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Conflict and Peace

Stories related to violent conflicts, diplomatic tensions, and conflict prevention, mediation and resolution.

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US lifts sanctions against Syria and urges normalised relations with Israel

US lifts sanctions against Syria and urges normalised relations with Israel

US President Donald Trump met with Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and urged him to normalise ties with longtime enemy Israel, after an announcement that US would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government. Trump met the Syrian president before a summit between the United States and Gulf Arab countries. They shook hands in the presence of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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President Trump signs $142 billion arms package during visit to Saudi Arabia

President Trump signs $142 billion arms package during visit to Saudi Arabia

The US has agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it "the largest defence cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done. The agreement, signed during US President Donald Trump's visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defence companies in areas including air and missile defence, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said. Saudi Arabia is the largest customer of U.S. arms.

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Battlefronts back to stalemate as peace continues to elude Yemen

Battlefronts back to stalemate as peace continues to elude Yemen

The recent battle that erupted in Al-Baydah, centre of Yemen, has simmered like its counterpart in Marib. Groups and formations fighting the Houthis on the battlefront failed to garner sufficient support to withhold the recent gains by the legitimate government of Yemen allowing the Houthis to recapture some of the areas lost by them in the past few weeks. 
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Aliyev in Moscow amidst intensified clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Aliyev in Moscow amidst intensified clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, arrived in Moscow today (20 July) on the invitation of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. This is Aliyev’s second working visit to Russia this year – the first, on 11 January with the Armenian prime minister – and comes amidst clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
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China rushes to build security contacts in Central Asia in the face of Taliban advance

China rushes to build security contacts in Central Asia in the face of Taliban advance

China is rushing to build or increase security ties in Central Asia in the face of a Taliban advance following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan next month. However, some sources claim China is actually financing the Taliban, a report in the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta says.
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Russian media warn of impact of a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on Central Asia

Russian media warn of impact of a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on Central Asia

In Russia, and in the former Soviet states of Central Asia, there is growing concern about the situation in Afghanistan. Russian media has been urging the authorities to prepare for a Taliban takeover after the US and NATO complete their withdrawal from the country, now scheduled for 31 August, speculating that this will trigger a full-scale power shift in the country within several months.
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Yemeni army launches offensive in Al-Bayda province

Yemeni army launches offensive in Al-Bayda province

On Saturday (3 July), the Yemeni army and allied tribesmen launched a new offensive in Al-Bayda governorate to recapture the area from the Houthis. Several state and local media shows footage of armed vehicles rolling into the governorate for the first time since the war started. Reports suggest the Yemeni government succeeded in capturing some villages. 
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Opinion
Opinion: The South Caucasus needs more EU, less Russia, and a better life for all the people of the region

Opinion: The South Caucasus needs more EU, less Russia, and a better life for all the people of the region

The European Union has indicated it is re-enforcing its engagement with the South Caucasus, including on the thorny issues of conflict resolution. Dennis Sammut argues in this op-ed that this is timely and necessary. The region needs more EU, less Russia and prospects for a better quality of life for all its people. For this to happen the EU needs to be more strategic in its approach to the region and there is no longer place for hesitation and ambiguity, he argues.