European Union

The JCPOA: The Iranian Nuclear Deal Dismissed Too Soon

On Wednesday evening, IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Tehran for talks on Iran’s nuclear activities. His visit, spanning several days, is no coincidence. With Trump’s expected return to the White House in early 2025, any hope of reviving negotiations seems increasingly unrealistic. Moreover, the simultaneous appointment of Marco Rubio as ...

EU's Foreign Policy Chief Urges Bloc Suspend Dialogue with Israel

The EU's outgoing foreign policy chief has urged the bloc to suspend a political dialogue with Israel over human rights concerns in Gaza but it is likely to be vetoed, diplomats said Thursday. Josep Borrell raised his proposal during a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday, according to four diplomats involved, and is expected to formalise it when ...

Mainstream Media Distorted Events in Amsterdam

In the wake of riots involving Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, Western media outlets have faced intense scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting the events. According to eyewitnesses, including local journalist accounts, Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv caused significant disruptions, engaging in hooligan behavior and chanting anti-Arab slogans. ...

'America First': What Economic Strategies Under Trump?

Donald Trump’s return to the White House would likely reinforce a protectionist and economically isolationist approach under the "America First" slogan, heightening challenges across international trade relations and geopolitical balances.   If Trump pursues a protectionist economic policy (America First) and adopts a more radical vision of ...

EU to Provide €15 Million Aid to Lebanese Armed Forces

The European Council has approved a €15 million assistance package under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Lebanese army. The funding aims to strengthen the army’s capacities in military medical operations, engineering, and logistics, enhancing their ability to operate in a highly volatile regional security environment, ...

NATO and Europe Brace for a Second Trump Term

A new chapter in United States politics is unfolding as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House in January 2025. His victory signals the beginning of a second conservative revolution in America, reminiscent of the one Ronald Reagan launched in 1981, centered on economic reforms. This time, however, Trump aims for a broader conservative ...

EU Weighing New Sanctions on Israeli Settlers

France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said on Monday that the European Union could soon launch a new round of sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of fuelling violence in Palestinian territories. France had already imposed sanctions against "28 violent settlers" and been instrumental in deciding sanctions at the European Union level, ...

Reforming Europe's Economy Urgent Following Trump Win, Says EU

Reforming Europe's economy is all the more urgent following Donald Trump's US election win, warned the author of a blockbuster report, Mario Draghi, ahead of talks Friday with EU leaders in Budapest on tackling the challenge. Although Europe's public reaction to the Republican's return has been cautious, officials are on full ...

Mikati Urges UNSC Permanent Members to Press Israel to End Aggression

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a series of diplomatic meetings on Monday “to support the Lebanese position to put an end to the Israeli aggression.” Mikati reiterated calls for putting pressure on Israel “to stop its aggression, opening the way for discussion on how to implement, to the letter, the provisions of resolution 1701 ...

EU and Japan Announce New Defense Pact

Japan and the European Union announced a sweeping new security and defense partnership in Tokyo on Friday, which EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hailed as a historic and "very timely" step. Borrell and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya unveiled the pact to develop cooperation on joint military drills, the exchange of ...

Death Toll Expected to Rise as Floods in Spain Kill 95

Spain braced for a heavier human toll on Wednesday after 95 people died in flash floods that launched muddy waters through towns, tossed cars and wreaked transport havoc. Rescuers were expected to find more bodies in the European country's deadliest flood in more than 50 years and three days of official mourning were due to start on ...

Iran Slams Germany, EU over Criticism of Dual National's Execution

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday slammed his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock and EU chief Josep Borrell over their critism of Iran's execution of Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd. On Monday, Iran executed 69-year-old German-Iranian Sharmahd, who was sentenced to death in February 2023 for the capital offence of "corruption on ...