The Jordan Times: Ahead of Arab summit, Saudi Arabia repositioning as regional mediator

Originally posted on Levant's Agora:
By Amer Al Sabaileh. Saudi diplomacy amongst Arab countries has been very active recently, and coming up soon the Kingdom will host the next meeting of the Arab league. As part of this recent activity, the Saudi foreign minister paid a visit to Syria last week and for the…

Rai al-Youm: Raisi to Riyadh

Originally posted on Levant's Agora:
By Abdel Bari Atwan. The Iranian-Saudi reconciliation is proceeding apace — but the US could still try to sink it The Saudi-Iranian entente launched by the signing of last week’s Chinese-sponsored bilateral agreements quickly moved towards the full normalisation of relations and ‘zeroing’ of all problems between the two…

The Associated Press: Biden warns Saudi Arabia of ‘consequences’ after OPEC+ cuts oil production

Originally posted on Levant's Agora:
By Aamer Madhani. President Joe Biden said Tuesday there will be “consequences” for Saudi Arabia as the Riyadh-led OPEC+ alliance moves to cut oil production and Democratic lawmakers call for a freeze on cooperation with the Saudis. Biden suggested he would soon take action, as aides announced that the…

Bloomberg looking at the 4th week of August 2022

August 22 Ukraine is showing off wrecked Russian tanks in Kyiv for this year’s Independence Day celebrations. It’s not the military display President Vladimir Putin had in mind when he launched Russia’s invasion. The war that Russia — and some of Ukraine’s allies — expected to end in days with a victory parade for Putin

Khashoggi killing forgotten as leaders woo Mohammed bin Salman

As the realities of the end of free movement are felt acutely by millions of British holidaymakers this summer, people in the UK and the EU have discussed their reasons for applying for a European passport after the Brexit vote.

Bloomberg main messages for 11-17 July 2022

July 11 In the end, the anger on the streets of Sri Lanka finally breached the security, tear gas and rubber bullets that had helped President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to hold on to power. The defining images that surrounded his resignation this weekend were of people jumping into the presidential pool, rifling through medicine cabinets, and helping

Bloomberg main messages for 04-10 July 2022

July 05 Energy shortfalls were always part of the equation in the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But few were prepared for gas becoming a second front in President Vladimir Putin’s wider conflict with the US and its allies. In less than five months of war, Moscow has retaliated against successive waves of international

Bloomberg looking at the Balance of power June 20 – June 22

Colombia, Middle East, oil and gas.