The International Court of Justice on Tuesday unanimously rejected an appeal by four Middle East nations against a decision by the world civil aviation body in favour of Qatar over sovereign airspace.

The International Court of Justice on Tuesday unanimously rejected an appeal by four Middle East nations against a decision by the world civil aviation body in favour of Qatar over sovereign airspace. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had imposed an air blockade against Doha after accusing it of backing radical Islamists and Iran. The decision by Hague-based court covers a key part of the standoff that erupted three years ago pitting the four nations against Qatar. The court also "holds that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has jurisdiction" in the case, by 15 judges to one, ICJ President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said. The ICAO in 2018 ruled it had the jurisdiction to handle a dispute brought by Qatar, which accused its neighbours of violating a convention that regulates the free passage of its passenger planes through foreign airspace. But the four allies disagreed, saying the ICAO was not the right body to judge in the dispute and that its decision to do so was "manifestly flawed and in violation of fundamental principles of due process and the right to be heard." They had asked the ICJ to declare the aviation body's ruling "null and void and without effect." There was no immediate reaction from Qatar or its four rivals. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and other allies abruptly severed ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing the gas- and oil-rich country of backing radical Islamists and Iran. They imposed wide-ranging punitive measures including banning Qatari planes from their airspace, closing Qatar's only land border with Saudi Arabia and expelling Qatari citizens. Doha strongly denies the allegations. The countries justified the moves against the Gulf peninsula state saying it was their sovereign right to protect their national security. Qatar fiercely rejected the claims that it had violated a series of agreements inked with its neighbours in 2013 and 2014 aimed at settling years of diplomatic rancour. (With inputs from AFP)

Qatar wins air blockade case at International Court of Justice

Yemeni Houthi forces hit a large oil facility in the southern Saudi Arabian city of Jizan in drone and missile attacks overnight, a Houthi military spokesman said on Monday.

Yemeni Houthi forces hit a large oil facility in the southern Saudi Arabian city of Jizan in drone and missile attacks overnight, a Houthi military spokesman said on Monday. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said earlier it had intercepted and destroyed four missiles and six explosive drones fired by the Houthis over the border towards Saudi Arabia. There was no Saudi confirmation of where they were intercepted or whether anything was hit. Oil company Saudi Aramco operates a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in the Red Sea city of Jizan, which lies around 60 km (40 miles) from the Yemen border. Aramco declined to comment. "With many drones our armed forces targeted military aircraft, pilot accommodation and Patriot systems in Khamis Mushait, and other military targets at Abha, Jizan and Najran airports," said Yahya Sarea, a Houthi military spokesman. "Additionally, the giant oil facility in the Jizan industrial zone. The strike was accurate." Khamis Mushait, Abha, Jizan and Najran are all in southwest Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border. Cross-border attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement have escalated since late May when a truce prompted by the coronavirus pandemic expired. In late June, missiles reached the Saudi capital Riyadh. The coalition, in a statement published by Saudi state news agency SPA, did not say where the objects where intercepted but said the drones had been launched from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa towards Saudi Arabia. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government from Sanaa in late 2014. The Houthis, who control most large urban centres, say they are fighting a corrupt system. Houthi-run news outlet Al Masirah said the coalition had carried out air strikes on various regions under Houthi control on Monday. The United Nations has launched virtual talks among the warring parties on a permanent ceasefire and confidence-building steps to restart peace negotiations. But discussions have been complicated by the surge in violence since the ceasefire expired. The war has killed more than 100,000 people and caused what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Yemeni Houthis say they hit Saudi oil facility in drone, missile attack

An investigator for the U.N. Human Rights Council urged member states on Thursday (July 9) to pressure Saudi Arabia to free women activists before a G20 nations summit which Riyadh will be hosting in November.

UN rights investigator calls on S. Arabia to free women activists

The United Kingdom will resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia, despite fears that the weapons could be used against civilians in Yemen. This comes on the heels of London selectively slapping sanctions on individuals from Saudi Arabia. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: United Kingdom's sanction hypocrisy

Britain will resume weapons sales to Saudi Arabia despite international concerns that some could be used in the war in Yemen.

The Court of Appeal last year ruled that Britain broke the law by allowing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia that might have been deployed in the war in Yemen.

The court concluded that Britain’s government had erred in law in its decision-making processes on arms export licences to Saudi Arabia, after activists said there was evidence the weapons had been used in violation of human rights statutes.

While the court’s decision did not mean Britain had to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia, it did mean it had to pause the granting of new export licences to sell arms to the kingdom - Britain’s biggest weapons purchaser.

To this end, opposition legislators and campaigners against the arms trade slammed the "morally bankrupt" decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government.

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), which originally brought the legal action and had argued that British weapons were likely to have been used in Yemen in violation of human rights law, condemned the decision.

“This is a disgraceful and morally bankrupt decision. The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and the government itself admits that UK-made arms have played a central role on the bombing,” it said.

(with inputs from agencies)

Britain will resume weapons sales to Saudi Arabia despite international concerns that some could be used in the war in Yemen. The Court of Appeal last year ruled that Britain broke the law by allowing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia that might have been deployed in the war in Yemen.

Britain will resume weapons sales to Saudi Arabia despite international concerns that some could be used in the war in Yemen. The Court of Appeal last year ruled that Britain broke the law by allowing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia that might have been deployed in the war in Yemen. The court concluded that Britain’s government had erred in law in its decision-making processes on arms export licences to Saudi Arabia, after activists said there was evidence the weapons had been used in violation of human rights statutes. While the court’s decision did not mean Britain had to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia, it did mean it had to pause the granting of new export licences to sell arms to the kingdom - Britain’s biggest weapons purchaser. To this end, opposition legislators and campaigners against the arms trade slammed the "morally bankrupt" decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government. The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), which originally brought the legal action and had argued that British weapons were likely to have been used in Yemen in violation of human rights law, condemned the decision. “This is a disgraceful and morally bankrupt decision. The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and the government itself admits that UK-made arms have played a central role on the bombing,” it said. (with inputs from agencies)

Britain to resume Saudi arms exports despite Yemen war concerns

Russia has threatened to retaliate with reciprocal measures and said the sanctions were pointless.

