What now for Turkey in Cyprus and eastern Mediterranean?
The election of Turkey’s favorite candidate in the Turkish Cypriot presidential elections may create more problems than opportunities for Ankara in the eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan distracts from plummeting lira with call to boycott France
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France’s Emmanuel Macron of pandering to anti-Muslim “fascists” in a desperate bid to bolster his electoral fortunes ahead of presidential elections in 2022, yet many would agree that Erdogan’s anti-Western tirades are designed to divert attention from his country’s mounting economic woes.
France increases tension by recalling its envoy: Turkey
France has increased the tension by recalling its ambassador in Turkey and has been continuing with its “one-sided and egocentric” approach towards incidents and bilateral relations with Turkey, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 25 in a written statement.
Saudi business leaders call for boycott of ‘hostile’ Turkey
Political tensions between Turkey and Saudi Arabia are obstructing the movement of goods and putting a strain on trade relations between the two Sunni-Muslim regional powers.
Islamic State warns Saudi Arabia after allies normalize ties with Israel
How likely is it that followers of the Islamic State (ISIS) will heed its call on social media for attacks on Saudi oil pipelines and other infrastructure after the kingdom allowed planes en route to and from Israel to cross its territory?
Why Hezbollah, Pakistan now condemn France’s ‘anti-Muslim’ views – analysis
Several days after Turkish and Iranian media were given orders by the governing authorities to critique France for “Islamophobia,” condemnations have now poured in from Pakistan and the terrorist group Hezbollah.
Egypt, UAE establish Libya naval commando squad to fight Turkey
A special naval commandos unit made of of dozens of Libyan fighters has been setup with the held of the UAE to carry out operations against Turkey’s naval interests in the Mediterranean, sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The South Syria Deal: Two Years Later
Two years have passed since Syria’s south and southwestern regions were seized by government forces. Dubbed the “South Syria Deal,” a U.S.-Russian understanding with Jordan’s and Israel’s blessings, government forces and “state Symbols” took control of the countrysides of Daraa and Qunaytirah. Daraa-based opposition forces had to surrender and make do with a limited presence in the form of local councils while “non-Syrian elements” (a euphemism for pro-Iran militias) were removed from the Jordan and Golan borders.
ISIS in the North Caucasus
More foreign fighters are thought to have joined the Islamic State (ISIS) from the former Soviet Union than from any other region of the world. The most prominent and active contingent came from the North Caucasus in southern Russia. Many of the underlying causes of radicalization and recruitment remain unresolved, and violence and instability may grow in the region in the post-ISIS era. The international community and U.S. government should engage constructively with Russian and local authorities in addressing the legacy of over two decades of fighting in the region, ineffective deradicalization programs, and the impunity and corruption seen as inherent in both government and law enforcement.
