标签： Asia

In a revealing interview with The National, Tom Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, offered a candid assessment of the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape and US foreign policy. Barrack, who has Lebanese heritage and has served as President Donald Trump’s envoy since May, described regional peace as ‘an illusion’ and criticized Israel’s aggressive actions, including its strikes on Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia. He also addressed the recent Israeli attack on Qatar, calling it ‘not good’ and revealing that groups like Hamas and the Taliban are in Doha at America’s request. Barrack emphasized that the US administration is stepping back from direct intervention, focusing instead on counterterrorism cooperation while maintaining a special relationship with Israel, which receives $4-5 billion in annual subsidies. He dismissed the idea of a Palestinian state, arguing that the global community lacks the commitment to enforce it. Barrack also highlighted the challenges of disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon, noting the group’s financial and military strength, funded by Iran. He expressed concern over the Gaza conflict, calling it ‘unsettling’ and questioning why neighboring Arab countries won’t take in Palestinians. Barrack concluded by expressing distrust in all regional actors, including Israel, and hinted at the possibility of further US or Israeli action against Iran to stabilize the region.

In a historic move, Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris visited the village of al-Tekeina in al-Jazira state on August 30, 2025, marking the first visit by a senior Sudanese official in over six decades. The visit followed extensive coverage by Middle East Eye (MEE) of the village’s struggles against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of committing genocide. During his visit, Idris pledged to implement widespread reforms, including infrastructure development, improved public services, and political representation for the villagers. Al-Tekeina, located 70 kilometers south of Khartoum, had been neglected by the central government for years, forcing residents to defend themselves against the RSF using weapons and tactics learned from YouTube tutorials. The village’s resistance committee, led by Magd Omer Ibrahim, played a pivotal role in organizing the defense and advocating for the community’s needs. Idris’s delegation, which included ministers and the governor of al-Jazira, promised to reconstruct roads, maintain water and electricity stations, build a technical college, drill wells, and expand healthcare facilities. Villagers credited media coverage, particularly by MEE, for drawing government attention to their plight. The visit was seen as a moral restitution for the sacrifices made by the villagers, who had been abandoned by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the conflict. The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has displaced nearly 12 million people and claimed at least 150,000 lives, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The people of al-Tekeina hope that the promises made during the visit will bring lasting change to their community.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has revealed that Syria and Israel are engaged in advanced security discussions, though any potential agreement will not mirror the normalization seen in the Abraham Accords. Speaking at an event alongside former CIA director David Petraeus during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sharaa emphasized the complexities of Syria’s relationship with Israel, citing historical grievances and regional anger over the Gaza conflict. Sharaa’s visit marks the first time a Syrian leader has attended the UN General Assembly since 1967, underscoring the significance of his presence. Despite the ongoing talks, Sharaa dismissed the possibility of Syria joining the Abraham Accords, highlighting Syria’s unique position as a neighboring country subjected to over 1,000 Israeli military actions. He also expressed skepticism about Israel’s intentions, referencing its past violations of peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan. The discussions, mediated by US envoy Tom Barrack, aim to address Israel’s security concerns while preserving Syria’s sovereignty. However, Sharaa’s government faces internal challenges, including tensions with Druze militias and efforts to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national military. Sharaa’s broader objectives include lobbying for the complete lifting of US sanctions on Syria, a move initiated by former President Donald Trump but still partially in place due to congressional mandates. As Sharaa prepares to address the UN Assembly, his administration’s ability to protect minority groups and navigate regional alliances remains under scrutiny.

In a significant geopolitical development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inked a landmark strategic mutual defense agreement last week in Riyadh. The pact, described as an “institutionalization of long-standing and deep cooperation” by a senior Saudi official, has stirred considerable debate, particularly in India, which views the agreement as a potential threat to its national security. The agreement stipulates that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” a clause that has unsettled Indian analysts. Brahma Chellaney, an Indian strategist, argued that the pact reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitions rather than Pakistan’s strength, binding a “chronically dependent” partner to gain manpower and nuclear “insurance.” Former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal labeled the agreement a “grave misstep,” warning of its implications for India’s security. While India’s government has adopted a cautious stance, stating it will study the pact’s implications, the move has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, who have a history of conflicts, particularly over Kashmir. Some analysts, however, downplay the immediate risks, noting Saudi Arabia’s extensive economic ties with India, its second-largest trading partner. Michael Kugelman, a foreign policy analyst, suggested that the pact does not directly hinder India but embeds Pakistan in the Middle East’s security architecture, leaving India facing a coalition of Pakistan, China, Turkey, and now Saudi Arabia. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador, warned that the pact could position Saudi Arabia as a Cold War-style patron for Pakistan, bolstering its military capabilities against India. The agreement also signals Saudi Arabia’s broader strategic shift, diversifying its security partnerships amid declining faith in the US security umbrella. Ahmed Aboudouh of Chatham House noted that the pact is more about signaling intent than battlefield commitments, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s perception of threats from both Iran and Israel. For India, the pact’s broader geopolitical implications could complicate its ‘Look West’ strategy, potentially hardening into an “Islamic Nato” that challenges its trade and investment interests in the Gulf. While the immediate security threat to India remains unclear, the pact has undoubtedly reshaped regional alignments, leaving Delhi to recalibrate its diplomatic and strategic approach.