分类： politics

In a significant de-escalation move, the Syrian government and US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have mutually agreed to halt hostilities after deadly clashes in Aleppo resulted in multiple casualties on Monday. The confrontation occurred during Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s diplomatic visit to the region.

Syria’s official news agency SANA announced that the nation’s military command issued formal orders to cease targeting SDF positions. In reciprocal action, the Kurdish-led forces confirmed they have instructed their fighters to stop responding to Syrian government attacks. Both parties had initially exchanged accusations regarding responsibility for the violence.

This temporary truce follows a landmark March agreement between SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa to integrate the Kurdish forces with Damascus’ military structure. However, implementation has stalled due to resistance from the SDF and associated Kurdish factions.

The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by Turkey’s designation of the SDF as a terrorist organization due to its affiliations with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which both the United States and European Union recognize as a terrorist group. Ankara has issued ultimatums demanding Kurdish forces abandon cooperation with Israel and honor their integration commitments.

Analysts warn that failure to successfully incorporate the SDF into Syrian state forces could reignite military conflict, potentially derailing the nation’s recovery from fourteen years of devastating civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.

The recent diplomatic engagement between Turkey and Syria signals warming relations since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government over a year ago. Fidan emphasized the interconnected stability of both nations, stating that ‘Syria’s stability means Turkey’s stability.’

Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated significantly following the mob lynching of a Hindu garment worker in Dhaka on December 18. The incident, allegedly motivated by blasphemy accusations, has triggered a chain of protests and reciprocal diplomatic measures that have brought bilateral ties to a concerning low.

In response to growing tensions, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Tuesday to express “grave concern” over recent demonstrations outside Bangladeshi diplomatic facilities. This diplomatic action coincided with fresh protests in New Delhi, where hundreds of demonstrators waving saffron flags gathered near Bangladesh’s High Commission. Protesters from right-wing Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) organizations carried banners reading “Stop Killing Hindus in Bangladesh,” with clashes erupting between VHP members and security personnel.

The underlying tensions stem from broader political turmoil in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid pro-democracy protests last year. India continues to consider Dhaka’s extradition requests for Hasina, who received a death sentence in absentia for her alleged role in suppressing the uprising.

The situation further complicated when Sharif Osman Hadi, a parliamentary candidate and vocal India critic, was assassinated in Dhaka this month. Subsequent protests saw arson attacks on buildings perceived as pro-India, including newspaper offices and cultural institutions. In response to stone-throwing incidents at its diplomatic mission in Chattogram, India suspended visa services there, with Bangladesh reciprocating by temporarily suspending visa services in New Delhi.

International observers, including Russia, have urged both nations to repair relations. Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khozin emphasized the urgency of reconciliation, stating “The sooner this happens, the better” in recent comments to the Dhaka Tribune.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz has declared intentions to establish new Israeli settlements in northern Gaza, framing the move as a permanent security measure. The announcement came during a ceremony marking the construction of 1,200 housing units in a West Bank settlement, where Katz revealed plans for what he termed “Nahal” settlements to be implemented “when the time is right.”

Nahal settlements refer to communities historically established by Israeli soldiers. Under international law, all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are considered illegal. Katz emphasized Israel’s permanent presence in Gaza, stating, “We are deep inside Gaza and we will never leave all of Gaza – there will be no such thing.” He framed the settlement expansion as protective measures referencing the 21 settlements that existed in Gaza before Israel’s 2005 withdrawal.

The Defense Minister further asserted Israel’s continued military presence across multiple fronts, noting troops remain positioned in Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied West Bank. “We don’t trust anyone, and no one will come and tell us – there will be no agreement, we won’t move a millimetre in Syria,” Katz declared, characterizing the strategy as creating a barrier between “jihadist enemies and our communities.”

Far-right settler organizations including the Nachala Settlement Movement and the Yesha Council welcomed the announcement. The Yesha Council stated the move would “make it clear to the enemy that for the massacre of the 7 October, he is paying with land and in perpetuity.” Nachala claimed over 1,000 families stand ready to settle in Gaza immediately, asserting that “The public is ready, the families are ready, and the area is ready.”

