Mısır Arap Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanı
No more govt 'stammering' on Regeni, demand handover of convicted says Fratoianni
(ANSA) - ROME, 28 SET - Nicola Fratoianni of the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) said that there should be no more government "stammering" on the Regeni case and it should work to get the three Egyptian security officials convicted of the student's abduction handed over to Italian authorities after they got 10 years in jail each in absentia Monday. "Ten years ago—shortly after Giulio Regeni's disappearance on January 25 and the discovery of his tortured body on February 3—I stated that Giulio had suffered physical harm: a terrible, fatal ordeal. I added that his loved ones would suffer a different kind of harm—moral anguish—devastated by the lack of justice. Indeed, over these ten years, they have witnessed cover-ups, lies, and delays by Egyptian authorities aimed at shielding those responsible for the kidnapping and murder. "Today, albeit years late, there is a verdict convicting some of the perpetrators. Heartfelt thanks go to the Regeni family, lawyer Ballerini, and the investigators and magistrates who never gave up. "Now there are no more excuses; there can be no more hypocrisy or stammering from the Italian government," stated Fratoianni of AVS. "A few days ago, (Foreign Minister Antonio) Tajani was in Cairo to strengthen ties with the Al-Sisi regime. "Now," the AVS co-leader concluded, "Tajani must return to Cairo, secure the handover of those responsible for the kidnapping, and demand the cooperation with our magistrates that has been missing for ten years. "And should this intolerable stonewalling continue, the Meloni government must take decisive action, for our country cannot maintain friendly relations with such a regime." (ANSA). Read article...
İsrail'i 7 Ekim öncesinde sadece BAE'nin değil, Mısır'ın da uyardığı iddia edildi
ABD merkezli The Atlantic'in haberine göre, 26 Eylül 2023'te Mısır İstihbarat Başkanı Abbas Kamil'in Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Havalimanı'na bir uçuş yaptığı kaydedildi. Kamil'in İsrail'e son derece hassas bir görev için geldiği ve 7 Ekim'den kısa süre önce gerçekleşen bu ziyarette Gazze ile ilgili ciddi bir mesaj ilettiği belirtilen habere göre, İsrailli, Mısırlı, Arap, ABD'li ve Avrupalı yetkililerin, Mısır İstihbarat Başkanı'nın İsrail'e Hamas'ın büyük bir saldırı için harekete geçtiğini bildirdiğini ileri sürdü. Kamil, çatışmayı önlemek amacıyla Tel Aviv yönetimine Hamas'a bazı ekonomik tavizler vermesini tavsiye ederek, "Eğer rotanızı değiştirmezseniz, Gazze yüzünüze patlayacak." dedi. Ziyaretten yaklaşık 2 hafta sonra gerçekleşecek olayla ilgili Kamil'in, tarih veya herhangi bir somut bilgi paylaşmadığı kaydedilen haberde, Mısırlı yetkilinin İsrail'de kimle görüştüğünün de bilinmediği, uçağın kayıtlara göre 67 dakika boyunca Ben Gurion Havalimanı'nda kaldığı iddia edildi. Yunanistan'da Netanyahu isyanı: Erdoğan ittifaklar kurarken biz vagon olduk Haberde, aynı gün Yom Kippur Savaşı anma törenine katılan İsrail Başbakanı Binyamin Netanyahu'nun törenin ardından gizli bir brifinge katıldığı ve Hamas'a bazı ekonomik tavizler verdiği aktarıldı. Mısır'dan 7 Ekim öncesinde İsrail'e uyarı yapıldığına ilişkin iddialar daha önce de gündeme gelmiş, İsrail Başbakanlık Ofisi bu iddiaları yalanlamıştı. The Atlantic'in haberinde, Netanyahu ve Mısır Cumhurbaşkanı Abdulfettah es-Sisi'nin sözcülerinin konuya ilişkin yorum yapmadığı, o dönemki İsrail Ulusal Güvenlik Konseyi Başbakanı Tzachi Hanegbi'nin ise Kamil'in ziyaretinden Mısır'dan herhangi bir uyarı geldiği iddialarını yalanladığı kaydedildi. Geçtiğimiz haftalarda Haaretz'in, BAE Devlet Başkanı Şeyh Muhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan'ın Mısırlı ve Filistinli kaynaklardan istihbarat bulguları doğrultusunda Netanyahu'yu arayarak bir saldırı konusunda uyardığı iddiasını ele aldığı haberinde, bu görüşmenin Netanyahu'nun yalanlamasına rağmen birçok yetkiliyle yapılan görüşme neticesinde teyit edildiği öne sürüldü. Habere göre, bir Mısırlı yetkili, Eylül 2023'teki ziyaretle ilgili olarak, "Kamil'in İsrail'e gitmesi, sadece bir saatliğine de olsa, Sisi'nin bizzat şunu hissettiği anlamına geliyordu: Oraya gidip bunu onlara kendin söylemelisin." ifadelerini kullandı. O süreçte İsrail'in iç siyasi krizlere ve işgal altındaki Batı Şeria'ya yoğunlaşarak Gazze'yi görmezden geldiğine işaret edilen haberde, İsrail'in 2007'den itibaren Gazze'ye kara, deniz ve hava ablukası uyguladığı, 7 Ekim öncesinde ise bölgedeki durumun İsrail'in uygulamaları ve diğer sebepler nedeniyle daha da kötüleştiği belirtildi. Haberde, Birleşmiş Milletler müzakerecileri, ABD'li yetkililer ve uluslararası kuruluşların Gazze'de gerginliğin olağanüstü derecede olduğunu hissettiği, ancak saldırı planından haberdar olmadığı, 28 Eylül'de ABD Merkezi Haberalma Teşkilatının (CIA) yabancı istihbarat servislerine dayandırarak Hamas'ın gerginliği tırmandırma olasılığına ilişkin bir iç rapor yayımladığı aktarıldı. ABD'li yetkililerin, bu raporda Hamas'ın İsrail'e roket saldırısı düzenleme olasılığını ele aldığı, 5 Ekim tarihinde de konuya ilişkin ikinci raporun yayımlandığı belirtilen haberde, ABD, Mısır ve İsrailli yetkililere dayandırılarak yine 5 Ekim'de Mısır'dan İsrail'e yeni bir uyarı gönderildiği kaydedildi.
İsrail'i 7 Ekim öncesinde sadece BAE'nin değil, Mısır'ın da uyardığı iddia edildiIraq has important role in strengthening collective Arab security: Egyptian president
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meets Iraqi Hikma Movement leader to discuss regional tensions, de-escalation efforts, support for Palestinians in Gaza
A question of region
“Don’t know much about history, don’t know much biology, Don’t know much about the science book, don’t know much about the French I took…” THIS is an old song, which seems to be an apt description of journalists — especially in Pakistan. Over the decades, the profession has moved on from print to television and now digital but our training remains rooted in old-fashioned ‘generalism’ (if there’s such a word). As with the bureaucrats who run petroleum one day and health the other, we journalists move from commenting on foreign affairs one evening to the economy and healthcare the next. The notion of specialising in issues or studying them in depth is as alien to us as democracy is to Islamabad’s neighbours. Perhaps this is why most in the profession rarely bother with reading and books. Take history — even of Pakistan. Those of us who entered the field at the time of newspapers learnt the country’s history through oral tradition. Late-night chats with senior colleagues, who had survived martial laws and newsroom working hours, told us of tumultuous times such as war, secession and dictatorship. They included those who remembered what it was like working during the censorship of Ziaul Haq’s times, the night Pervez Musharraf removed the government or when an operation was first launched against the MQM in Karachi. The oral history we learnt alongside copy editing was the best counter-narrative to the whitewashed account taught in school books under Pakistan Studies. Our daastango provided us with a fun but patchy account of the land of the pure. Patchy, for it leaves us with more questions than answers — the personal accounts that we learn history from are rooted in Pakistan but are a little sketchy on details of the region. Few journalists have travelled around the region and reported on other countries. As a result, many may point out similarities between Pakistan and Egypt (aren’t they obvious?) but few will note what makes them different and why. For a hack such as myself, the biggest difference is perhaps Pakistan’s impatience with its rulers. Our last dictator spent eight years in power, struggling in the last two. And in Egypt, Anwar Sadat spent 11 years in power, Hosni Mubarak around three decades, while Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been ruling for 12 and is still going strong. Closer to Pakistan, the Gulf states in general have also enjoyed stability and long reigns without much pressure from below. Evidently, this is due to oil, but can it explain everything? After all, Iran is no less oil-rich and yet it went through a revolution, which perhaps remains unprecedented as a political event in the region. Despite the authoritarianism of both the Shah and the theocracy that followed, Iran has demonstrated that its people believe in resistance. In recent years, they have pushed back multiple times against crackdowns; at times they have even compelled the state to change course. This is a strain missing in Iran’s neighbours to the west. Crowded, noisy and poor, societies in this region struggle with imperfect democracies. But to its east, it’s a different story. Pakistan and the rest of South Asia, in comparison to its western neighbours in the Middle East, are poorer and noisier. Is this why this region has avoided the kind of authoritarianism that marks the Middle East? Crowded, noisy and poor, societies in this region continue to struggle with flawed and imperfect democracies; there is flirtation with authoritarianism but on paper most of them adhere or aspire to the framework left by the British. This is true of Pakistan where martial law dictators have also worked hard to prove their democratic credentials by holding elections. And with it comes the inability of rulers in the region to lord it over their citizens for long periods. Indeed, in recent years, Hasina Wajed’s 15 years in power has been quite a feat. In India, Jawaharlal Nehru and Narendra Modi have also enjoyed prime ministerships for a similar period of time. On the other hand, in Pakistan, the longest power stints have been a bit shorter. In a tradition closer to Iran, South Asia has also pushed back against dictators of the civilian (Wajed) and military (Musharraf) type, with street protests forcing them to call it a day. Strongmen such as Modi have also been bested by students armed with their wit and social media, while in Pakistan, authoritarian establishments have struggled to clamp down on criticism on X. This is not entirely new: back in the 1970s, both Indira Gandhi’s imposition of the Emergency and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s authoritarian rule came to an end, albeit in very different ways. In one country, the democratic system pushed back while in the other, the military establishment did so. With all our problems, Pakistan’s journalists still sit in talk shows and complain about the censorship they face; their counterparts in nearby regions are perhaps not allowed to whine thus on live television. In most countries with censorship, journalists usually spend their time complaining about absolute freedom. There is an ‘argumentative’ South Asian that shapes this region differently from its western neighbours. And perhaps also its eastern ones. Travel east to Myanmar and here once again, regimes tend to become more authoritarian and more long-lasting. The long detention of Aung San Suu Kyi under a martial law regime illustrates this best. After a short experiment with elections and civilian control, Myanmar has returned to military rule but one in which contestation by the people has turned to civil war. While this may seem alien to Pakistanis, it is worrying that in parts of our country we, too, face a situation where the state appears to only control the cities. But what eventually determines the different state-society relationships in these countries? Why is Myanmar able to sustain military rule while Bangladesh is not? Or why has Pakistan, despite its close ties to the Middle East, not been able to impose a similar system of government? Now if I hadn’t learnt history in newsrooms and had read more, perhaps I could have answered some of these questions. The writer is a journalist. Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026
Sudan: El-Sisi and Cia Chief Discuss Sudan War
[Dabanga] Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe discussed Sudan's war during talks in Cairo earlier today, with El-Sisi reaffirming Egypt's support for Sudan's unity, sovereignty and state institutions.
