USA Archives - Arab Digest

The Warsaw “ministerial”

14 February 201914 February 2019Oliver MilesFrance, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Oman, UK, USA, Yemen

US/Polish conference in Warsaw shifts focus from Iran to a wider agenda. “A new era” (Mike Pence) – not

Iraq: Trump irritates

11 February 2019Oliver MilesIran, Iraq, Jordan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, USA

Iraq – still no government but a budget agreed. Clumsy statement by Trump on Iran.

Hebron: the temporary international presence comes to a sudden end

8 February 201910 February 2019Oliver MilesIsrael, Palestine, USA

Israel has ended the Temporary International Presence in Hebron. Such restraining influence as it was able to exercise has now been lost.

Lebanon: a government at long last

5 February 2019Oliver MilesLebanon, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA

Lebanon – Hariri forms a government, the usual coalition tilted slightly more than before towards Hizbullah. US murmurings.

Egypt – Eight years on from the Tahrir Uprising

4 February 20194 February 2019Oliver MilesEgypt, France, Human rights, USA

Eight years after the Arab Spring and overthrow of Mubarak human rights abuses in Egypt by most measures worse than before. Macron dares to criticise.

Yemen: ceasefire still holding

31 January 2019Oliver MilesDjibouti, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA, Yemen

UN-backed ceasefire in Hudaida continues, but progress is slow.

IS – the outlook

30 January 2019Oliver MilesFrance, Iraq, IS, Syria, USA

IS all but defeated in Syria, reduced to guerrilla tactics as in Iraq and elsewhere. Remains a terrorist threat along with al-Qa’ida and other fragments.

Pompeo invites the world to Warsaw

24 January 201924 January 2019Oliver MilesEurope, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Russia, USA

US/Polish proposal for a ministerial on the Middle East, but mainly on Iran. No takers so far.

Yemen – ceasefire holding

17 January 2019Oliver MilesIran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA, Yemen

Stockholm partial ceasefire around Hudaida, talks under UN chairmanship, some aid getting through, prisoner exchange talks begin.

Qatar: plain sailing

14 January 201915 January 2019Oliver MilesBahrain, Egypt, Iran, oil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA

No resolution of the Qatar vs. four dispute – propaganda continues. Qatar surviving well. US talks up the need for unity. Active foreign policy continues.