Neighbourhood policy
EU condemns Turkey’s military action, stops short of common arms embargo
EU foreign minister on Monday (14 October) unanimously condemned Turkey’s military action in north-eastern Syria, asking all member states to stop selling arms to Ankara. However, they stopped short of an EU-wide arms embargo that France and Germany had sought.
EU urges Turkey to halt Syria invasion, will not pay for ‘safe zone’
The EU on Wednesday (9 October) demanded Turkey halt its military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, telling Ankara the bloc would not pay for any so-called "safe zone" that might be created.
Iran’s Rouhani says wider talks with US possible if 2015 deal implemented
Iran can discuss other issues with the United States providing its 2015 nuclear deal with six powers is fully implemented, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday (26 September), adding that Tehran's missile capabilities were not negotiable.
Pentagon to send radar, Patriot missiles to bolster Saudi defences
The Pentagon said on Thursday (26 September) it plans to send four radar systems, a battery of Patriot missiles and about 200 support personnel to bolster Saudi Arabia's defenses after the largest-ever attack on the kingdom's oil facilities this month.
UN sets constitution committee for Syria, but hopes to end war muted
The United Nations announced Monday (23 September) the long-awaited creation of a constitution-writing committee on Syria that will include the government and opposition, but it remained to be seen if the step could finally end the civil war.
Macron and Conte call for overhaul of EU migrant policy
The European Union must introduce a new, automatic system of taking in migrants saved from the Mediterranean, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday (18 September) as as they sought to patch up bruised bilateral relations.
Is von der Leyen on course to ease tensions with Hungary?
European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen's Commissioner pick for the enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the former Hungarian Justice Minister László Trócsányi, is appearing to be a particularly controversial one, though it may be motivated by her wish to cool tensions between Brussels and Budapest,
Israel approves new settlement 2 days before polls
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government approved a new settlement in the occupied West Bank on Sunday (15 September), two days ahead of a closely fought election as he seeks to boost turnout among his right-wing base.
Trump says US ‘locked and loaded’ for potential response to Saudi oil attack
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (15 September) that the United States was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, after a senior official in his administration said Iran was to blame.
Anger at Netanyahu’s West Bank annexation pledge
Arab and Muslim countries Wednesday (11 September) led a wave of outcry after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to annex a key part of the occupied West Bank if re-elected. The EU also reacted.
Iran slams European powers as nuclear deal unravels
Iran's atomic agency chief hit out Sunday (8 September) at European powers, saying their broken promises gave the Islamic republic little choice but to scale back its commitments under a nuclear deal.
Poland’s foreign ministry condemns attack on Israeli students
Poland's foreign ministry on Sunday (8 September) condemned violence against a group of Israeli students beaten at a Warsaw nightclub early on Saturday, following criticism that Polish leaders are not doing enough to denounce antisemitism.
US, Turkey launch joint patrols in northeast Syria
The United States and Turkey on Sunday (8 September) began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces who battled the Islamic State jihadist group.
Pompeo’s visit to Brussels is an opportunity for a unified Iran strategy
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s two-day visit to Brussels (2 and 3 September) is an excellent opportunity to address several important issues for the cross-Atlantic relations and have a unified strategy in addressing them as Europe is going to have a new leadership, Giulio Terzi writes.
Russia says US strikes in Syria’s Idlib put ceasefire at risk
Russia's military said the United States had mounted air strikes in Syria's Idlib without forewarning Moscow or Ankara, endangering a ceasefire there, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday (1 September).
Britain, France, Germany to hold Iran talks in Helsinki
Britain, France and Germany will hold talks Friday (30 August) on how to preserve the beleaguered Iran nuclear deal and protect shipping in the Gulf.
Trump ready to meet Iranian president in potential breakthrough
US President Donald Trump said Monday (26 August) at the G7 summit that he is prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart within weeks in what would amount to a stunning change of direction in the two countries' smouldering standoff.
Iran’s Zarif makes surprise visit to G7 summit
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif flew into Biarritz in southwestern France for the G7 summit on Sunday (25 August) in a surprise attempt to break a diplomatic deadlock over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.
Erdogan to meet Putin over Syrian army offensive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday (23 August) that Syrian army attacks in northwest Syria are causing a humanitarian crisis and threaten Turkey’s national security, the Turkish presidency said.
Syrian offensive puts Turkish troops and border plans in peril
Syrian army advances in northwest Syria are putting Turkish troops in the firing line and threaten Ankara's hopes of preventing a new wave of refugees on its southern border.
Iranian tanker at centre of standoff with West leaves Gibraltar
The Iranian tanker caught in a standoff between Tehran and the West left Gibraltar on Sunday night, shipping data showed, hours after the British territory rejected a US request to detain the vessel further.
Six EU countries ready to take in migrants stranded off Italy
A 'coalition of the willing' of six EU member states have agreed to take some of the 147 migrants stranded on a rescue ship near the Italian island of Lampedusa, Rome announced Thursday (15 August), amid an immigration row between Italy's interior minister and premier.
West urges Kosovo, Serbia to restart talks ‘with urgency’
Western powers on Tuesday (13 August) urged foes Serbia and Kosovo to reboot their stalled dialogue "with urgency", warning that the lack of progress is hindering their dreams of joining the European Union.