Diplomacy

Russia and China were high on the agenda as the most senior EU and US diplomats reviewed global challenges and moved to reset the transatlantic relationship.

"Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security". This was stated unambiguously in a statement issued by NATO Foreign Ministers at the end of their meeting in Brussels on 23-24 March.

In line with the regional and international efforts to bring peace to Yemen, Saudi Arabia’ foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, announced yesterday an initiative to end the war in Yemen. The initiative comes at a tense time for the Saudis as the Houthis upscale their attacks on vital energy and logistics infrastructure in the Kingdom. In Yemen itself, no side is winning in the multiple front lines across Yemen and the ramifications on the populations could not be worse.

Ambassador Natalie Sabanadze has resigned as the head of the Georgian Mission to the European Union – a post she has been occupying for the last eight years. Well liked and respected by the diplomatic community in Brussels, she will be a hard act to follow.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have started addressing outstanding issues with Qatar as they rebuild relations with the Gulf state. Riyadh and Cairo have taken a more pragmatic approach towards Qatar, and have moved faster than the UAE and Bahrain in resuming diplomatic relations with Doha, according to Reuters.

OSCE Chairperson-in-office, Ann Linde, visited Yerevan on Tuesday for talks with the Armenian leadership. Linde, who is also Swedish foreign minister, met president Armen Sarkissian, prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and other officials.

Boris Johnson, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, has today (16 March) published an Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy outlining the UK’s post-Brexit direction of travel.

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili arrived in Brussels on Monday and had two meetings with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel.

The Azerbaijani president told the visiting head of the OSCE that his country's conflict with Armenia was "already in the history and we need to look to the future".