UK imposes sanctions against human rights abusers

The United Arab Emirates plans to test two million people, or about 20% of the population, for the novel coronavirus over the next two months after the infection rate spiked again following the lifting of restrictions, Reuters reported quoting a government spokesperson.

The United Arab Emirates plans to test two million people, or about 20% of the population, for the novel coronavirus over the next two months after the infection rate spiked again following the lifting of restrictions, Reuters reported quoting a government spokesperson. The regional business and tourism hub lifted the lockdown restrictions on June 24 in place since mid-March. It has gradually reopened commercial businesses and public venues and the emirate, or state, of Dubai, is set reopen to foreign visitors on Tuesday. "While it is worrying to see a slight increase in cases in the past few days, it is a reminder that we all should be responsible and committed to follow health practices," government spokesperson Amna al-Shamsi said late on Monday. "UAE health authorities continue to increase testing capacity for Covid-19, with additional 2 million tests to be performed in the coming two months, across the country," she said in comments carried on the government Twitter account. The UAE recorded 528 new cases on Monday, taking its tally to 52,068 with 324 deaths. The daily infection rate had dropped from a peak of over 900 in late May to average between 300 to 400, but rose over the weekend to some 700. Dubai's move to allow foreign visitors has not been implemented on the federal level in the UAE, which does not provide a breakdown of coronavirus cases for each of its seven emirates. Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest emirate, has restricted movement into the UAE capital, with people residing outside the emirate required to obtain a permit showing a negative COVID-19 test. Neighbouring Saudi Arabia has the highest count among the six Gulf Arab states at more than 213,700 infections with 1,968 deaths as of Monday. (With inputs from Reuters)

UAE to test two million people for COVID-19 in next two months as cases rise

Of the total 10,000 pilgrims, 70 percent will be non-Saudis residing in the Kingdom, while the remaining 30 percent will be citizens

S. Arabia issues Hajj health measures for domestic pilgrims

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced health protocols to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the 2020 haj season, the state news agency said. As per the health protocols, the kingdom has banned gatherings and meetings between pilgrims during haj.

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced health protocols to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the 2020 haj season, the state news agency said. As per the health protocols, the kingdom has banned gatherings and meetings between pilgrims during haj. After barring Muslims abroad from the rite for the first year in modern times, Saudi Arabia decided in June to limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending the haj to around 1,000 to prevent the spread of the virus. Touching the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, will be banned during the haj this year, and a social distancing space of a meter and a half between each pilgrim during the rituals including mass prayers and while in the Kaaba circling area will be imposed, a statement by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) elaborated. Also, access to holy haj sites at Mona, Muzdalifah and Arafat will be limited to those with haj permits starting Sunday, July 19 till Aug. 2 2020, and wearing masks all the time will be mandatory for both pilgrims and organizers.

Saudi Arabia announces haj health protocols for domestic pilgrims

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters suggested the proposed Saudi&nbsp;takeover&nbsp;of&nbsp;Newcastle&nbsp;United had become complicated but hoped to have a conclusion to the process shortly.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-should-cut-ties-with-chinese-sponsors-kxip-co-owner-ness-wadia-309675" hreflang="en">IPL should cut ties with Chinese sponsors: KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia</a>

The Premier League's board has been carrying out an examination of the proposed&nbsp;takeover&nbsp;as part of its 'owners and directors test' which evaluates the suitability of ownership groups.

A group fronted by British financier Amanda Staveley, with an expected 80% investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF and 10% involvement from billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, made a reported 300 million pound ($375 million) bid to buy the club from British businessman Mike Ashley in April.

Speaking to a hearing of the British parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Masters was asked about the uncertainty that&nbsp;Newcastle&nbsp;fans have been facing over their club's future.

"I do appreciate that uncertainty, I cannot comment in terms of timing or the specifics on any particular&nbsp;takeover&nbsp;but in a perfect world,&nbsp;takeovers would happen cleanly, clearly and in a timely fashion. Sometimes, things get complicated," he said.

Masters said that he was bound by confidentiality clauses in all&nbsp;takeover&nbsp;processes and so was not able to discuss details of the case.

"When they drag on, sometimes there's a requirement for information. It's a relatively rare occurrence," he said.

"I think it's very difficult to keep a constant dialogue with fans about what's an entirely confidential process.

"We can't provide a running commentary on things and, as I said, I just can't talk about the specifics of this particular process."

Masters said he hoped the process would conclude "shortly".

One of the issues that has been raised by critics of the&nbsp;takeover&nbsp;is Saudi Arabia's response to cases of unauthorised broadcasting of Premier League games in the country.

Earlier this month, a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel told Saudi Arabia it had breached global rules on intellectual property rights by failing to prosecute a pirate broadcaster of sports and movies in a dispute with Gulf neighbour Qatar regarding the BeoutQ channel, which broadcast Premier League games.

"BeoutQ is now off the air, and what we want, off the back of the WTO report, is for Saudi Arabia to respond positively the situation and to allow sports rights-holders to take their rights," said Masters.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters suggested the proposed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United had become complicated but hoped to have a conclusion to the process shortly.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters suggested the proposed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United had become complicated but hoped to have a conclusion to the process shortly. Also read: IPL should cut ties with Chinese sponsors: KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia The Premier League's board has been carrying out an examination of the proposed takeover as part of its 'owners and directors test' which evaluates the suitability of ownership groups. A group fronted by British financier Amanda Staveley, with an expected 80% investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF and 10% involvement from billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, made a reported 300 million pound ($375 million) bid to buy the club from British businessman Mike Ashley in April. Speaking to a hearing of the British parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Masters was asked about the uncertainty that Newcastle fans have been facing over their club's future. "I do appreciate that uncertainty, I cannot comment in terms of timing or the specifics on any particular takeover but in a perfect world, takeovers would happen cleanly, clearly and in a timely fashion. Sometimes, things get complicated," he said. Masters said that he was bound by confidentiality clauses in all takeover processes and so was not able to discuss details of the case. "When they drag on, sometimes there's a requirement for information. It's a relatively rare occurrence," he said. "I think it's very difficult to keep a constant dialogue with fans about what's an entirely confidential process. "We can't provide a running commentary on things and, as I said, I just can't talk about the specifics of this particular process." Masters said he hoped the process would conclude "shortly". One of the issues that has been raised by critics of the takeover is Saudi Arabia's response to cases of unauthorised broadcasting of Premier League games in the country. Earlier this month, a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel told Saudi Arabia it had breached global rules on intellectual property rights by failing to prosecute a pirate broadcaster of sports and movies in a dispute with Gulf neighbour Qatar regarding the BeoutQ channel, which broadcast Premier League games. "BeoutQ is now off the air, and what we want, off the back of the WTO report, is for Saudi Arabia to respond positively the situation and to allow sports rights-holders to take their rights," said Masters.

