Diplomacy

The UN Charter: A Founding Document Under Siege

Eighty years ago Thursday, 50 countries came together in the ashes of World War II to sign the United Nations' founding charter in order "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted this week the Charter "is a promise of peace, dignity and cooperation among nations." But critics say the ...

China Hosts Iranian, Russian Defense Ministers Against Backdrop of 'Momentous Change'

China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending. Beijing has long sought to present the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a ...

Iran Nuclear Talks: Trump Revives Diplomacy, Says Witkoff

In an interview with Fox News, Steve Witkoff, a close adviser to Donald Trump, revealed that talks have been launched between the United States and Iran aimed at reviving negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. According to Witkoff, these exchanges, conducted both directly and through third-party channels, are “promising” and could pave ...

Trump Whirlwind to Test NATO Summit Unity

Will he play nice? That's the question for NATO leaders nervously waiting to see if a carefully choreographed show to please US President Donald Trump will pay dividends when the alliance summit gets down to business on Wednesday. Every precaution is in place to avoid a Trump blow-up at the Hague summit, from giving him credit for a historic ...

Lebanese Diplomacy at a Standstill Since 2019: Is a Breakthrough Near?

For several years, Lebanese embassies worldwide have operated under interim leadership, exposing the deep institutional paralysis gripping the country. Often led by chargés d’affaires or temporary diplomats, many key posts remain vacant — a symptom of Lebanon’s chronic political dysfunction fueled by sectarian power-sharing and ongoing ...

Witkoff’s Proposal Could Break Deadlock on Iran Nuclear Deal

As global attention shifts back to Tehran, the Iranian government is reportedly reviewing a far-reaching US proposal aimed at reviving the stalled nuclear talks. The plan, relayed via Oman, was drafted by Steve Witkoff, the US President’s special envoy to the Middle East. According to diplomatic sources quoted by Kuwait’s Al-Jarida, the ...

China Says Backs Direct Talks Between Russia, Ukraine on Ending War

China said on Tuesday it backed direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump announced the two would "immediately" start peace talks after he spoke with Vladimir Putin. "China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Trump framed his two-hour conversation on Monday ...

China's Xi Heads to Moscow to Beef up 'No Limits' Putin Partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin. Moscow and Beijing declared a "no limits partnership" weeks before Putin ordered Russia's Ukraine offensive in February 2022. The expanded military and trade ties since ...

After Bumpy Start, 'European Chancellor' Merz Visits Paris, Warsaw

After a difficult start, Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit France and Poland on Wednesday, on a mission to boost ties with the European neighbours in turbulent times. Amid transatlantic turbulence caused by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs and doubts over his security commitment to Europe, the European Union has sought a ...

Pakistan Says India Planning Strike After Deadly Kashmir Attack

Pakistan said on Wednesday it had "credible intelligence" that India was planning an imminent military strike and vowed to retaliate, as the United States appeals to both sides to de-escalate after a deadly attack in Kashmir. Already frosty relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have plummeted further since New Delhi blamed its arch-rival ...