OPINION

Shehab Al Makahleh • Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Ankara, before he headed to Berlin and Paris on his way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly meetings, sent several political signals and messages. One of the messages was directed toward Qatari …

GM | Staff Writer   After two days of negotiations, Astana talks wrapped up on Friday, resulting in long-awaited agreement on establishing the fourth and the final de-escalation zone in Idlib governorate bordering Turkey. As the talks were concluding, China finally upped the ante on Syria by expressing its …

Stana Dubajic   As the Syrian tragic war draws to its end, another potentially explosive development in the region is increasingly gaining media attention in recent weeks – the Iraqi Kurdish referendum. With less than two weeks left to the Referendum date, the Kurds seem to be faced with a …

Shehab Al Makahleh • The question whether Turkey would reopen its embassy in Damascus in the near future has become significant for many analysts due to the multiple messages that such a move would send to various regional and international powers. It has been confirmed by the Turkish side …

By Shehab Al Makahleh •    The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing a fundamental geopolitical transformation which has pushed both superpowers to get more involved in the affairs of the MENA region. The frequent visits of both American and Russian officials to the region reflect …

Erdogan wants to join China-Russia bloc via Pakistan. By Zain Khan • The power bloc A power bloc may just be formed from the friendship between Ankara, Islamabad, Russia and China. As celebrations are ongoing for the 70 years of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Pakistan, the long economic relations …

By Peter Korzun • Despite differences over Syria and the Iranian nuclear deal, current Russia-Saudi Arabia relations are arguably at an apex, both in terms of shared interests and mutual understanding. It has just been announced that King of Saudi Arabia Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will visit Russia in late October. …

Shehab Al Makahleh  Special to Al Arabiya English | Monday, 4 September 2017  Jordan has expressed optimism over the reopening of its border crossing in southern Syria, with government spokesman Mohammed Momani affirming that relations between the two sides were “heading in the right direction”. Expressing satisfaction at increased …

Stana Dubajic • With the current US administration visibly divided over all major international issues, coupled with the fierce fight of the American political establishment to discredit Donald Trump’s presidency, and the diplomatic Cold War with Russia, the questions arise as to which Western country will replace Washington in the settlement …