Saudi Arabia's takeover of Newcastle is complicated, says Premier League chief

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday.

The spokesman, quoted by Saudi news agency SPA, said the Iranian vessels refused to stop after they entered Saudi waters despite repeated warnings, which forced the Saudi authorities to fire the warning shots.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/how-big-power-rivalry-is-likely-to-unfold-in-the-gulf-region-308187">Also read|&nbsp;How big power rivalry is likely to unfold in the Gulf region</a>

Iranian state media quoted a local official in Bushehr province on the Gulf as saying the Saudi coastguard had opened fire on Iranian fishermen who had strayed into Saudi waters but that initial reports said no one was hurt.

The Iranian report said the fishermen had left on June 21 for a 10-day trip. It did not specify when the engagement with the Saudi coastguard occurred.

It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same incident.

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia forced three Iranian boats to retreat from its waters on Thursday after firing warning shots, a spokesman for Saudi boarder guards said on Saturday. The spokesman, quoted by Saudi news agency SPA, said the Iranian vessels refused to stop after they entered Saudi waters despite repeated warnings, which forced the Saudi authorities to fire the warning shots. Also read| How big power rivalry is likely to unfold in the Gulf region Iranian state media quoted a local official in Bushehr province on the Gulf as saying the Saudi coastguard had opened fire on Iranian fishermen who had strayed into Saudi waters but that initial reports said no one was hurt. The Iranian report said the fishermen had left on June 21 for a 10-day trip. It did not specify when the engagement with the Saudi coastguard occurred. It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same incident.

Saudi Arabia says it forces three Iranian boats out of its waters

One of the largest annual gatherings on Earth, the pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca, will be off-limits to most the world’s Muslims this year due to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Is it that hard to pray at home?

Saudi Arabia has announced it will hold a "very limited" hajj this year, with pilgrims already present in the kingdom allowed to perform the annual ritual. The development comes as the country moves to contain the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia has announced it will hold a "very limited" hajj this year, with pilgrims already present in the kingdom allowed to perform the annual ritual. The development comes as the country moves to contain the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the Gulf. The decision marks the first time in Saudi Arabia's modern history that Muslims outside the kingdom have been barred from performing the hajj, which last year drew 2.5 million pilgrims. The kingdom's hajj ministry said the ritual will be open to various nationalities already in Saudi Arabia, but it did not specify a number. "It was decided to hold the pilgrimage this year with very limited numbers... with different nationalities in the kingdom," the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday, citing the ministry. Also read: Saudi Arabia to end virus curfew on June 21, except in Mecca "This decision is taken to ensure the hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective... and in accordance with the teachings of Islam." The hajj -- a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime -- could be a major source of contagion, as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites. Also read: COVID 19: On Saudi Arabia's advice, Haj arrangements are on hold The decision comes as Saudi Arabia grapples to contain a major spike in virus, which have now risen to more than 161,000 cases -- the highest in the Gulf -- and over 1,300 deaths. But despite the surge, Saudi Arabia on Sunday moved to end a coronavirus curfew across the kingdom and lift restrictions on businesses, including cinemas and other entertainment venues. (With inputs from AFP)

Amid coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj this year

Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that because of the coronavirus only “very limited numbers” of people will be allowed to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia to hold very limited hajj due to virus

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested to not send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Naqvi &nbsp;told reporters that 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately.

The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants.

This will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic.

More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now, they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said.

A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said.

In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-coronavirus-pandemic-saudi-arabia-to-hold-very-limited-hajj-this-year-307851">Also read | Amid coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj this year</a>

"This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said.

Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August.

The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested to not send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic. Naqvi told reporters that 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately. The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants. This will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic. More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now, they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said. A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said. In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it. Also read | Amid coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj this year "This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said. Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August. The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

Indian pilgrims will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020

Saudis flocked to hairdressers, barbers and shops on Sunday as coronavirus lockdown measures were lifted across the kingdom.

Life returns to Saudi Arabia as lockdown lifts

Fraught with multiple powder kegs that could blow up at any moment, Turkish-Russian relations constitute a study in the management of a new world order’s seemingly fragile alliances.

Much like relations between Russia and China, Russia and Iran, Turkey and Iran, and Turkey and China, Turkish-Russian ties are fragile despite the fact that they, contrary to Western perceptions, are not just opportunistic and driven by short-term common interests but also grounded in a degree of shared values.

The fact of the matter is that men like presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, find common ground in a view of a new world order that rejects democracy and the rule of law; disregards human and minority rights; flaunts, at least for now, violations of international law; and operates on the principle of might is right.

That glue, however, is insufficient, to prevent Turkey and Russia from ending up on opposite sides of conflicts in Libya and Syria.

It is also unlikely to halt the gradual erosion of a presumed division of labour in Central Asia with Russia ensuring security and China focusing on economic development.

And it is doubtful it would alter the simmering rivalry between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea and long-standing Russian reluctance to sell Iran a badly needed anti-missile defence system.

Similarly, the balance of power in Syria where Russia and Iran are hoping to reap the economic benefits of reconstruction after having played the key role in securing President Bashar al-Assad’s military victory could shift dramatically if and when China commits to investing in the war-devastated country. Neither Russia nor Iran have the financial muscle to compete.

