Geopolitics

By Christiane Hoffmann Der Spiegel In an interview with SPIEGEL, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discusses his optimism that a deal will be reached over Tehran’s nuclear program. But he warns this does not mean the country is seeking rapprochment with the West. Mohammad Javad Zarif, 55, …

The momentum towards the beginning of the Egypt-led coalition operations in Libya are gaining steam: Two weeks and counting down according to some Arab officials with the launch of full-blown air sorties and special operations to enhance General Khalifa Haftar’s Operation Dignity.  Significantly, in eight months of fighting, …

What kind of role will Russia play in the region after NATO troops have left, and to what extent does the Soviet invasion of the 1980s still shape local attitudes? True to the ‘X factor’ of Afghanistan’s nebulous, twisting history, it took a relic of the Soviet fishing …

While the war in Yemen remains inconclusive, Saudi Arabia is escalating its intervention in Syria. Unlike the Yemeni theater, where the Saudis are the largest military force, the Syrian battleground will be more complex for Riyadh. The Saudis will be partnering with Turkey, and Riyadh and Ankara are …

Saudi Arabia has proposed a five-day halt to hostilities in Yemen to allow aid agencies to reach civilians suffering because of the country’s war, the Saudi foreign minister said on Thursday. The minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said the cease-fire’s start date had yet to be decided and could be …

Alexander Mercouris It is difficult to believe that there is nobody within the British foreign policy establishment who does not have grave doubts about the Cameron government’s ultra-hardline anti-Russian policy.  Though it has attracted surprisingly little international attention, Britain is holding a general election to decide the make-up of its …

By Nicola Abé, Christiane Hoffmann, Horand Knaup, René Pfister and Christoph Schult Relations between Germany and Israel are at a crossroads. Is it possible for the German government to continue to steadfastly support the country even as Jerusalem continues to refuse to allow the Palestinians to establish their …

On May 3, Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen. According to reports about from 20 to 50 soldiers have landed in Yemen’s strategic port of Aden for a ‘reconnaissance’ mission and more troops are coming. The deployment of Saudi-led forces seeks the goal to help forces loyal to US, Saudi …

Charlotte Kennedy Anthony Bubalo recently lamented that alliances and enmities in the Middle East are becoming so complex that even long-term watchers are struggling to keep up. Well, if that’s the case, Pakistan just added to the layers of confusion. Last month, Pakistan surprisingly refused to join its long-time ally and benefactor …