Egypt's Sisi talks Gaza ceasefire with CIA chief
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held a meeting with United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe on Sunday, during which he stressed the importance of implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, according to his office.
CIA chief meets Egypt’s Sisi in rare Cairo talks
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sept. 20 in a rare visit to Cairo, as the United States warned of rapid escalation in the Middle East war.
US warns Middle East conflict could 'escalate rapidly', urges citizens to reconsider travel
The United States on Sunday warned that fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthis could “escalate rapidly” after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. “This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the US State Department warned, adding American citizens outside the Middle East should “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”. US President Donald Trump also cut short a weekend at Camp David, a secluded presidential complex in rural Maryland, to return unexpectedly to the White House on Saturday. The White House gave no explanation for the early return, which comes as a new threshold was crossed in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen and are fighting government forces backed by a coalition. Loud explosions rang out on Saturday in the Saudi capital, where AFP journalists saw a fuel tank bearing the logo of oil giant Aramco on fire near the airport. In recent weeks, the Houthis’ lightning offensive seizing swathes of Yemeni territory has left hundreds dead and, according to the UN refugee agency, displaced more than 110,000 people. The violence has already disrupted exports from Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading supplier of crude oil, as well as maritime traffic. CIA chief meets Egypt’s Sisi On Sunday, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a rare visit to Cairo. Sisi stressed “the paramount importance of settling regional crises through political and diplomatic tracks”, according to a presidency statement. The visit came days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also in the Egyptian capital, where he and Sisi urged safe and secure navigation through Bab al-Mandab, after the Houthis seized the Yemeni coast. The Bab al-Mandab strait is a Red Sea waterway that is crucial to energy flows and global shipping and which has become even more strategic since Iran imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Condemning the Houthis’ latest attacks, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the broadcaster NTV that his country had had discussions with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, partners in a mutual defence pact, about possible assistance. “In this regard, military needs, especially in state technical matters, may happen. There would be no problem in meeting this demand either,” he said. Saudi Arabia meanwhile seemed to contain the fallout of the Houthis’ attacks on its territory. On Sunday, the attack on Riyadh was not mentioned in several major Saudi papers, even though hours beforehand, the Saudi-led coalition had said that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis was “successfully intercepted and destroyed”. The coalition added that the pro-Iranian fighters had tried to target “civilians and civilian infrastructure” in several cities in the west of the kingdom, including the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, an important export hub for Saudi oil. It said these attacks were thwarted by the Gulf monarchy’s air defences. Claiming responsibility for the attack, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said fighters had carried out “two successful military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones”. “The first targeted sensitive sites in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the second targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.” Saudi Arabia has responded with scores of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas but has been unable to stop the fighters’ advance. The United States, according to US news platform Axios, last week refused a Saudi request to strike the Houthis, but Washington has since approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets. Widening conflict This is the first time since Yemen’s civil war resumed that strikes have threatened the Saudi capital, piling further pressure on a global economy already rocked by seven months of war between the US and Iran. Iran’s top negotiator said Tehran had conveyed to the US through mediators its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which it has blockaded throughout the Middle East war. The Middle East war began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which responded with retaliatory attacks on nearby Gulf countries. Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen also carried out attacks against their foes. While conflict in Yemen predates the Middle East war, the recent escalation in the country — one of the world’s poorest — has turned it into the most active front of the wider violence. A fragile truce reached in 2022 collapsed in July, and the Houthis went on an all-out offensive against the internationally recognised government this month.
US warns Middle East conflict could 'escalate rapidly', urges citizens to reconsider travelCIA Direktörü Kahire’de Sisi ile görüştü! Masada İran, Gazze ve bölgesel güvenlik vardı
Mısır Cumhurbaşkanı Abdulfettah es-Sisi, ABD Merkezi İstihbarat Teşkilatı (CIA) Direktörü John Ratcliffe ile bir araya geldi. Mısır Cumhurbaşkanlığı'ndan yapılan açıklamada, Cumhurbaşkanı Abdulfettah es-Sisi’nin, başkent Kahire'de ABD Merkezi İstihbarat Teşkilatı (CIA) Direktörü John Ratcliffe'i kabul ettiği bildirildi. Görüşmede Mısır İstihbarat Başkanı Hasan Reşad da hazır bulundu. Görüşmelerde İran, Gazze ve Sudan’daki gelişmelerin yanı sıra Körfez ülkelerine yönelik saldırılar ile deniz güvenliğini tehdit eden gelişmelerin ele alındığı kaydedildi. Sosyal yardım alanlar dikkat! İŞKUR teklifini kabul etmeyenlerin parası kesilebilir Sisi, ABD ve İran arasındaki krizin sona erdirilmesini sağlayacak kapsamlı bir anlaşmaya varılması çağrısında bulunarak, bunun bölgede güvenlik ile istikrarın yeniden sağlanmasına ve uluslararası seyrüsefer özgürlüğünün güvence altına alınmasına katkı sağlayacağını belirtti. ABD Başkanı Donald Trump'ın Gazze'deki ateşkesin kalıcı hale getirilmesine yönelik planının ikinci aşamasının tam olarak uygulanmasının önemine değinen Sisi, "Filistin meselesinin uluslararası kararlar ile iki devletli çözüm ilkesi doğrultusunda adil ve kapsamlı şekilde çözüme kavuşturulması amacıyla siyasi sürecin yeniden başlatılmasına uygun şartlar oluşturulmalı" ifadelerini kullandı. Haber İçi Banner
Egypt rejects displacement of Palestinians in meeting with Abbas
• President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stresses need for all parties to abide by ceasefire agreement • Mahmoud Abbas praises Cairo’s ‘steadfast positions’ CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday rejected any plans for Palestinian displacement, hours after Israel’s defence minister said the army would “finish the job” in Gaza and remove Palestinians. During a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sisi “reiterated Egypt’s firm stance against the displacement of the Palestinian people or any attempt to annihilate the Palestinian cause”. Abbas praised Egypt’s “steadfast positions” and reiterated that “Gaza is an integral part of our state”, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. The Egyptian president stressed that all parties must abide by the Oct 10 ceasefire agreement, including by halting escalation, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid and creating conditions for Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction, according to Arab News. Egypt shares the only land border with the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, and has since 2023 rejected plans to displace the territory’s more than two million people into the Sinai Peninsula. ‘Finish the job’ Earlier in the day, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said it was only a matter of time before Israel resumes full-scale war in Gaza, “to finish the job so that we can also implement the migration plan”. He said that an October 2025 ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump had “supreme value for all Israelis” by leading to the return of remaining hostages and ensuring “a commitment by the US” to disarming Hamas. “We all understand that this is not going to happen — and the IDF is prepared, once given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to finish the job so that we can also implement the migration plan,” Katz said in a statement, referring to the Israeli military. He said earlier this month that Israel was ready to remove Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land but was waiting for the United States, which he said was discussing where the two million people would go. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has denied any plan to “displace people out of Gaza against their will”. Nearly all of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced and most of the territory lies in rubble after three years of a war that has killed more than 73,700 Palestinians. Abbas also briefed Sisi on Israeli moves in the occupied West Bank, “most recently the implementation of the controversial “E1 settlement plan, which seeks to separate the northern and southern parts” of the Palestinian territory. The major settlement, which would further separate east Jerusalem from the West Bank, was green-lit by Israel last year and has been met with international criticism. The UN secretary general has said the E1 plan posed an “existential threat” to a contiguous Palestinian state. Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
Egypt rejects displacement of Palestinians in meeting with AbbasSaudi-led coalition says Houthis targeted Makkah with drone, warns of 'red line'