So far, Turkey, Russia, China, and Iran have been adept at ensuring that differences do not get out of hand. The question is whether stopgap management of potential blow-ups is sustainable.

In Libya, Turkey temporarily halted drone operations to allow Russian mercenaries to evacuate areas lost to the Turkish-backed, internationally recognized Islamist Government of National Accord (GNA) after Turkish electronic warfare whacked Russian anti-defence missile systems operated by Moscow-supported rebels led by self-appointed Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar.

In Syria, Russia and Turkey have negotiated an uneasy ceasefire and security arrangement in Idlib, one of the last rebel strongholds, following clashes in which Turkey dealt a serious blow to the Russian and Iranian-backed forces of Al-Assad.

The band aid-solutions may serve immediate economic interests and geopolitical goals but do little to mask the four powers’ seemingly incompatible long-term hegemonic ambitions.

“What is Turkey doing [in Libya]?” asked Mesut Hakki Casin, a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Security and Foreign Policy Board. “The reason is that Ottomans conquered Egypt after establishing dominance and control in the straits of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Turkey is in Libya because of historical and political reasons.”

Diverging interests do not only play out on the battlefield, as is evident in the shifting balance of power in Central Asia. They are also evident in the competition in arms sales.

The credible performance of Turkish drones in Libya and Syria have boosted demand for Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare systems and dented the infatuation with Russian anti-missile defence batteries.

Dubbed Bayraktar TB-2 and Anka-S, Turkish drones destroyed Russian-backed Syrian military units in northern Syria earlier this year even though they operated Russia’s Pantsir and Buk surface-to-air missile systems. A similar scenario played out in the defeat in western Libya of Haftar’s forces.

Clashing interests in Libya and Syria and economic woes at home accelerated by the fallout of the pandemic persuaded Erdogan to seek to improve relations with the United States and rejuvenate his personal relationship with President Donald J Trump while massaging his ties to Russia.

In a recent gesture, Botas, Turkey’s state-owned gas grid operator, opened a tender for the construction of a pipeline to Nakhichevan, an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan. The pipeline would allow Azerbaijan to reduce imports from Iran.

Lobbyists in the United States for the Turkish business community are seeking to capitalize on the opening by pushing an offer by a Louisiana energy company to provide Turkey with “long-term, secure, competitively priced access to Turkey’s LNG terminals, gas pipeline and storage facilities” that would make the country less dependent on Russian and Iranian imports.

Erdogan and his energy minister, Fatih Donmez, have pushed the notion of diversification of Turkey’s energy imports.

“From Syria to Libya, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, Erdogan now figures that Turkey needs America politically and strategically more than it did some months ago. He learned by experience that getting the United States on board by making Trump his personal friend is easier than any other way,” said veteran Turkish journalist Cengiz Candar.

Erdogan is banking on his past experience of talking to Trump directly and getting what he wants despite opposition from the Pentagon as was the case with Turkey’s most recent intervention in Syria.

“To be honest, after our conversation tonight, a new era can begin between the United States and Turkey,” Erdogan said during a television interview afterwards speaking to Trump by phone on June 9.

Erdogan’s approach may not be available to Iran with its deeply engrained distrust of the United States, but it certainly is what guides the thinking regarding Russia of numerous European leaders and politicians. No doubt, it is also an option that Putin has not lost sight of.

The web of relationships between China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran may seem formidable but the complexity of Turkish-Russian relations suggests that they may be built on more quicksand than any of the players are willing to admit.

On the principle of “It ain’t over until the fat lady has sung,” that is something that Gulf and other Middle Eastern leaders no doubt have taken note of.

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Fraught with multiple powder kegs that could blow up at any moment, Turkish-Russian relations constitute a study in the management of a new world order’s seemingly fragile alliances.

