Three fully laden supertankers – including two Chinese vessels – crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in a possible sign that Tehran may be starting to open up the vital waterway to more shipping traffic. The exit of the three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) came on the same day that Iran confirmed it…
The nearly simultaneous visits to China by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin highlight a profound shift in the global balance of power. As wars, sanctions, trade disputes and energy insecurity continue to unsettle the international system, Beijing is increasingly positioning itself not only as an economic superpower, but also as a…
Ireland will introduce a long-promised bill seeking to curb trade with settlements in the West Bank to parliament in the coming weeks, Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said on Thursday. Ireland has been drafting the proposed legislation for the last year and has faced pressure from opposition politicians to include a ban on services as well…
The United States is prepared to temporarily suspend sanctions on Iranian oil exports during ongoing peace negotiations, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing a source close to the negotiating team. According to the report, Tehran is demanding binding guarantees from Washington that all sanctions will ultimately be lifted, while the US side has proposed removing…
Israel Aerospace Industries and other defense companies in Israel have presented the Defense Ministry and the IDF with a range of solutions to address the threat of explosive drones operated via fiber optics. Among the solutions proposed by the defense industries are kinetic interception systems and energy-based systems, including one that uses electromagnetic force to…
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed 20 documents covering economy, energy and transport during bilateral talks in Beijing on Wednesday, adopting a joint statement on deepening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. The two leaders also approved a declaration on forming a multipolar world and establishing a new type of international relations,…
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka announced that Prague will block any proposed European Union trade restrictions targeting Israel. He emphasized that the country is prepared to do so even if it requires utilizing a unilateral veto to halt the measures, according to European Pravda on May 20. We bring you stories from the ground. Your…
Some shipping industry professionals based in Dubai are reportedly considering relocating to Greece and Cyprus as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran continues to disrupt the Gulf region and raise concerns about long-term stability. According to a report by , western expatriates working in the maritime sector are increasingly viewing Athens and Cyprus as attractive…
Czechia’s Foreign Minister Petr Macinka made clear on Wednesday that Prague won’t sign off on any EU trade sanctions against Israel. After talks with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, Macinka said Czechia had serious reservations about last week’s EU sanctions package targeting violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Next time, Macinka was clear, Prague will be…
. The writer is a retired major general and has an interest in International Relations and Political Sociology. He can be reached at tayyarinam@hotmail.com and tweets @20_Inam For the past two weeks, we have been mapping out the implications, conclusions and lessons from the US-Israeli war on Iran. Having discussed the effects on warfare, and…