The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthis accused the rebels on Wednesday of targeting the holy city of Makkah, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and deepening the conflict roiling the region. Fresh fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government has dragged in Riyadh, with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeting its ships in the Red Sea. Last week’s lightning offensive saw the group seize control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for Saudi oil exports as the wider Middle East war chokes off the Strait of Hormuz strategic shipping route. The Houthis swiftly rejected as a “lie” Riyadh’s report that it shot down a drone from the rebels heading towards Makkah, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year. “The claims about targeting Makkah are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone,” Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis’ politburo wrote on X. The Saudi coalition vowed retaliation, warning that the security of holy sites was a “red line”. “The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line, and the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures against the Terrorist Houthi Militia,” the coalition said in a statement shared by spokesman Turki al-Maliki. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — a bloc of 57 Muslim countries — condemned the “heinous” attack. Saudi Arabia had issued brief alerts on Tuesday over possible attacks in Makkah and across swathes of the kingdom’s south, which borders Yemen. The alerts, including the first one issued in Makkah since the Middle East war erupted in February, came a day after a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen wounded 13 people in the kingdom’s south. Fighting flared in July when the Houthis, who have for years controlled swathes of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni government forces. The conflict in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country has forced 82,000 people to flee their homes since the start of September, according to the United Nations. Yemen’s permanent representative at the UN, Abdullah al-Saadi, said Yemenis were fighting to restore “national institutions across every inch of their land”, and called on the international community to take action against the Houthis. PM Shehbaz condemns ‘dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack’ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned in the “strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah”. “The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act,” he wrote in a post on X. He lauded the “extraordinary vigilance, courage, and professionalism of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their swift and heroic action”. The premier urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to step back from the brink of further escalation”. “Our region has already suffered far too much from conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace,” he stressed. “Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain — a duty that every Pakistani carries close to their heart.” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also condemned the incident, saying that “such a provocative act violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, gravely offends the religious sentiments of the Muslims worldwide, and threatens regional peace and security”. “Pakistan stands firmly with the leadership and people of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding the sanctity and security of the Two Holy Mosques, the Haramain Sharifain, and ensuring the safety of pilgrims, citizens and residents,” he said. ‘Hostile and extremist’ On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for free navigation in the Red Sea following the Houthis’ offensive in the vital waterway. After meeting in Cairo, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for “ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation” through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, the Egyptian presidency said. The revival of Yemen’s civil war, dormant since 2022, has left Riyadh rushing to respond. US media reported last week that the Saudi crown prince made a personal request to President Donald Trump for US intervention, but was turned down. The Houthis have insisted that there is no threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab except for Saudi vessels. Any attacks in the waterway are likely to make it less attractive to shippers. Disruption in the strait could cause Egypt to feel the pinch too, as the Red Sea serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal, upon which Cairo relies for crucial foreign revenue. Canal revenues are currently around half of what they were before the Houthis first started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023, a campaign they said was in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza. On Tuesday, Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was closed, saying it would be “catastrophic for the entire world”. The Houthis have also targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, helping push global prices above the $100-a-barrel threshold. The Saudi-led coalition said it would deal with the attacks “firmly to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom”, and would take “all necessary operational measures to deter this … hostile and extremist approach”. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia launched 52 airstrikes on Yemen over the past 24 hours, accusing it of targeting civilian sites, including schools and bridges. But Riyadh’s strikes have failed to reverse the group’s gains. A US military task force is working to enhance intelligence-sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces as they face attacks, a US official told AFP on Tuesday.
Saudi-led coalition says Houthis targeted Makkah with drone, warn of 'red line'Saudi-led coalition says Houthis targeted Makkah with drone, warn of 'red line'
The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthis accused the rebels on Wednesday of targeting the holy city of Makkah, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and deepening the conflict roiling the region. Fresh fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government has dragged in Riyadh, with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeting its ships in the Red Sea. Last week’s lightning offensive saw the group seize control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for Saudi oil exports as the wider Middle East war chokes off the Strait of Hormuz strategic shipping route. The Houthis swiftly rejected as a “lie” Riyadh’s report that it shot down a drone from the rebels heading towards Makkah, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year. “The claims about targeting Makkah are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone,” Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis’ politburo wrote on X. The Saudi coalition vowed retaliation, warning that the security of holy sites was a “red line”. “The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line, and the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures against the Terrorist Houthi Militia,” the coalition said in a statement shared by spokesman Turki al-Maliki. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — a bloc of 57 Muslim countries — condemned the “heinous” attack. Saudi Arabia had issued brief alerts on Tuesday over possible attacks in Makkah and across swathes of the kingdom’s south, which borders Yemen. The alerts, including the first one issued in Makkah since the Middle East war erupted in February, came a day after a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen wounded 13 people in the kingdom’s south. Fighting flared in July when the Houthis, who have for years controlled swathes of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni government forces. The conflict in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country has forced 82,000 people to flee their homes since the start of September, according to the United Nations. Yemen’s permanent representative at the UN, Abdullah al-Saadi, said Yemenis were fighting to restore “national institutions across every inch of their land”, and called on the international community to take action against the Houthis. Houthi attacks have brought Mideast conflict to ‘dangerous juncture’ Speaking at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Yemen, Pakistan’s Permanent Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Wednesday condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. “The Houthi military escalation inside Yemen, the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture,” he said. “Pakistan condemns, in the strongest terms, all Houthi attacks against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that the country will “continue its earnest efforts at the highest levels to help diffuse tensions and advance peace and stability in the region”. He said that Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia and stood in complete solidarity with its leadership, government, and people. “And consistent with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan fully supports the kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and safeguard its national assets against any threat,” he said. The envoy also said that the expansion of Houthi attacks in and around Bab al-Mandab represented a “serious escalation”. “Combined with continued violations of international law against commercial shipping, these developments pose a growing threat to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of international maritime commerce. Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponise the vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security,” he said. ‘Hostile and extremist’ Yemen’s plea came as Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for free navigation in the Red Sea following the Houthi’s offensive in the vital waterway. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on Tuesday for “ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation” through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab — which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, the Egyptian presidency said. The revival of Yemen’s civil war, dormant since 2022, has left Riyadh rushing to respond. US media reported last week that the Saudi crown prince made a personal request to President Donald Trump for US intervention, but was turned down. The Houthis have insisted that there is no threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab except for Saudi vessels. Any attacks in the waterway are likely to make it less attractive to shippers. Disruption in the strait could cause Egypt to feel the pinch too, as the Red Sea serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal, upon which Cairo relies for crucial foreign revenue. Canal revenues are currently around half of what they were before the Houthis first started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023, a campaign they said was in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. On Tuesday, Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was closed, saying it would be “catastrophic for the entire world”. The Houthis have also targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, helping push global prices above the $100-a-barrel threshold. The Saudi-led coalition said it would deal with the attacks “firmly to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom”, and would take “all necessary operational measures to deter this … hostile and extremist approach”. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia launched 52 airstrikes on Yemen over the past 24 hours, accusing it of targeting civilian sites, including schools and bridges. But Riyadh’s strikes have failed to reverse the group’s gains. A US military task force is working to enhance intelligence-sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces as they face attacks, a US official told AFP on Tuesday.