Fraught with multiple powder kegs that could blow up at any moment, Turkish-Russian relations constitute a study in the management of a new world order’s seemingly fragile alliances. Much like relations between Russia and China, Russia and Iran, Turkey and Iran, and Turkey and China, Turkish-Russian ties are fragile despite the fact that they, contrary to Western perceptions, are not just opportunistic and driven by short-term common interests but also grounded in a degree of shared values. The fact of the matter is that men like presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, find common ground in a view of a new world order that rejects democracy and the rule of law; disregards human and minority rights; flaunts, at least for now, violations of international law; and operates on the principle of might is right. That glue, however, is insufficient, to prevent Turkey and Russia from ending up on opposite sides of conflicts in Libya and Syria. It is also unlikely to halt the gradual erosion of a presumed division of labour in Central Asia with Russia ensuring security and China focusing on economic development. And it is doubtful it would alter the simmering rivalry between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea and long-standing Russian reluctance to sell Iran a badly needed anti-missile defence system. Similarly, the balance of power in Syria where Russia and Iran are hoping to reap the economic benefits of reconstruction after having played the key role in securing President Bashar al-Assad’s military victory could shift dramatically if and when China commits to investing in the war-devastated country. Neither Russia nor Iran have the financial muscle to compete. So far, Turkey, Russia, China, and Iran have been adept at ensuring that differences do not get out of hand. The question is whether stopgap management of potential blow-ups is sustainable. In Libya, Turkey temporarily halted drone operations to allow Russian mercenaries to evacuate areas lost to the Turkish-backed, internationally recognized Islamist Government of National Accord (GNA) after Turkish electronic warfare whacked Russian anti-defence missile systems operated by Moscow-supported rebels led by self-appointed Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar. In Syria, Russia and Turkey have negotiated an uneasy ceasefire and security arrangement in Idlib, one of the last rebel strongholds, following clashes in which Turkey dealt a serious blow to the Russian and Iranian-backed forces of Al-Assad. The band aid-solutions may serve immediate economic interests and geopolitical goals but do little to mask the four powers’ seemingly incompatible long-term hegemonic ambitions. “What is Turkey doing [in Libya]?” asked Mesut Hakki Casin, a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Security and Foreign Policy Board. “The reason is that Ottomans conquered Egypt after establishing dominance and control in the straits of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Turkey is in Libya because of historical and political reasons.” Diverging interests do not only play out on the battlefield, as is evident in the shifting balance of power in Central Asia. They are also evident in the competition in arms sales. The credible performance of Turkish drones in Libya and Syria have boosted demand for Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare systems and dented the infatuation with Russian anti-missile defence batteries. Dubbed Bayraktar TB-2 and Anka-S, Turkish drones destroyed Russian-backed Syrian military units in northern Syria earlier this year even though they operated Russia’s Pantsir and Buk surface-to-air missile systems. A similar scenario played out in the defeat in western Libya of Haftar’s forces. Clashing interests in Libya and Syria and economic woes at home accelerated by the fallout of the pandemic persuaded Erdogan to seek to improve relations with the United States and rejuvenate his personal relationship with President Donald J Trump while massaging his ties to Russia. In a recent gesture, Botas, Turkey’s state-owned gas grid operator, opened a tender for the construction of a pipeline to Nakhichevan, an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan. The pipeline would allow Azerbaijan to reduce imports from Iran. Lobbyists in the United States for the Turkish business community are seeking to capitalize on the opening by pushing an offer by a Louisiana energy company to provide Turkey with “long-term, secure, competitively priced access to Turkey’s LNG terminals, gas pipeline and storage facilities” that would make the country less dependent on Russian and Iranian imports. Erdogan and his energy minister, Fatih Donmez, have pushed the notion of diversification of Turkey’s energy imports. “From Syria to Libya, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, Erdogan now figures that Turkey needs America politically and strategically more than it did some months ago. He learned by experience that getting the United States on board by making Trump his personal friend is easier than any other way,” said veteran Turkish journalist Cengiz Candar. Erdogan is banking on his past experience of talking to Trump directly and getting what he wants despite opposition from the Pentagon as was the case with Turkey’s most recent intervention in Syria. “To be honest, after our conversation tonight, a new era can begin between the United States and Turkey,” Erdogan said during a television interview afterwards speaking to Trump by phone on June 9. Erdogan’s approach may not be available to Iran with its deeply engrained distrust of the United States, but it certainly is what guides the thinking regarding Russia of numerous European leaders and politicians. No doubt, it is also an option that Putin has not lost sight of. The web of relationships between China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran may seem formidable but the complexity of Turkish-Russian relations suggests that they may be built on more quicksand than any of the players are willing to admit. On the principle of “It ain’t over until the fat lady has sung,” that is something that Gulf and other Middle Eastern leaders no doubt have taken note of. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Fragile big power ties add to uncertainty in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia has crossed the 100,000-mark in coronavirus cases after witnessing a spike in recent weeks.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-situational-awareness-was-quite-poor-it-cost-many-lives-government-scientific-advisor-304038" hreflang="en">UK's situational awareness was quite poor, it cost many lives: Government scientific advisor</a>

The middle eastern country reported 3,045 new cases on Sunday taking the tally to 101,914 which included 712 deaths. The number exceeded 3,000 for the first time on Saturday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-tells-italians-not-to-celebrate-victory-over-coronavirus-too-soon-304036" hreflang="en">Pope Francis tells Italians not to celebrate victory over coronavirus too soon</a>

Saudi Arabia recorded its first case for coronavirus on March 2 and the country's health ministry predicted cases between 10,000 to 200,000 in April. On May 16, a country of 30 million people recorded 50,000 cases of coronavirus.&nbsp;

Among the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that has 272,625 cases and 1406 deaths, Saudi's numbers are the highest.&nbsp;

Coronavirus infections in the energy-producing region had initially been linked to travel. But despite taking early measures to combat the virus, Gulf states have seen a spread among low-income migrant workers living in cramped quarters, prompting authorities to ramp up testing.

Saudi Arabia has crossed the 100,000-mark in coronavirus cases after witnessing a spike in recent weeks. Also read: UK's situational awareness was quite poor, it cost many lives: Government scientific advisor The middle eastern country reported 3,045 new cases on Sunday taking the tally to 101,914 which included 712 deaths.

Saudi Arabia has crossed the 100,000-mark in coronavirus cases after witnessing a spike in recent weeks. Also read: UK's situational awareness was quite poor, it cost many lives: Government scientific advisor The middle eastern country reported 3,045 new cases on Sunday taking the tally to 101,914 which included 712 deaths. The number exceeded 3,000 for the first time on Saturday. Also read: Pope Francis tells Italians not to celebrate victory over coronavirus too soon Saudi Arabia recorded its first case for coronavirus on March 2 and the country's health ministry predicted cases between 10,000 to 200,000 in April. On May 16, a country of 30 million people recorded 50,000 cases of coronavirus. Among the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that has 272,625 cases and 1406 deaths, Saudi's numbers are the highest. Coronavirus infections in the energy-producing region had initially been linked to travel. But despite taking early measures to combat the virus, Gulf states have seen a spread among low-income migrant workers living in cramped quarters, prompting authorities to ramp up testing.

Saudi Arabia crosses 100,000-mark in terms of coronavirus cases

OPEC leader Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia have agreed a preliminary deal to extend existing record oil output cuts by one month while raising pressure on countries with poor compliance to deepen their cuts, OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OPEC+ agreed to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, or about 10% of global output, in May and June to lift prices battered by plunging demand linked to lockdown measures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Rather than easing output cuts in July, OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, were discussing keeping those cuts beyond June.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/in-the-wake-of-the-historic-opec-deal-the-country-with-the-worlds-largest-oil-reserves-struggles-to-survive-292405" hreflang="en">In the wake of the historic OPEC deal, the country with the World’s largest oil reserves struggles to survive</a>

"Saudi Arabia and Russia are aligned on the extension for one month," one OPEC source said.

"Any agreement on extending the cuts is conditional on countries who have not fully complied in May deepening their cuts in upcoming months to offset their overproduction," the source said.

The group also considered holding an online meeting on June 4 to discuss output policy, after Algeria, which holds the presidency of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, proposed bringing forward a meeting planned for June 9-10.

