Link to Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-saudi-arabia-agree-strengthen-coordination-regional-global-matters-2025-12-15/ In like mid-December 2025, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to finalize a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA) with China. He made these remarks during a diplomatic tour that included meetings with Saudi Arabian officials, highlighting a willingness to deepen economic and strategic ties. The discussions emphasized the need to… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-french-us-officials-push-hezbollah-disarmament-plan-2025-12-18/ On December 18, 2025, Reuters reported that some officials from Saudi Arabia, France, and the United States met with the Lebanese army chief in Paris to finalize a roadmap for the disarmament of the militant group Hezbollah. This initiative follows a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024. Even though… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-proposes-host-wto-meeting-2028-2025-12-18 In December 2025, Saudi Arabia proposed hosting a major ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2028 to mark its 20th anniversary as a WTO member. This proposal was assessed during a WTO meeting in Geneva on December 16 and 17 and enjoyed international backing from 22 nations: Bangladesh, Kuwait, Russia, Cameroon, and Thailand…. Read more »
Article: https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-opens-new-air-defense-operations-cell-qatar-base-iran-targeted-retaliatory-attack The United States and its regional partners have opened a new air defense operations cell at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to enhance integrated air and missile defense amidst rising tensions with Iran. The base, home to about 10,000 U.S. forces and the largest American military installation in the Middle East, was previously targeted by Iranian missile… Read more »
Article: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-envoy-warns-hamas-serious-consequences-admin-launches-phase-two-gaza-plan The Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced the launch of Phase Two of President Trump’s 20-Point Plan to end the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. This new phase shifts focus from maintaining a ceasefire to demilitarization, reconstruction, and establishing a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration to govern Gaza. The U.S. is demanding that Hamas fully… Read more »
Article: https://www.foxnews.com/world/some-us-military-personnel-told-leave-middle-east-bases-us-official-confirms Some U.S. military personnel have been told to leave several Middle East bases, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as tensions in the region continue to rise. U.S. officials confirmed the move, describing it as a precautionary posture change rather than a full evacuation. The decision comes among growing instability involving Iran and increased concerns that U.S…. Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-saudi-turkey-defence-deal-pipeline-pakistani-minister-says-2026-01-15/ Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are working on a trilateral defence agreement after nearly a year of discussions. Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production, Raza Hayat Harraj, said a draft of the agreement already exists and is being reviewed by all three countries. This proposed deal is separate from the existing defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrias-use-force-against-kurdish-led-sdf-seems-an-option-turkey-says-2026-01-15/ The article explains that Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said the Syrian government may use force against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) if problems in northern Syria are not resolved through dialogue. Fidan said he prefers a peaceful solution and is concerned about renewed violence, but warned that force remains an option if talks fail…. Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-pledges-500-million-yemen-development-after-uae-withdrawal-2026-01-15/ Saudi Arabia is giving Yemen $500 million to help them. This money is for the part of Yemen. They will use it to build hospitals and schools. They will also fix the roads. Help people get fuel so they have electricity. Saudi Arabia wants to help Yemen because they care about the people who live there…. Read more »
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/world/middleeast/gaza-palestinian-committee.html Summary: The US is creating a technocratic panel that’s designed to rebuild Gazan territories not occupied by Hamas. There hasn’t been much discourse regarding this matter; don’t be surprised if the committee becomes a topic of debate in the upcoming months. Former Palestinian deputy minister Ali Shaath has been chosen to lead it. The committee will be composed of… Read more »