Saudi-led coalition says Houthis targeted Makkah with drone, warn of 'red line'Riyadh vows ‘firm response’ as sirens blare in several cities
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (left) shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his arrival at the Cairo international airport on Tuesday.—AFP • MBS meets Sisi, calls for free navigation in Red Sea • Qatar warns against ‘catastrophic’ Bab al-Mandab closure • Over 100,000 flee fighting in Yemen: UN • Riyadh informs European customers of cargo cancellations SANAA: Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s leaders called on Tuesday for free navigation in the Red Sea, after Riyadh vowed a firm response to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, who now control the southern entrance to the key waterway. Saudi Arabia also issued emergency alerts for several cities, including Yanbu, Jeddah, Taif, Abha and Jazan, but lifted the same a few minutes later. The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces since the country’s civil war reignited in July. In a lightning offensive last week, they seized control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which has become vital to Saudi crude exports as the wider Middle East war chokes the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia has also blamed a separate pro-Iranian movement, based in Iraq, for an attack on Friday that knocked out one of the kingdom’s most important oil transport routes, the East-West Pipeline across the Arabian desert. The kingdom has also informed its European customers that some late-September crude oil cargoes will be cancelled, three sources told Reuters. Saudi Aramco declined to comment. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday, where the two discussed the latest crisis. They called for “ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation” through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, the Egyptian presidency said, adding that Sisi affirmed Egypt’s support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia “to protect its security and stability”. Last week, US media reported, the crown prince made a personal request to President Donald Trump for US intervention, but was turned down. The Houthis have insisted that there is no threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab except for Saudi vessels, though any attacks in the waterway are likely to make it less attractive to shippers. Disruption in the strait could cause Egypt to feel the pinch too, as the Red Sea serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal, upon which Cairo relies for crucial foreign revenue. Canal revenues are currently around half of what they were before the Houthis first started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023, a campaign they said was in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza. On Tuesday, Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was closed, saying it would be “catastrophic for the entire world”. “The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab al-Mandab into that equation,” Qatar foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi told reporters. ‘Hostile and extremist’ Meanwhile, a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis confirmed on Tuesday that missile and drone attacks in three areas the previous day wounded 13 civilians. The Houthis have also targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, helping push global prices above the $100-a-barrel threshold. The Saudi-led coalition said it would deal with the attacks “firmly to protect the sovereignty of the kingdom” and would take “all necessary operational measures to deter this… hostile and extremist approach”. The return to fighting in one of the region’s poorest and most populous countries has worsened a deep humanitarian crisis, with the UN saying on Tuesday that 100,000 people had been internally displaced by the new fighting. Thousands more, it said, had fled across the sea to Djibouti. The Yemen war dates back to the Houthi seizure of the capital Sanaa in 2014, with Saudi Arabia leading a coalition that intervened the following year on the government’s side. A Houthi strike in western Yemen on Monday killed eight government soldiers, according to two military sources. Saudi Arabia responded with more than 50 strikes, as it had the day before, according to the Houthis, but its strikes have failed to reverse the group’s gains. The United Nations Security Council was due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the Houthi offensive, diplomatic sources said. Houthi ‘response will continue’ Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis’ politburo said the “Yemeni response will continue and escalate as long as they (Saudi Arabia) persist in their aggression against our people”. The fighting in Yemen comes as the wider Middle East war remains at a stalemate, though Trump on Monday said he was open to holding talks with Iran. However, Iran’s top security chief Mohsen Rezaei replied that “there will be no negotiations until Iran’s conditions are met. That is all there is to it.” A proposed meeting between Gulf states and Iran over the future of Hormuz was postponed on Monday, with Tehran accusing Riyadh of using Yemen as a pretext to delay the talks. Tehran has long supported the Houthis, a member of its anti-Israel “axis of resistance”, including with weapons and technology, but has denied any role in the current war. Experts dispute the extent to which it is behind the renewed fighting. Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2026
Riyadh vows ‘firm response’ as sirens blare in several citiesSaudi crown prince seeks neighbours' backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for free and secure navigation in the Red Sea during talks in Cairo on Tuesday, as the kingdom vowed to respond "firmly" to attacks by Yemen's Houthis. The two regional powers discussed the threat posed by the Iran-backed group's control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell has more.
Egypt's Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince stress need for security of Red Sea navigation
DUBAI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the need to ensure freedom and security of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea during talks on Tuesday, the Egyptian presidency said. Sisi also expressed support for Saudi measures to protect its security and stability, and for efforts to reach a comprehensive and sustainable political solution to the Yemen crisis, the presidency said. (Reporting by Mohamed Hendawy, Writing by Jana Choukeir; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Saudi Arabia vows retaliation for 'hostile and extremist' Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia vowed on Tuesday to respond “firmly” to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, after the group wounded 13 people in the kingdom in an assault using ballistic missiles and drones. The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July, when the group declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and began targeting its ships in the Red Sea. They seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait last week, which has become vital as the wider US-Iran war chokes the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia issued attack alerts Tuesday for Mecca — the holy city’s first of the Middle East war — and Jeddah and Taif governorates, before quickly cancelling them. Saudi civil defence had earlier issued short-lived air-raid alerts in six regions. The Houthis have also targeted the oil infrastructure of Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, pushing global oil prices above the $100 threshold. A Houthi strike in western Yemen on Monday killed eight government soldiers, according to two military sources. The group also claimed a new large-scale attack using “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones” against King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, in southern Saudi Arabia. A Khamis Mushait resident told AFP he heard “intense blasts” which left fires burning for a “long time”, adding “Honestly, we couldn’t sleep at all.” The Riyadh-led coalition confirmed on Tuesday there had been missile and drone attacks the previous day on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, reporting 13 civilians wounded and damage to seven houses and two vehicles. Saudi Arabia responded with more than 50 strikes, as it had the day before, according to the Houthis. As attacks continue, the United Nations Security Council is due to meet to discuss the Houthis’ offensive, diplomatic sources said. ‘Hostile and extremist’ The coalition said it would deal with the attacks “firmly to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom” and would take “all necessary operational measures to deter this … hostile and extremist approach”. While Saudi Arabia has conducted dozens of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas, it has failed so far to deter the fighters’ lightning offensive. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was expected to hold talks with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today. US media reported last week that President Donald Trump had rejected a personal request from the Saudi crown prince to intervene in the war. On Saturday, Trump said the Houthis had called Washington and asked the US not to get involved. Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis’ politburo said the “Yemeni response will continue and escalate as long as they (Saudi Arabia) persist in their aggression against our people”. The renewed fighting in Yemen comes as the wider regional war remains at a stalemate. But Trump on Monday said he was open to holding talks with Iran. “The failing nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage — the concept of which we are open to,” Trump said on his Truth Social network. Iran’s top security chief Mohsen Rezaei responded by saying on X that “there will be no negotiations until Iran’s conditions are met. That is all there is to it.” Tehran has repeatedly listed demands including war reparations and the lifting of sanctions as preconditions for ending the war and its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. ‘Catastrophic for the world’ A proposed meeting between Gulf states and Iran over the future of Hormuz was postponed on Monday, with Tehran accusing Riyadh of using Yemen as a pretext to delay the talks. Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was closed. Foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi said shutting the strait would be “catastrophic for the entire world”. The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014 at the outset of the civil war, driving the government to Aden in the south. The following year, Saudi Arabia led a coalition to intervene on the side of the government, launching wave after wave of airstrikes as the conflict escalated into one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. The UN’s migration agency said on Monday that the renewed fighting in the Arab world’s poorest country had forced 93,864 people to flee their homes. Refugees from Yemen, fleeing clashes between Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, gather under a shade after arriving in Djibouti, September 12, 2026. — Reuters
Saudi Arabia vows retaliation for 'hostile and extremist' Houthi attacksWhat the West fails to grasp about China’s strategy to lead the world
What the West fails to grasp about China’s strategy to lead the world The World Today iallan.drupal 8 September 2026 Xi Jinping wants to forge ‘a common destiny for humankind’ by winning over the Global South and taking Taiwan. But if America and Europe are to counter this ‘double pivot’, they must better understand ‘Xi Thought’, argues Steve Tsang. This article is published as part of ‘The World Tomorrow’, the magazine’s new strand for fresh ideas about the direction of global order. On 18 October 2017, delegates at the Chinese Communist Party’s National Congress listened to their leader announce a new political doctrine, ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’. It discussed party discipline, national security and the direction of travel for China, among other topics. But as Xi outlined his doctrine for a de facto new state ideology, he also expressed something that none of his predecessors, not even Chairman Mao, attempted: a global strategy for China based primarily on his own thought. It was a remarkable moment in the history of Communist China’s foreign policy. In late 1978, Deng Xiaoping ushered in China’s ‘reform and opening up’ era. In the three decades that followed, China’s foreign policy adhered to another dictum of his – that China should ‘hide its capabilities and bide its time’. His successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao largely did just that, shying away from anything approaching a global strategy. This approach served China well as it led to western policymakers helping China to modernize and emerge as a potential superpower. Xi Jinping Thought That all changed with Xi Jinping Thought. Since taking office in 2012, Xi had consolidated power; but it wasn’t until his speech on the eve of his second term that he defined more clearly ‘the China Dream of National Rejuvenation’, with his vision of consolidating the party’s control over everything as an instrument for China to forge a ‘common destiny for humankind’ by 2050. Recent American administrations have made the mistake of thinking that China wishes to replace the United States as the global hegemon. It set out Xi’s plan to return China to global preeminence. Xi believes such preeminence will emerge if China can pull off a double pivot in its global strategy: establishing its