分类： politics

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.

In a critical diplomatic intervention, foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to address the escalating military conflict along the Thailand-Cambodia border. The emergency session focused on rebuilding mutual trust between the two member states and establishing a sustainable ceasefire mechanism.

This marks the second time in 2025 that ASEAN has served as a mediation platform for the neighboring nations, following a joint declaration signed during the 47th ASEAN Summit last October. The current border hostilities, reignited on December 7, have resulted in significant civilian casualties and mass displacement on both sides.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow emphasized that any ceasefire must be demonstrated through concrete actions rather than formal announcements alone. He confirmed that Thai and Cambodian defense officials would meet Wednesday under the Joint Boundary Commission framework, while acknowledging China’s role as an important regional partner.

The humanitarian toll continues to mount dramatically. Cambodian authorities report approximately 510,000 displaced civilians and 19 civilian fatalities, while Thai officials cite 38 civilian deaths and over 167,000 people relocated to safer shelters. Both nations have exchanged accusations of instigating hostilities and targeting civilian populations.

China has actively supported ASEAN’s mediation efforts, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressing Beijing’s appreciation for Malaysia’s leadership as current ASEAN chair. “As a friend and close neighbor to both countries, China sincerely hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will, based on safeguarding peace and stability along their borders and the fundamental interests of their peoples, quickly achieve a ceasefire and restore peace,” Lin stated during a regular press briefing.

Beijing has deployed Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun to the region, with promises to disclose further details about diplomatic efforts in due course. China committed to continuing its active promotion of peace talks and constructive role in de-escalation.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, presiding over the talks, emphasized that regional stability remains a collective responsibility. “Our goal goes beyond de-escalating the tensions,” he stated in opening remarks, noting that ASEAN must intensify trust-building measures despite prevailing differences.

Academic experts remain cautiously optimistic about the mediation efforts. University of Malaya associate professor Khoo Ying Hooi noted that Malaysia’s consensus-based approach as ASEAN chair, while methodical and cautious, may struggle to achieve dramatic breakthroughs given the conflict’s complex historical, nationalistic, and military sensitivities.

New Delhi witnessed heightened tensions on Tuesday as Hindu nationalist groups staged vigorous protests near Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission, responding to the brutal lynching and immolation of a Hindu man in neighboring Bangladesh. This incident has exposed deepening fractures in a bilateral relationship traditionally regarded as a stabilizing force in South Asia.

The demonstration, orchestrated primarily by the Vishva Hindu Parishad organization, saw hundreds of participants brandishing placards with messages such as “India will not tolerate torture of Hindus in Bangladesh” and “Our silence should not be mistaken as weakness.” Security forces responded with reinforced barricades and armored vehicles to contain the unrest.

This diplomatic deterioration stems from two interconnected tragedies: the recent killing of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das over blasphemy allegations in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, and the earlier death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi—a prominent critic of both India and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hadi’s shooting death in December triggered retaliatory violence in Dhaka that included attacks on Indian diplomatic facilities and newspaper offices.

The bilateral relationship has fundamentally shifted since the ouster of Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year administration that maintained strong ties with India. The current interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faces accusations from religious minorities alleging insufficient protection against growing violence.

International affairs analyst Sreeram Sundar Chaulia warns this rupture threatens cooperation on trade, border management, and regional connectivity. “Opposing India and alleging Indian conspiracies of interference in Bangladesh are being done to harden a blatantly Islamist and non-inclusive path for the country,” Chaulia stated, noting potential economic repercussions including reduced development assistance and increased Chinese influence in Bangladesh.

The diplomatic fallout has escalated through reciprocal summons of envoys, with Bangladesh expressing concerns about the security of its missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala. This crisis marks a significant departure from the cooperative relationship that flourished under Hasina’s administration since 2009.

China’s legislative body is currently deliberating a groundbreaking draft law that explicitly prohibits external interference in the nation’s ethnic affairs. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is conducting its second review of this significant legislation, which aims to strengthen ethnic unity and progress while countering foreign attempts to undermine China’s stability through ethnic, religious, or human rights pretexts.

The proposed law establishes clear obligations for Chinese citizens to uphold national unity and ethnic solidarity while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. It emphasizes China’s commitment to governing ethnic affairs through legal frameworks and ensuring the protection of legitimate rights for all ethnic groups.

Xin Chunying, an official from the NPC’s Constitution and Law Committee, explained that these provisions represent both a crucial aspect of ethnic affairs management and a specific requirement for advancing comprehensive law-based governance. The legislation also mandates enhanced education on constitutional principles and legal awareness among all ethnic groups, promoting the dignity of China’s socialist rule of law system.

Additionally, the draft confirms the use of standard Chinese as the fundamental language of instruction in educational institutions nationwide. The legislative process has included extensive public consultation through the NPC’s official website, feedback collection from all NPC deputies, and research expeditions to ethnically diverse regions including Yunnan, Guizhou, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The law’s formulation, initially announced in the NPC Standing Committee’s annual work report, aims to forge a stronger sense of national identity and reinforce the concept of the Chinese people as one cohesive community, ultimately supporting national development and rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.