The European Union and Russia have both confirmed that EU High Representative Josep Borrell will travel to Moscow next week for meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The visit will go ahead despite increasing consternation within the EU following the arrest of Sergey Navalny and clampdown on peaceful protests that followed in many parts of Russia over the weekend.

In his current visit to Baku, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif,  affirmed the readiness of Iran to actively take part in economic projects in Azerbaijan via Baku's regional cooperation plan. Zarif stressed that Tehran does not consider any limits for cooperation with Baku as he spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart,  Jeyhun Bayramov. 

The new US administration may decide to challenge Russia in the South Caucasus, but this will not work in Armenia's interest, and will not address Armenian concerns on the post-war situation in Karabakh, argues Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed.

Clashes were reported in Western Sahara over the weekend, between the Polisario Front and Moroccan forces near the same border location of El Guerguerat that witnessed tensions last November. The Polisario front says it's ready for dialogue but will continue the armed struggle.

A tense situation is developing in and around the South China Sea as China continues to flex its muscles through the projection of military power, provoking a response from both the United States, as well as other countries in the region. China is likely to try to test early the resolve of the incoming Biden administration to protect allies in the region.

Several attacks shocked the residents of Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq in the last week. On Thursday, twin suicide bombings targeted a busy marker killing at least 32 and wounding above a hundred. Moreover, On Saturday, Iraqi authorities announced that 3 rocket/is had landed in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport without causing any casualties.

After meeting Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels on Friday (22 January) European Council president Charles Michel tweeted that dialogue needs to produce tangible outcomes. Michel and Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are expected to visit Ankara soon at the invitation of president Erdogan.

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcomed, in a joint statement, the vote of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in favour of the selection mechanism for a new interim executive authority, which will guide Libya towards national elections on December 24, 2021.