leadership of the Global South and gaining control of Taiwan. The two are inextricably linked with his ambition, ultimately, of transforming the world order. Yet as important as it is to understand these goals, it is equally important to grasp Xi’s approach to foreign policy – something that the United States and other western powers often fail to. A conventional ‘realist’ assessment of China’s foreign policy emphasizes its national interest and its power relative to other nations. Xi and his regime certainly make those calculations. Yet, such an assessment risks failing to see that Xi’s ideological preferences and the security of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) trump all other considerations in Beijing’s global strategy. This makes China under Xi an unusual kind of realist actor, one which I and Olivia Cheung examine in our new book China’s Global Strategy under Xi Jinping – the term we use for Xi’s vision is ‘Sino-centric party state realism’. — China’s leader Xi Jinping, left, with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt upon his arrival in Cairo on 1 September, 2026. Key to Xi’s global strategy is his influencing of Global South countries. Photo: Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images. An understanding of what Sino-centric party state realism means for China’s global ambitions is crucial for western powers seeking to compete with and challenge Beijing. Many fail to apprehend the true nature of these ambitions. For instance, recent American administrations have made the mistake of thinking that China wishes to replace the United States as the global hegemon and impose a new world order. That isn’t the case, as I’ll argue below. It is also necessary to recognize that Beijing has no interest in enabling us to understand China’s global strategy – its interest is in getting us to understand it in ways that benefit China. But first, it is helpful to examine a key concept in this strategy. A ‘common destiny for humankind’ In the CCP’s official English translation of this concept in Xi Thought, the Chinese leader sees across the world an opportunity to build ‘a community with a shared future’. This phrase is routinely repeated by western policymakers, analysts and news media. It is an anodyne statement, deliberately so, and, arguably, framed to disarm and mislead. A faithful translation of the Chinese is ‘a common destiny for humankind’, which reveals a more concerning vision. A ‘common destiny’ for all does not emerge organically in a community of free and equal agents choosing to share a future; it needs to be forged by a leader, China. A ‘common destiny’ for all does not emerge organically – it needs to be forged by a leader, China. How might China forge this ‘common destiny’? By, in Xi’s words, the ‘democratization of international relations’. In this framing, China is not seeking to replace the existing international order or the US as the global hegemon with the legacies that would entail, such as undertaking the role of the world’s police officer. Instead, Xi’s ambition is for China to take over the leadership of the international order by securing the support of the Global South, thereby executing its first pivot. Global South countries represent a clear majority in the UN General Assembly and by population count. The modified order would be Sino-centric, based on Xi’s understanding of the traditional Chinese concept tianxia (see sidebar at foot of the article) – in theory at least, a fundamentally different model of global leadership to the American-led rules-based order. To expedite this ‘democratization’, China does not work to export its Leninist political system; rather, China’s aim is to help countries of the Global South resist the US and the West imposing their liberal-democratic political model on them. In pursuit of this goal, Xi has deployed enormous diplomatic and economic resources. Since 2021, he has announced four global initiatives, on development (2021), security (2022), civilization (2023) and governance (2025), complemented by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s global infrastructure and economic development strategy. In this process, China’s relations with the US have been relegated to a lower priority, contradicting the belief in Washington that Beijing is fixated on outcompeting Washington. Instead, Beijing pursues its global ambition by cultivating support from the Global South, which is defined loosely to include almost every nation outside the ‘democratic West’. By this formulation, when Chinese preeminence is accomplished the end of US hegemony is simply a by-product. Wooing the Global South Xi’s four global initiatives have attracted relatively little attention in the West. The US and Europe are not the intended audience. But the initiatives do appeal to the weaker democracies and autocratic regimes of the Global South whose leaders appreciate that Xi’s suite of initiatives not only commits China not to interfere in their domestic affairs but also gives them protection against others – the US and its allies primarily – from doing so. For example, at the Boao Forum of April 2021, Xi said: ‘We must not let the rules set by one or a few countries be imposed on others, or allow unilateralism pursued by certain countries to set the pace for the whole world.’ This is why many Global South leaders understand the Chinese rhetoric of the ‘democratization of international affairs’ implies a transformation of the international order from one imposed by a self-righteous and democratic US, as they see it, to a more hands-off alternative shaped by authoritarian China. — A TV news report broadcast in a restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan, shows the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing in May. Xi told the US president their two countries should be ‘partners not rivals’. Photo: I-Hwa Cheng/ Getty Images. The attraction is reinforced by China’s offer of otherwise unavailable development loans without conditionalities such as accountability and transparency, via the BRI scheme. The scaling back of the BRI in recent years may have reduced the size of these loans but it remains substantial at close to $124 billion for 2025. The refined approach has made Chinese development projects more sustainable and subject to less abuse, without significantly reducing their value in cultivating support. The other demand Beijing makes of Global South countries is to give verbal support for its claim over Taiwan, which is cost-free to them. Little wonder that Xi’s global initiatives gain traction in more and more Global South countries. Beijing is asking Global South countries to give verbal support for its claim over Taiwan, which is cost-free to them. China has also used the support of Global South countries to expand and consolidate its control over important parts of key international organizations, of which the most important is the United Nations. For example, at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Human Rights Council, Beijing, with support from its Global South partners, has fundamentally changed how they operate and made them responsive to Chinese preferences in the past two decades. In this way, Beijing is building momentum for further changes within the UN, at a time when most western democracies are neglecting it and reducing their overseas development budgets. The unrelenting enhancement of Chinese influence at key international organizations is meant to enable China to make more decisive changes when it is ready. The Taiwan pivot The second pivot in China’s global strategy is to take Taiwan, in defiance of the US commitment enshrined in its Taiwan Relations Act (1979) to help the country defend itself against an externally imposed change in its status. Taiwan matters not so much because it is the top producer of critically important advanced microchips but because it lies in the middle of the strategically vital First Island Chain in the Pacific Ocean and has only remained beyond Chinese control thanks to US protection. If achieved, the taking of Taiwan, and the discrediting of the US in the process, would mark China’s assertion of its global preeminence. In Beijing’s approach to Taiwan, Xi has made a paradigm shift. To all his predecessors, including Mao, Taiwan was unfinished business from the Chinese Civil War (1946–1949), but none saw a need to specify a timeline for its incorporation into China. In contrast, Xi has made Taiwan central to his China Dream of National Rejuvenation, making 2050 the deadline for taking it. Beijing’s preferred outcome is to demonstrate overwhelming military superiority that pressures Taipei to submit to ‘reunification’ and thus remove the American raison d’être for intervention. Should this tactic fail, it will use force. The calculation is that success by either means will reveal US impotence to counter a spectacular Chinese move to take control of the First Island Chain. That would not only enable China to project power deep into the Pacific but would force key US allies such as Japan and South Korea to calculate if they can still rely on their respective defence treaties with the US for their security. If achieved, the taking of Taiwan, and the discrediting of the US in the process, would mark China’s assertion of its global preeminence. Crucially, it would link the dual pivots of its global strategy, ushering in an appeal to China’s supporters in the Global South to make significant changes to key international organizations. — Taiwanese army troops participate in the Han-Kuang military exercise, at a power station in Penghu County, Taiwan on 5 August, 2026. The 10 day-long exercises simulated a response to a possible invasion by China. Photo: Daniel Ceng /Anadolu via Getty Images. Should Xi’s global strategy come to fruition, the world as we know it will be relegated to history. Although its strategic goal, as expressed in ‘Xi Thought’, is formally limited to enjoying preeminence, as the premier state of the world China would, in effect, become the global hegemon. To the rest of the world, the distinction between preeminence and hegemony means little. A new world order dominated by China, which puts the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and its supreme leader at its core, is a world hostile to democracy, individual rights and human dignity, at least as they are understood in vibrant democracies. The deadline Xi has set for the fulfilment of his China Dream, 2050, is nearly a quarter of a century away. It implies that while China is unrelentingly working to implement its global strategy, Xi is not in a hurry. The democracies of the West and elsewhere that are worried about Xi’s vision have, to a degree, time to devise effective countermeasures. Each pivot in China’s global strategy provides inspiration. How the West might respond To counter China’s Global South pivot, the democracies of the West need to work together to engage China in what can best be described as a beauty contest. The liberal international order has been found wanting, which is why Xi’s proposed transformation gains traction in the Global South. A return to the previous version of the liberal international order is neither possible nor sufficient. Related work China sets out its vision for a new global order – but will it commit the resources to match its ambition? But by working in a collegial way with Global South partners to make the UN and other international organizations more representative and responsive to most nations and peoples in the world, the democracies of the West can provide a more attractive package than what Xi’s ‘common destiny for humankind’ promises. To do so, the US and Europe will have to re-invest heavily in overseas development aid, with better arrangements to enable the recipients to play an active role in making good use of them as they see fit. They also need to jettison what, from the Global South’s perspective, amounts to hypocrisy: while rich democracies talk about human rights as universal, they tend to only defend the rights of their own citizens. To counter China’s Taiwan pivot, the key is to exploit the overriding priority of Sino-centric party-state realism: that Xi will not do anything that jeopardizes his and the Communist Party’s hold on power. This means that however much Xi may want to take Taiwan, he will resist doing so if he knows an attempt will bring about a catastrophe likely to unleash forces within the party to unseat him. This opens a way to deter China. But American military deterrence alone is insufficient as Xi’s purges of his senior military officers mean that no Chinese general would dare to advise Xi to act on US military deterrence. To succeed, it must be complemented by economic deterrence, something that Xi instinctively understands. Xi’s purges of his senior military officers mean that no Chinese general would dare to advise Xi to act on US military deterrence. Nearly half of China’s economic ties in value terms are with the US, the European Union, Britain, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. For a highly externally oriented economy such as China’s, suddenly losing its ties with those countries would bring cataclysmic consequences, with potentially dire repercussions for the CCP. The democracies could coordinate to threaten Beijing in private with a break in economic ties before China invades Taiwan. If they did, Xi would need to determine if the damage to China’s economy would result in moves within the CCP to oust him. A calculated risk-taker rather than a reckless leader, he could be deterred, especially if western diplomatic efforts included a reassurance to Beijing that, should it respond favourably to the deterrence, the democracies would ensure that Taiwan did not cross Beijing’s red line and assert de jure independence.