The OPEC source said that an earlier meeting on June 4 is also conditional on compliance and that the discussions now are about implementing criteria for those countries who have not fully complied with the oil cuts and how they can compensate for their overproduction in the coming months.

OPEC members Iraq and Nigeria has shown weak compliance with its output reduction targets in May.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/opec-meeting-delayed-as-saudi-arabia-and-russia-row-over-price-collapse-290596" hreflang="en">OPEC+ meeting delayed as Saudi Arabia and Russia row over price collapse</a>

Kazakhstan also failed to fully meet its obligations under the OPEC+ oil cut pact, sources said.

Two sources also told Reuters that Gulf OPEC producers Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are not discussing extending their deeper voluntary oil cuts of 1.180 million bpd beyond June.

Oil prices rose in recent days from the lows of April buoyed by a continuing recovery in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, while other economies are slowly opening up after lockdowns to contain its spread.&nbsp;

"Overall the market is moving in the right direction with the gradual easing of the lockdown. But we still need to be cautious. There is always a risk of another wave of the coronavirus," the first OPEC source said.

"The other thing is how quickly will demand patterns recover. Inventories are still above average levels and that needs to be tackled.

OPEC leader Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia have agreed a preliminary deal to extend existing record oil output cuts by one month while raising pressure on countries with poor compliance to deepen their cuts, OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OPEC leader Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia have agreed a preliminary deal to extend existing record oil output cuts by one month while raising pressure on countries with poor compliance to deepen their cuts, OPEC+ sources told Reuters. OPEC+ agreed to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, or about 10% of global output, in May and June to lift prices battered by plunging demand linked to lockdown measures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Rather than easing output cuts in July, OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, were discussing keeping those cuts beyond June. Also read: In the wake of the historic OPEC deal, the country with the World’s largest oil reserves struggles to survive "Saudi Arabia and Russia are aligned on the extension for one month," one OPEC source said. "Any agreement on extending the cuts is conditional on countries who have not fully complied in May deepening their cuts in upcoming months to offset their overproduction," the source said. The group also considered holding an online meeting on June 4 to discuss output policy, after Algeria, which holds the presidency of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, proposed bringing forward a meeting planned for June 9-10. The OPEC source said that an earlier meeting on June 4 is also conditional on compliance and that the discussions now are about implementing criteria for those countries who have not fully complied with the oil cuts and how they can compensate for their overproduction in the coming months. OPEC members Iraq and Nigeria has shown weak compliance with its output reduction targets in May. Also read: OPEC+ meeting delayed as Saudi Arabia and Russia row over price collapse Kazakhstan also failed to fully meet its obligations under the OPEC+ oil cut pact, sources said. Two sources also told Reuters that Gulf OPEC producers Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are not discussing extending their deeper voluntary oil cuts of 1.180 million bpd beyond June. Oil prices rose in recent days from the lows of April buoyed by a continuing recovery in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, while other economies are slowly opening up after lockdowns to contain its spread. "Overall the market is moving in the right direction with the gradual easing of the lockdown. But we still need to be cautious. There is always a risk of another wave of the coronavirus," the first OPEC source said. "The other thing is how quickly will demand patterns recover. Inventories are still above average levels and that needs to be tackled.

Saudi, Russia reach deal on oil cuts, raising pressure for compliance

Saudi Arabia's crown prince has been busy crushing dissent ever since his ascent to power in 2017. Just like the rest of the world, Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a pandemic but even as the kingdom has started to ease lockdown restrictions the de facto ruler of the kingdom, crown prince Mohammad bin Salman has been mired in another crisis.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince has been busy crushing dissent ever since his ascent to power in 2017. Just like the rest of the world, Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a pandemic but even as the kingdom has started to ease lockdown restrictions the de facto ruler of the kingdom, crown prince Mohammad bin Salman has been mired in another crisis. The pressure is building on him to release imprisoned Saudi royals. They've been in five-star custody since January 2018. Now Saudi Arabia's royals are turning to the American president. They are hiring lobbyists with connections to Donald Trump and are also are planning legal lobbying, and public relations campaigns to secure their release. Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was among eleven princes arrested two years back. A multilingual 37-year-old educated at Paris's Sorbonne University, he was known to have not had any kind of political ambitions. And in fact, had a reputation for being a "walking blank check" for funding projects in poor countries. Saudi Arabia justified the arrests as a consequence of an unlawful protest but the details of the arrest and prince Salman's whereabouts remain murky. He's been in jail for two years without charges. A delegation from the European parliament came to Riyadh in February to campaign for his release and now he has roped in top American lobbyist Robert Stryk signing a $2 million contract to help secure his release. This is just one royal. There's a whole lot of them. The crown prince of Saudi Arabia has been ruthlessly eliminating potential rivals. He began a royal crackdown in 2017 in the name of fighting corruption. It was a power grab. which still continues. In March this year, authorities arrested the Saudi king's brother prince Ahmed and nephew prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Prince Nayef was edged out as heir to the throne by MBS. Two adult children and the brother of a senior aide to prince Nayef were also detained. Princess Basmah bint Saud, another royal perceived to be close to Prince Nayef has been jailed for a year without charge along with her daughter. She has gone public with pleas to be released from detention. She too has roped in lawyers in Washington and London. This is a tricky time for MBS-- first the pandemic. Then the crashing oil prices and economic slump and now this international effort by jailed royals. Even the deadly virus from Wuhan has failed to put under lockdown, the Saudi game of thrones.

Saudi Arabia's Game of Thrones continues amid COVID-19 pandemic

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.&nbsp; 
 
The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings.&nbsp; 
 
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/blood-sucking-mutant-ticks-storm-russia-hospitals-already-overburdened-by-coronavirus-feel-the-sting-302682" hreflang="en">'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting</a> 
 
Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. 
 
Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". 
 
"It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. 
 
Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. 
 
The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. 
 
Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/covid-19-russia-death-toll-crosses-5000-as-lockdown-eases-302617" hreflang="en">COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases</a> 
 
Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. 
 
Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies.

Companies like 'wildflowers' 
Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. 
 
Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. 
 
The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. 
 
The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. 
 
Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses.&nbsp; 
 
It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 
 
The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. 
 
The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". 
 
A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. 
 
Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. 
 
Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount. The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries. Also read: 'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". "It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added. Also read: COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies. Companies like 'wildflowers' Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday. Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses. It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.

Russia unveils $72-billion virus recovery plan 

The Saudi-Iranian dispute may dominate headlines but a similar rivalry between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates is equally wreaking havoc in the Middle East and North Africa.

While Saudi Arabia may in some ways have a leg up on Iran, Turkey and the UAE are at a virtual draw.

In Libya, forces of the Turkish-backed, Tripoli-based internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) are pushing UAE-backed rebels led by renegade Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar out of western Libya. Haftar further enjoys support from Saudi Arabia and Egypt with whom Turkey is also at odds.

In contrast to Libya, Turkey is discovering that in Syria the odds are stacked against it, even if its objectives in the country are more limited.

If in Libya, Turkish support for the GNA amounts to an effort to shape who controls the country as well as energy-rich waters in the Eastern Mediterranean; in Syria, Turkey is determined to prevent Syrian Kurdish nationalist forces from establishing a permanent and meaningful presence on its borders and control jihadist forces in Idlib, the last major Syrian rebel stronghold.

US abandonment of their alliance with the Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State pushed the Kurds towards cooperation with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Kurds expect the cooperation to shield them from Turkish efforts to push them further out of border areas.

At the same time Turkey, already home to 3.6 million Syrian refugees – the single largest concentration of Syrians fleeing their war-torn and dilapidated homeland,&nbsp;also wants to stymie a potential new influx of many more if and when Idlib falls to Russian-backed Syrian government forces.

The UAE-Turkish rivalry — rooted in a battle for dominance of global Muslim religious soft power; geopolitical competition across the Muslim world, including the Middle East and the Horn of Africa; and fundamentally opposed attitudes towards political Islam — has escalated military confrontations and complicated, if not disrupted, efforts to resolve conflicts in Libya and Syria.

The UAE-Turkey scorecard is 1:1

Turkey so far has a winning hand in Libya.

In Syria, however, few doubt that Turkey will struggle to secure its interests with Al-Assad, backed not only by Russia and Iran but also the UAE, firmly in the saddle.

UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) reportedly promised Al-Assad $3 billion&nbsp;in April; $250 million of which was paid upfront, to break a ceasefire in Idlib imposed on Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Russia appears to have successfully thwarted Prince Mohammed’s move.

The Emirati crown prince had hoped to tie Turkey up in fighting in Syria, which would complicate Turkish military support for the GNA in Libya. Al-Assad’s failure to take up the offer likely contributed to Turkey’s ability to successfully focus on Libya in recent weeks.

The UAE has, nonetheless, one strategic advantage. Turkey’s reputation in Washington DC, much like that of Saudi Arabia, is severely tarnished. The UAE has so far skilfully evaded a similar fate, enjoying not only close ties to the United States but also Russia.

Turkish-US relations are strained over multiple issues, including Turkey’s acquisition of Russia’s acclaimed S-400 anti-missile defence system, its close cooperation with Russia and Iran, and the continued presence in the United States of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher whom Erdogan accuses of staging the failed 2016 military attempt to remove him from office.

The Trump administration has nevertheless offered Turkey ammunition to be used in military operations in north-eastern Syria as well as humanitarian assistance in a hopeless bid to persuade Ankara to push back Iranian forces in the country.

Erdogan, in a surprise move this week, demoted and then accepted the resignation of Rear-Admiral Cihat Yayci, the popular architect of Turkey’s intervention in Libya and aggressive stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Yayci is believed to be an anti-Western Eurasianist who advocates closer Turkish relations with Russia and China.

Turkey’s ties to Russia are equally complex.

While Turkey and Russia support opposing sides in Libya, they have so far been able to balance their interests in Syria.

While Turkey and Russia support opposing sides in Libya, they have so far been able to balance their interests in Syria that sometimes coincide and sometimes diverge, leading earlier this year to clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces.

In Libya, it was Turkish drones that allegedly destroyed a Russian-made Pantsir air defence system even as hundreds of Russian mercenaries working for the Wagner Group, with close ties to the Kremlin, reportedly support Haftar’s forces.

If support for Haftar is Russia capitalizing on an opportunity to stoke a fire, UAE backing is part of Prince Mohammed’s determination to confront political Islam across the Middle East and North Africa.

“Turkey and the UAE [are] engaged in a regional power struggle. They see it as a zero-sum game, in which there is no way for both sides to win. If one wins, the other one loses,” said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and chairman of the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM).