The announcement comes amid escalating ceasefire violations. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israeli forces have committed at least 875 violations since the October ceasefire began. During the 75-day truce period, Israeli operations have resulted in over 411 Palestinian fatalities and 1,112 injuries.

Humanitarian conditions continue deteriorating as Israel restricts aid delivery. Only 17,819 of 43,800 stipulated aid trucks have entered the blockaded territory, creating severe shortages of shelter, medicine, food, and fuel for Gaza’s two million residents. Health officials report over 62% of essential medicines are unavailable for approximately 250,000 people requiring primary healthcare services.

The Gaza media office warns of a “deepening and unprecedented humanitarian crisis” exacerbated by freezing temperatures and heavy rainfall, compounding the territory’s dire humanitarian situation.

Azerbaijani authorities have articulated significant reservations regarding their potential involvement in an international stabilization force proposed for deployment in Gaza. Hikmet Hajiyev, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan, conveyed Baku’s position that participating in the U.S.-negotiated peacekeeping initiative presents substantial challenges, primarily concerning the undefined operational parameters of the mission.

In detailed comments to international media, Hajiyev confirmed that Washington had formally approached Azerbaijan about contributing to the multinational force. However, he emphasized that “no final decision has been made yet” due to several critical concerns. The senior official highlighted that the United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing the force lacks clarity on fundamental operational details, including rules of engagement, specific action modalities, and the precise scope of the mission’s mandate.

Azerbaijan’s hesitation stems from both strategic and domestic considerations. Having recently concluded military engagements with neighboring Armenia in 2023, Hajiyev noted that mobilizing additional troops for international deployment would present considerable political challenges in convincing the Azerbaijani public of such a commitment.

The proposed international force, conceived as part of a broader ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, would shoulder complex responsibilities including maintaining security in Gaza, overseeing demilitarization efforts, and training Palestinian police forces for future self-governance. Initial American plans aimed to operationalize the force around the beginning of the new year, but implementation has stalled amid various diplomatic complications.

Multiple regional powers have expressed similar reservations. Jordan’s King Abdullah explicitly stated his nation would not contribute troops to any Gaza force, while Emirati officials similarly indicated participation would be challenging at this time. The exclusion of Turkey from coordination meetings at Israel’s request has further complicated recruitment efforts, reportedly discouraging several potential contributor nations including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

Turkish officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Ankara maintains an undecided position regarding participation despite having already drafted a military brigade for potential deployment. Insiders suggest that while Turkey could accept non-participation, concerns exist that Hamas’ trust in Turkish mediation might not extend to other nations, potentially undermining the entire stabilization effort. Turkey’s diplomatic influence previously proved instrumental in securing ceasefire agreements between conflicting parties in September.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a strategic diplomatic maneuver, former President Donald Trump has announced plans to extend invitations to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for next year’s U.S.-hosted G20 summit. The decision emerged following separate telephone discussions between Trump and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Tuesday.

This invitation initiative, while not unprecedented for G20 host nations to include non-member states, signals a deliberate effort to strengthen American ties with Central Asian nations. The 2026 gathering is scheduled to occur at Trump’s golf resort in Doral, Florida, near Miami.

The development follows last month’s Washington summit where leaders from five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—engaged in substantive talks with Trump. This enhanced engagement reflects the administration’s growing strategic interest in a region possessing substantial mineral reserves, including approximately half of global uranium production and critical rare earth metals essential for advanced technology manufacturing.

In a significant parallel development, Kazakhstan recently committed to joining the Abraham Accords, the Trump-era initiative normalizing relations between Israel and Muslim-majority nations. This diplomatic alignment occurs alongside controversial exclusionary measures, as Trump simultaneously announced South Africa’s exclusion from the same summit citing disputed treatment of U.S. representatives—a claim strongly rejected by South African authorities.