‘We are at a moment of peril with AI ... The sooner [it is regulated], the better’Against the odds, BRICS overcomes sharp divisions in New Delhi
The 18th summit of BRICS, a grouping with ten members including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa, concluded in New Delhi with a leaders declaration — a clear success for an event that brought together a deeply divided group of countries, including some currently fighting on either side of a war in the Middle East. Key world leaders attended, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. There was, of course, the expected pageantry. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even belted out a 1960s Bollywood hit at the leaders’ dinner party to the admiration of his Indian hosts. This success was not guaranteed. Just a few months previously, BRICS foreign ministers had failed to agree to a joint statement amid acrimonious exchanges between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which have exchanged missile barrages amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Despite these serious rifts, host India managed to pull off a declaration that everyone signed on to. The price of this success, however, was much-watered down language on the Middle East war. The summit declaration in Rio de Janeiro last year had come out swinging, stating that “we condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.” In New Delhi this past weekend, the grouping merely expressed “deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia.” It recalled “our respective national positions” and called for “exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation.” Admittedly, India’s task was tougher than Brazil’s had been, with the war having escalated since late February 2026 to include the UAE as a combatant. It is extremely difficult for a club to reach any sort of consensus if two of its members are physically brawling. From this perspective, the New Delhi declaration was a win for India. But it was more a relief than a victory for BRICS as a whole. The grouping did not need the distraction at this critical juncture in its journey. Beyond the Iran-U.S. war, there were other notable aspects to the declaration. Mysteriously, all references to the Ukraine conflict were dropped. The European war had been consistently mentioned in BRICS declarations since Russia invaded in 2022. Last year, the text had even included language that largely reflected the Russian position on Ukrainian attacks on three sites. One welcome new feature of the text was a paragraph on Cuba, expressing "deep concern" on the "tightening of unilateral blockade measures (and) their adverse effects on the Cuban economy...and the worrying humanitarian impact on the Cuban people.” U.S. pressure on Cuba has grown manifold since last year. Havana is now a “partner country” within BRICS, a lower tier of membership. The text was clearly a nod to its concerns. But feelings against the embargo and blockade against Cuba run high in the United Nations. Practically all member states have repeatedly gone on record opposing them. Like last year, Israel was mentioned by name and criticized for its actions in Lebanon. The text also maintained the strong language on Gaza from earlier years. Concern was expressed at "arrangements that may prejudice the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and legitimize or prolong occupation." There were no references to the U.S.-initiated "Board of Peace" in the text, even though BRICS states Egypt, Indonesia, and UAE are among its members, as are partner countries Kazakhstan and Vietnam. Finally, the text expressed strong criticism of the “imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law,” emphasizing that “unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far-reaching negative implications for the human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security, of the general population of targeted states.” It further characterized such measures as “undermin(ing) international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.” This language was a clear dig at the United States and its European allies. Many Global South states feel highly vulnerable to the U.S.-led global sanctions regime. Having launched some successful initiatives like the New Development Bank, and with its major expansion phase now behind it, BRICS finds itself at a crossroads. The growing pains of expansion are manifest, and the outbreak of multiple wars in the world couldn’t have come at a worse time. It will take some time for new members to be adequately socialized in the grouping. Over the next year or two, BRICS will need to take a deep breath and find its footing again if it is not to lose its mojo.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend BRICS summitBRICS Zirvesinde ‘sorumluluk’ mesajı
Bugün de devam edecek zirveye ev sahibi Hindistan Başbakanı Narendra Modi’nin dışında, Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin, İran Cumhurbaşkanı Mesud Pezeşkiyan, Mısır Cumhurbaşkanı Abdülfettah Sisi ve BAE Devlet Başkanı Şeyh Muhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan da bulunuyor. Suudi Arabistan zirvede Dışişleri Bakanı Faysal bin Ferhan tarafından temsil ediliyor. Zirvede konuşan Şi, BRICS ülkelerinden, Ortadoğu’da tırmanan savaşın sonlandırılması ve barışın tesisi için üzerine düşen rolü üstlenmelerini istedi. Şi, “BRICS ülkeleri tarihin doğru tarafında yer almalı” ifadesini kullanırken, savaşın “uluslararası toplumun ortak çıkarlarına hizmet etmediğini” söyledi. Rus lider Putin ise, “BM’nin merkezi rolünün korunması ve güçlendirilmesi gerektiği” belirtirken, BRICS kapsamındaki işbirliğinin tüm yönlerde derinleştiğini kaydetti. İran Cumhurbaşkanı Pezeşkiyan, ABD’nin ülkesine uyguladığı yaptırımlara ve bununla mücadele yöntemlerine ilişkin “Tek taraflı ve insanlık dışı yaptırımlarla fiili olarak mücadele etmek BRICS üyeleri için öncelikli konudur” dedi.Öte yandan Çin’in gelecek yıl düzenlenecek 19. BRICS Liderler Zirvesi’ne ev sahipliği yapacağı bildirildi. Zirvenin Çin’in hangi şehrinde düzenleneceği henüz açıklanmadı.
BRICS Zirvesinde ‘sorumluluk’ mesajıBRICS nations call for 'maximum restraint' in Middle East war
Members of the 11-nation BRICS group including China, Russia, Iran and India called for calm in the Middle East at a summit in New Delhi on Saturday, overcoming earlier divisions to issue a joint statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who joined Russian, Iranian, Indian and other leaders in India’s capital, told the summit that the Middle East war “does not serve the common interests of the international community”. Foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping had failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates divided over the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28. But leaders issued a statement on Saturday after intense diplomatic efforts by host India, as the bloc seeks to bolster its global influence and address conflict, trade turbulence and energy security. “We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia,” the joint statement said, adding the countries “call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation”. “We have to transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders as he opened the two-day summit. Modi said BRICS nations “represent 50 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and more than 25 percent of global trade”. But finding balance in the bloc is a tough diplomatic task. India maintains cordial relations with both Iran and US ally Israel, but is also careful to strike a delicate balance in its ties with Washington. Iran’s Pezeshkian attended the summit shortly after warning that the Middle East does not need the United States to be a “regional policeman”, with the two countries at war and tensions threatening the vital Strait of Hormuz. Pezeshkian met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the summit sidelines. India has navigated the energy crisis caused by the US-Iran war in part by turning to Russia, despite Moscow’s war in Ukraine and pressure from Washington and other Western capitals. Modi embraced Putin before talks on Friday. The Russian president, who last visited India in December 2025, is one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners. ‘Handling differences’ Xi’s participation is also being closely watched because it is his first visit to neighbouring India since 2019, and the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the nuclear-armed rivals. Xi was given a red-carpet welcome, with an honour guard of soldiers and traditional dancers in colourful dresses. “Although our two countries are different in many respects, they are fully capable of complementing each other’s strengths, supporting one another, achieving mutual success and advancing together,” Xi said as he met Modi, in a video released from New Delhi. His visit comes six years after a deadly military clash along the disputed Tibetan border between China and India, with ties gradually improving through restored flights, visas and high-level contacts. The underlying territorial dispute remains unresolved, and both sides retain heavy military deployments along their roughly 3,500-kilometre high-altitude border. India’s foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting that “the two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question”. Modi “underlined the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings on border related issues,” the foreign ministry added. Deep mistrust remains, with their contested Himalayan frontier, a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry continuing to complicate ties. “Both sides should… work hand-in-hand to promote high-quality major financial cooperation, advocate an equal and sustainable global order, and foster an economic globalisation that is open and inclusive,” Xi said. ‘Oppose sovereignty violations’ President Xi Jinping called on Brics member states to oppose sovereignty violations and reject protectionism, speaking at a summit in India, Beijing’s state media reported. Xi told the gathering that Brics should “oppose violations of other countries’ sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, [and] constructively participate in resolving hotspot issues,” according to state news agency Xinhua. “As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve, the war there has caused serious losses to people across the region,” Xi said, calling on countries to “uphold the authority of the United Nations” in his remarks, Xinhua reported. On trade, the Chinese president urged countries to “reject all forms of protectionism” and “support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core”. The comments come less than two weeks before Xi’s expected visit to Washington, a major trade rival of Beijing. ‘Big constraint’ Brics was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Modi told leaders that Brics nations “represent 50 per cent of the world’s population, 40pc of global GDP, and more than 2pc of global trade”. As well as Iran, Brics includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — countries with sharply differing positions on the war launched by the US and Israel in February. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are also to attend. Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva campaigning for a fourth term in October elections. Brics foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the Brics summit,” said Harsh V Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation. “What was seen until last year as an achievement — the expansion of Brics — today looks like a big constraint on Brics,” Pant said.
