuclearisation
bbc.co.uk
http://vod-pro-ww-live.akamaized.net/av_pv7_pa3/modav/bUnknown-db6b27d2-9c73-4d1b-9185-1d85c8e196fe_p07253v9_cUnknown_1551321079341.mp4?__gda__=1551357207_535e8ed708b24c387bd01a0c1e0031aa North Korea's
India
India and Pakistan in 'uncharted waters'
bbc.co.uk - Soutik Biswas
"We are in uncharted waters," says Husain Haqqani, alluding to the latest round of heightened hostilities between India and Pakistan. The former Pakistani ambassador to the US served as an adviser to Pakistani
Pakistan military says shot down two Indian aircraft, captured one pilot | News | DW | 27.02.2019
DW News - DW English
More to follow...
News
'Get ready for our surprise': Pakistan warns India it will respond to airstrikes
The Guardian - Michael Safi in Delhi, Mehreen Zahra-Malik in Islamabad and Azhar Farooq in Srinagar
Pakistan’s army has warned it will respond to India’s aerial bombing over the disputed border in Kashmir, telling Delhi: “It is your turn now to wait and get ready for our surprise.” Pakistan’s foreign