Diplomacy

The EU and the six GCC countries are looking for ways to develop their relations amid a changing international context. Human rights remain an issue. A ten year moratorium on capital punishment can offer a good basis for renewed EU-GCC relations argue the commonspace.eu editorial team in this commentary.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan held a trilateral meeting in Ankara on Tuesday (23 February). Hailing the results of the meeting Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country wants to work closely with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan as part of its "Asia Anew" initiative, which it launched in 2019 to improve ties with Asian countries

The US Special Envoy to Yemen, Timothy A. Lenderking, is scheduled to begin an extended tour of the Gulf region in a diplomatic effort to bring an end to Yemen's six year conflict. The visit by Lenderking comes as Houthi forces reach closer to the city of Marib where forces loyal to Yemen's recognised government are trying to defend the last northern governorate in their hands.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reached a temporary bilateral understanding with the Government of Iran to continue monitoring and verification tasks, thereby saving the nuclear deal, for now.  IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, is back in Vienna after two days of intensive diplomacy with Iranian officials in Tehran.

"The US needs Turkey to counter Russia in the Black Sea region, the Middle East, and the South Caucasus. Turkey can also be useful in the US strategy to contain China", argues Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed. However given the number of problems between the two countries US-Turkey relations may normalise, but they will continue to develop in the cooperation/competition framework, he argues.

"The United States will work closely with our European Union partners and the capitals across the continent — from Rome to Riga — to meet the range of shared challenges we face. We continue to support the goal of a Europe whole and free and at peace."