Yeni Delhi BRICS Zirvesi'nde Hindistan-Çin yakınlaşması sürecekBRICS Summit
The main programme of the summit has opened in New Delhi, India. Taking part in the meeting of BRICS heads of delegation are President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of China Xi Jinping, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council (UAE) Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held an official welcoming ceremony for the Summit participants. The meeting participants will address initiatives put forward under India’s chairmanship, prospects for further strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership in politics and security, economics and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties, as well as pressing international and regional issues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend BRICS summitEgyptian president urges protection of international navigation amid regional tensions
Abdel Fattah Sisi tells BRICS session Middle East developments negatively affect global economy, trade, energy flows and supply chains
Russian president discusses ties, trade with South African, Egyptian, Malaysian leaders
Putin meets Ramaphosa, el-Sisi, Anwar Ibrahim on sidelines of BRICS summit in India
Putin concludes series of talks on September 11 by meeting with BRICS bank head
Earlier, the Russian leader held bilateral talks with the host of the BRICS summit taking place in New Delhi, Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Meeting with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
President Vladimir Putin met with President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Aide to the President Yury Ushakov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, First Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin, and CEO of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, It has been a long time since we last met. I am very pleased to see you again. Indeed, these are turbulent times, and a great many events are unfolding. We remain in contact, as do our colleagues, and our key initiatives are pressing ahead, with plans being implemented. Bilateral trade is growing, and its structure is steadily improving. I would like to reiterate that major projects are being carried out – strictly according to plan – despite any challenges. We are in constant contact on the international agenda. And we are very pleased to see Egypt, our long-standing and reliable friend in the region, growing stronger under your leadership. I recall how, under your leadership – back in Sochi – we established the new Russia–Africa format. The next summit in this format is being held this year, and we would be delighted to welcome you to Moscow this autumn, in October, for these events. Mr President, Many developments are unfolding both in the region and across the globe. For me, it is not merely interesting but of great importance to know your position on all these issues. You know that we take Egypt’s stance into account in our practical policy-making; today’s meeting is therefore highly valuable. I am very pleased that we can hold consultations today on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on both bilateral issues and the international agenda. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (retranslated): Thank you very much, Mr President. I am always happy to see my dear friend, President Putin. As you mentioned, the volume of trade between our two countries has exceeded $10 billion, and we are delivering major projects – such as the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. We are grateful to you, Mr President, for your assistance in this matter and the efforts being made by Rosatom. Turning to the regional situation, it is certainly crucial to achieve stability – particularly with regard to the security of maritime areas and shipping lanes, and freedom of navigation. Also, Mr President, you are well aware that Egypt imports large quantities of grain from Russia and Ukraine. Naturally, ensuring the stability of these supplies is of great importance to us. We would like to achieve stability – to steady the situation through our joint efforts. I am very grateful to you, Mr President. Allow me to extend my best wishes in advance – prematurely, I know – on your upcoming birthday in October. Thank you, Mr President. Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Meeting with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril RamaphosaIndia's Modi stresses need to protect navigation, seafarers in talks with Iran's Pezeshkian
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday and underscored the need to protect the freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers, India’s foreign ministry said. The talks were held on the eve of the annual summit of Brics leaders in the Indian capital, which will see the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others. India is walking a tightrope in the conflict, boasting historical and cultural ties with Iran, strong, strategic relations with Israel and close friendships with Arab countries, where millions of its nationals live and work. The South Asian nation has been particularly affected by attacks on vessels transiting the region, which have killed at least 10 Indians. “The prime minister [Modi] reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” the ministry said in a statement. “He also underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers,” it added. This was the second meeting between the leaders in as many weeks. They last held talks on August 31, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where Pezeshkian told Modi that Tehran wanted a negotiated solution to its conflict with the US. New Delhi has condemned Tehran’s attacks on its Gulf neighbours, energy infrastructure in the region, and on ships that have led to the deaths of crew members but, in a surprise move at the Bishkek summit, signed a joint declaration condemning the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and Western sanctions. Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, their second meeting in two weeks, which is expected to focus on trade, energy and defence ties between the two countries, which have long been friends. Modi and Putin were expected to discuss cooperation between the two countries in civil nuclear energy, fertilisers, defence, critical minerals, manufacturing, railways, and steel, an Indian source said. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, where Modi told Putin that the war in Ukraine needed to end for humanity’s sake and that New Delhi would support every peace effort to stop the fighting. India, along with China, is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, which is seen as helping Moscow replenish its budget since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and was hit with sweeping Western sanctions. India has, however, sought to resist the pressure, saying its large population and economy need secure, affordable and reliable energy supplies. New Delhi has also said that the Ukraine conflict can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy and not by some countries stopping energy, metal or fertiliser trade with Russia. Russia’s share of Indian crude imports rose in 2026, reaching a record 51 per cent in July, as disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies increased Indian refiners’ reliance on Russian oil. That share likely moderated in August as China stepped up Russian oil purchases, Indian media reported. Putin visited India in December 2025 as well for the annual India-Russia summit and the two countries agreed to expand their trade and defence relationship. India prepares for Brics Leaders from Iran were also in India for talks on Friday, ahead of a Brics summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges. “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” Modi wrote on Friday, in a social media message in Sanskrit to welcome leaders to the 11-nation summit. Posters of a beaming Modi line streets across New Delhi, with heavy deployments of security forces across the capital and widespread traffic restrictions. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global trade turbulence and oil are expected on the agenda at the two-day annual summit that opens on Saturday, when Xi is set to arrive. It will be Xi’s first visit to India since 2019, and marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the rival neighbours, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Tibetan border. Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored. “China stands ready to work with India … by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, and properly handling differences,” Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday. A woman walks past country flags outside Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 10, 2026. — Reuters Deep mistrust remains, with their contested Himalayan frontier, a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry still complicating ties. Dozens of Tibetans protested in New Delhi on Friday — exiles, like their Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since fleeing a Chinese crackdown in 1959 — waving placards against Xi’s visit. Brics was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday and will hold talks with Modi, said that “Brics was established to counter unilateralism”, according to Tehran’s IRNA news agency. This handout photograph taken and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on September 11, 2026 shows Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian disembarking from his plane after arriving at Palam Air Base in New Delhi. —PIB via AFP ‘Fault line’ As well as Iran, Brics includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — countries with sharply differing positions on the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. All three have been admitted to the group in recent years, joining founding member states that include India, China and Russia. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the Brics summit,” said Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation. “What was seen until last year as an achievement — the expansion of Brics — today looks like a big constraint on Brics,” Pant said. Pezeshkian’s participation — his first visit to India as Iranian president — will put the Middle East conflict firmly on the agenda. “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the group’s cohesion,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, noting the failure of the Brics foreign ministers to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also expected, as is Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Modi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi; discussion expected to focus on trade, defenceMajor Russian-Egyptian projects on track despite any challenges — Putin
The Russian leader held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India
Modi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi; discussion expected to be focused on trade, defence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, their second meeting in two weeks, that is expected to focus on trade, energy and defence ties between the two countries, which have long been friends. The talks are being held on the eve of the annual summit of Brics leaders in the Indian capital, that will see the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others. Modi and Putin are expected to discuss cooperation between the two countries in civil nuclear energy, fertilisers, defence, critical minerals, manufacturing, railways, and steel, an Indian source said. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, where Modi told Putin that the war in Ukraine needed to end for humanity’s sake and that New Delhi would support every peace effort to stop the fighting. India, along with China, is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, which is seen as helping Moscow replenish its budget since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and was hit with sweeping Western sanctions. India has, however, sought to resist the pressure, saying its large population and economy need secure, affordable and reliable energy supplies. New Delhi has also said that the Ukraine conflict can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy and not by some countries stopping energy, metal or fertiliser trade with Russia. Russia’s share of Indian crude imports rose in 2026, reaching a record 51 per cent in July, as disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies increased Indian refiners’ reliance on Russian oil. That share likely moderated in August as China stepped up Russian oil purchases, Indian media reported. Putin visited India in December 2025 as well for the annual India-Russia summit and the two countries agreed to expand their trade and defence relationship. India prepares for Brics Leaders from Iran were also in India for talks on Friday, ahead of a Brics summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges. “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” Modi wrote on Friday, in a social media message in Sanskrit to welcome leaders to the 11-nation summit. Posters of a beaming Modi line streets across New Delhi, with heavy deployments of security forces across the capital and widespread traffic restrictions. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global trade turbulence and oil are expected on the agenda at the two-day annual summit that opens on Saturday, when Xi is set to arrive. It will be Xi’s first visit to India since 2019, and marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the rival neighbours, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Tibetan border. Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored. “China stands ready to work with India … by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, and properly handling differences,” Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday. A woman walks past country flags outside Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 10, 2026. — Reuters Deep mistrust remains, with their contested Himalayan frontier, a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry still complicating ties. Dozens of Tibetans protested in New Delhi on Friday — exiles, like their Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since fleeing a Chinese crackdown in 1959 — waving placards against Xi’s visit. Brics was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday and will hold talks with Modi, said that “Brics was established to counter unilateralism”, according to Tehran’s IRNA news agency. This handout photograph taken and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on September 11, 2026 shows Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian disembarking from his plane after arriving at Palam Air Base in New Delhi. —PIB via AFP ‘Fault line’ As well as Iran, Brics includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — countries with sharply differing positions on the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. All three have been admitted to the group in recent years, joining founding member states that include India, China and Russia. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the Brics summit,” said Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation. “What was seen until last year as an achievement — the expansion of Brics — today looks like a big constraint on Brics,” Pant said. Pezeshkian’s participation — his first visit to India as Iranian president — will put the Middle East conflict firmly on the agenda. “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the group’s cohesion,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, noting the failure of the Brics foreign ministers to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also expected, as is Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Modi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi; discussion expected to focus on trade, defenceModi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi; discussion expected to focus on trade, defence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, their second meeting in two weeks, that is expected to focus on trade, energy and defence ties between the two countries, which have long been friends. The talks are being held on the eve of the annual summit of Brics leaders in the Indian capital, that will see the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others. Modi and Putin are expected to discuss cooperation between the two countries in civil nuclear energy, fertilisers, defence, critical minerals, manufacturing, railways, and steel, an Indian source said. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, where Modi told Putin that the war in Ukraine needed to end for humanity’s sake and that New Delhi would support every peace effort to stop the fighting. India, along with China, is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, which is seen as helping Moscow replenish its budget since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and was hit with sweeping Western sanctions. India has, however, sought to resist the pressure, saying its large population and economy need secure, affordable and reliable energy supplies. New Delhi has also said that the Ukraine conflict can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy and not by some countries stopping energy, metal or fertiliser trade with Russia. Russia’s share of Indian crude imports rose in 2026, reaching a record 51 per cent in July, as disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies increased Indian refiners’ reliance on Russian oil. That share likely moderated in August as China stepped up Russian oil purchases, Indian media reported. Putin visited India in December 2025 as well for the annual India-Russia summit and the two countries agreed to expand their trade and defence relationship. India prepares for Brics Leaders from Iran were also in India for talks on Friday, ahead of a Brics summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges. “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” Modi wrote on Friday, in a social media message in Sanskrit to welcome leaders to the 11-nation summit. Posters of a beaming Modi line streets across New Delhi, with heavy deployments of security forces across the capital and widespread traffic restrictions. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global trade turbulence and oil are expected on the agenda at the two-day annual summit that opens on Saturday, when Xi is set to arrive. It will be Xi’s first visit to India since 2019, and marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the rival neighbours, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Tibetan border. Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored. “China stands ready to work with India … by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, and properly handling differences,” Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday. A woman walks past country flags outside Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 10, 2026. — Reuters Deep mistrust remains, with their contested Himalayan frontier, a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry still complicating ties. Dozens of Tibetans protested in New Delhi on Friday — exiles, like their Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since fleeing a Chinese crackdown in 1959 — waving placards against Xi’s visit. Brics was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday and will hold talks with Modi, said that “Brics was established to counter unilateralism”, according to Tehran’s IRNA news agency. This handout photograph taken and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on September 11, 2026 shows Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian disembarking from his plane after arriving at Palam Air Base in New Delhi. —PIB via AFP ‘Fault line’ As well as Iran, Brics includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — countries with sharply differing positions on the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. All three have been admitted to the group in recent years, joining founding member states that include India, China and Russia. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the Brics summit,” said Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation. “What was seen until last year as an achievement — the expansion of Brics — today looks like a big constraint on Brics,” Pant said. Pezeshkian’s participation — his first visit to India as Iranian president — will put the Middle East conflict firmly on the agenda. “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the group’s cohesion,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, noting the failure of the Brics foreign ministers to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also expected, as is Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Modi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi; discussion expected to focus on trade, defencePutin in India for BRICS summit overshadowed by war
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in India on Friday for talks ahead of an 11-member BRICS summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges, with the leaders of China and Iran set to attend. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global trade turbulence and oil are expected on the agenda at the two-day annual summit that opens on Saturday, when Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive. It will be Xi’s first visit to India since 2019, and marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the rival neighbours, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again recently, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored. However, deep mistrust remains, with their contested frontier, a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry still complicating ties. “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Friday, in a message in Sanskrit to welcome arriving leaders on social media. Modi is due to hold talks later on Friday with Putin, who last visited India in December 2025. Moscow is one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners. India has navigated the energy crisis sparked by the Iran war in part by turning to Russia, its most controversial fuel supplier in recent years. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected on Friday, and is due to hold talks with Modi. ‘Fault line’ Posters of a beaming Modi line streets across New Delhi to welcome the leaders, with heavy deployments of security forces across the capital and widespread traffic restrictions. BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. It has since expanded and now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — three countries with sharply differing positions on the war launched by the United States and Israel in February. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit,” said Harsh V Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation. “What was seen until last year as an achievement — the expansion of BRICS — today looks like a big constraint on BRICS,” Pant said. It will be Pezeshkian’s first visit to India as Iranian president, and will put the Middle East conflict firmly on the agenda. “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the (expanded) group’s cohesion,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, noting the failure of the BRICS foreign ministers to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also expected, as is Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. India maintains cordial relations with Iran and Israel, but is also careful to strike a delicate balance in its ties with Washington. New Delhi has navigated the energy crisis caused by the Iran war in part by turning to Russia, one of its most important strategic partners and its most controversial fuel supplier in recent years as the war against Ukraine drags on. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv this month, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful to India for its commitment to ending this unjust war”.
Yeni Delhi BRICS Zirvesi'nde Hindistan-Çin yakınlaşması sürecekSearching for past glory
THE collective memory of Muslim societies, particularly in the West and South Asia, is based on the persistent idea that since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire they have been in need of a joint response to challenges ranging from politics to defence. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia may be seen as something of a pioneer on this front with the creation of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism in 2015, which was partly the basis for the recently concluded Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. However, Pakistan has always championed such ambitions. The roots go much further back, with the Baghdad Pact representing an important milestone in that journey. The concept of a collective Muslim response has been conceived and framed in different ways, from the idea of the ummah to its more structured institutional expression within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Its character has continued to evolve as changing political objectives have redirected the ideological orientation of Muslim states. In Pakistan’s case, however, this idea has shaped not only the country’s ideology but also its internal politics and models of state structure. There is little doubt that Pakistan’s growing role in the Gulf, beginning with Trump’s Gaza peace plan, followed by the Islamabad MoU and now the Makkah accord, has boosted the country’s confidence. However, when its leadership looks inward at the political and economic conditions, the contrast undermines some of the confidence gained from its successes in an evolving geopolitical environment. This disparity frustrates the power elite, that wants to address internal problems immediately and sustain the country’s momentum in the external arena. To achieve internal stability and order comparable to that in Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, Pakistan’s other regional partners, the power elite here appears prepared to take several political risks. These could include major administrative engineering, such as the creation of new provinces, a step that would come at considerable political cost. Pakistan is deepening its West Asian ties to bolster its defence power and strategic weight. This argument is not intended to evaluate the costs and benefits of creating new provinces. Rather, it seeks to trace the trigger that makes the power elite nervous when its external successes do not correspond with domestic political realities and the state of the economy. There can be several interpretations of this contradiction, ranging from the political economy to the changing geopolitical order. Yet an important dimension is often missing from the debate: the triangle of ideology, statecraft and geography. Pakistan and Turkiye share a geographical anxiety: their military power and ambitions do not fully correspond with the territories they control, while their opportunities for geographical expansion are extremely limited. This creates a middle-power anxiety about sustaining and enhancing their military and defence capabilities. Both countries are responding to this challenge in their own ways. Turkiye is pursuing regional groupings, alliances and transnational Turkic partnerships. Pakistan, meanwhile, appears to be abandoning its old strategy of ‘strategic depth’ or the attempt to expand its influence to neighbouring territories to overcome its geographical anxieties. Instead, it is engaging more deeply in West Asia to strengthen its defence capabilities and strategic weight. The purpose is obvious: Pakistan faces a much larger geographical and military power in India. Saudi Arabia faces a different middle-power dilemma. Its primary concerns are sustaining economic stability and protecting itself from regional forces that it perceives as ideologically hostile or hegemonically ambitious, principally Iran and Israel. Saudi Arabia has learned to coexist with Israel, but Israel’s hegemonic ambitions continue to generate anxiety about the future regional order. Riyadh is also concerned about hostile forces near its borders, particularly in Yemen, where Iran has effectively projected its influence. Pakistan is now going a step further by undergoing a state-centric ideological recalibration. This transformation does not yet match Saudi-style social liberalisation or the secular-nationalist transformation associated with Nasser’s Egypt. Pakistan is still struggling to find a clear direction. Its emerging model appears to combine Mohammed bin Salman’s state-controlled “moderate Islam”, the mutually reinforcing nationalism, military authority and state-regulated religious discourse of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s Egypt, and Turkiye’s religious-conservative identity, nationalism and defence-industrial ambition. Briefly, the power elite wants religion to remain under state authority. It seeks a transition from transnational Islamic solidarity to the national interest; the creation of a modern, technologically capable Muslim state; religious scholars who support national cohesion rather than challenge statecraft or the ambitions of the ruling elite; and centralised control over security and foreign policy. However, the power elite also believes that the existing political order, governance model and constitutional arrangements obstruct the achievement of lasting stability. Interestingly, the Afghan Taliban, once close allies of Pakistan’s establishment, have taught it an important lesson: Islamist allies may possess their own nationalism, interests and territorial ambitions, which may not correspond with the vision of another country’s power elite. Middle powers with complicated neighbourhoods and significant defence capabilities often have additional strategic thoughts. They imagine renewed glory through alliances with friendly states possessing compatible capabilities and ambition. Major powers frequently exploit this tendency by encouraging middle powers to form alliances. Washington is encouraging the emerging defence architecture that has taken shape through the Makkah accord. China and Iran, meanwhile, are waiting for the US to reduce its regional footprint before revealing or advancing their own designs. The US and UK exploited this middle-power tendency several times during the Cold War. The Baghdad Pact was the most developed form of such an alliance. Established in the mid-1950s, it brought together Turkiye, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and the UK. However, the project eventually collapsed due to internal upheavals in Iraq and Iran, and Turkiye also experienced domestic political instability. At that time, Pakistan was considered the alliance’s most stable regional partner, with politics largely under control and an economy that appeared to be flourishing. Pakistan’s power elite still dreams of returning to those days of perceived glory and reclaiming the country’s position among the leading middle powers of the Muslim world. The writer is a security analyst. Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2026
İslam dünyasında ortak savunma arayışı ve Suudi Arabistan'ın rolüXi Jinping’s call for Mideast to build own security framework is a message to US: expert
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Middle Eastern nations to build a self-led security model, nudging them to cut reliance on Washington following further US-Iran military clashes. But, on his first visit to Egypt in a decade, he did not position Beijing as an alternative security guarantor. He made the proposal during talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday. Beijing and Cairo also aligned on Gaza, Red Sea security and Sudan, while China...
Şi Cinping'den Orta Doğu'ya yeni güvenlik çerçevesi çağrısı