It is a zero-sum-game played on proxy battlefields that bodes ill for those unwillingly sucked into it. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The Saudi-Iranian dispute may dominate headlines but a similar rivalry between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates is equally wreaking havoc in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Saudi-Iranian dispute may dominate headlines but a similar rivalry between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates is equally wreaking havoc in the Middle East and North Africa. While Saudi Arabia may in some ways have a leg up on Iran, Turkey and the UAE are at a virtual draw. In Libya, forces of the Turkish-backed, Tripoli-based internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) are pushing UAE-backed rebels led by renegade Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar out of western Libya. Haftar further enjoys support from Saudi Arabia and Egypt with whom Turkey is also at odds. In contrast to Libya, Turkey is discovering that in Syria the odds are stacked against it, even if its objectives in the country are more limited. If in Libya, Turkish support for the GNA amounts to an effort to shape who controls the country as well as energy-rich waters in the Eastern Mediterranean; in Syria, Turkey is determined to prevent Syrian Kurdish nationalist forces from establishing a permanent and meaningful presence on its borders and control jihadist forces in Idlib, the last major Syrian rebel stronghold. US abandonment of their alliance with the Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State pushed the Kurds towards cooperation with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Kurds expect the cooperation to shield them from Turkish efforts to push them further out of border areas. At the same time Turkey, already home to 3.6 million Syrian refugees – the single largest concentration of Syrians fleeing their war-torn and dilapidated homeland, also wants to stymie a potential new influx of many more if and when Idlib falls to Russian-backed Syrian government forces. The UAE-Turkish rivalry — rooted in a battle for dominance of global Muslim religious soft power; geopolitical competition across the Muslim world, including the Middle East and the Horn of Africa; and fundamentally opposed attitudes towards political Islam — has escalated military confrontations and complicated, if not disrupted, efforts to resolve conflicts in Libya and Syria. The UAE-Turkey scorecard is 1:1 Turkey so far has a winning hand in Libya. In Syria, however, few doubt that Turkey will struggle to secure its interests with Al-Assad, backed not only by Russia and Iran but also the UAE, firmly in the saddle. UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) reportedly promised Al-Assad $3 billion in April; $250 million of which was paid upfront, to break a ceasefire in Idlib imposed on Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Russia appears to have successfully thwarted Prince Mohammed’s move. The Emirati crown prince had hoped to tie Turkey up in fighting in Syria, which would complicate Turkish military support for the GNA in Libya. Al-Assad’s failure to take up the offer likely contributed to Turkey’s ability to successfully focus on Libya in recent weeks. The UAE has, nonetheless, one strategic advantage. Turkey’s reputation in Washington DC, much like that of Saudi Arabia, is severely tarnished. The UAE has so far skilfully evaded a similar fate, enjoying not only close ties to the United States but also Russia. Turkish-US relations are strained over multiple issues, including Turkey’s acquisition of Russia’s acclaimed S-400 anti-missile defence system, its close cooperation with Russia and Iran, and the continued presence in the United States of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher whom Erdogan accuses of staging the failed 2016 military attempt to remove him from office. The Trump administration has nevertheless offered Turkey ammunition to be used in military operations in north-eastern Syria as well as humanitarian assistance in a hopeless bid to persuade Ankara to push back Iranian forces in the country. Erdogan, in a surprise move this week, demoted and then accepted the resignation of Rear-Admiral Cihat Yayci, the popular architect of Turkey’s intervention in Libya and aggressive stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Yayci is believed to be an anti-Western Eurasianist who advocates closer Turkish relations with Russia and China. Turkey’s ties to Russia are equally complex. While Turkey and Russia support opposing sides in Libya, they have so far been able to balance their interests in Syria. While Turkey and Russia support opposing sides in Libya, they have so far been able to balance their interests in Syria that sometimes coincide and sometimes diverge, leading earlier this year to clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces. In Libya, it was Turkish drones that allegedly destroyed a Russian-made Pantsir air defence system even as hundreds of Russian mercenaries working for the Wagner Group, with close ties to the Kremlin, reportedly support Haftar’s forces. If support for Haftar is Russia capitalizing on an opportunity to stoke a fire, UAE backing is part of Prince Mohammed’s determination to confront political Islam across the Middle East and North Africa. “Turkey and the UAE [are] engaged in a regional power struggle. They see it as a zero-sum game, in which there is no way for both sides to win. If one wins, the other one loses,” said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and chairman of the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM). It is a zero-sum-game played on proxy battlefields that bodes ill for those unwillingly sucked into it. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Poor relations between UAE and Turkey have further complicated conflicts in the Middle East

India's Consul General in Jeddah, Noor Rahman Sheikh has given a phono interview to WION and said, Haj arrangements are on hold on the advice of Saudi Govt.

India's Consul General to Jeddah speaks to WION

Saudi Arabia will begin to ease the restrictions on movement and travel after imposing a strict lockdown for more than two months to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-us-records-532-deaths-in-last-24-hours-toll-now-stands-at-98218-301048" hreflang="en">Coronavirus: US records 532 deaths in last 24 hours, toll now stands at 98,218</a>

According to Saudi Arabia's state news agency, restrictions are scheduled to be lifted in three phases resulting at the end of the curfew in the country except for Mecca on June 21. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-brazil-surpasses-the-united-states-in-terms-of-daily-death-toll-301046" hreflang="en">Coronavirus: Brazil surpasses the United States in terms of daily death toll</a>

The Hajj and Umrah will remain suspended as it attracts millions of travellers.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia is one of the worst-hit countries in the gulf with 74,795 cases of COVID-19 with 399 deaths and more than 2,000 cases are still being reported daily.

The first phase will begin on Thursday where the 24-hour curfew will be reduced to between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. countrywide.

From Sunday onwards, free movement will be allowed between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Saudi Press Agency reported.

Domestic flights will resume but the ban on international flights will stay.&nbsp;

Except for Mecca, mosques will resume prayers, subject to social distancing and hygiene measures.

All employees in the public and private sector will be allowed to return to their offices.

But the gathering of more than 50 people will still be banned and the citizens will be urged to wear masks in public and continue hygiene and social distancing measures after June 21.

Mecca will remain in the first phase until June 20 thereafter prayer will only be allowed to resume in mosques from June 21. 
&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia will begin to ease the restrictions on movement and travel after imposing a strict lockdown for more than two months to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

Saudi Arabia will begin to ease the restrictions on movement and travel after imposing a strict lockdown for more than two months to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Also read: Coronavirus: US records 532 deaths in last 24 hours, toll now stands at 98,218 According to Saudi Arabia's state news agency, restrictions are scheduled to be lifted in three phases resulting at the end of the curfew in the country except for Mecca on June 21. Also read: Coronavirus: Brazil surpasses the United States in terms of daily death toll The Hajj and Umrah will remain suspended as it attracts millions of travellers. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst-hit countries in the gulf with 74,795 cases of COVID-19 with 399 deaths and more than 2,000 cases are still being reported daily. The first phase will begin on Thursday where the 24-hour curfew will be reduced to between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. countrywide. From Sunday onwards, free movement will be allowed between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Saudi Press Agency reported. Domestic flights will resume but the ban on international flights will stay. Except for Mecca, mosques will resume prayers, subject to social distancing and hygiene measures. All employees in the public and private sector will be allowed to return to their offices. But the gathering of more than 50 people will still be banned and the citizens will be urged to wear masks in public and continue hygiene and social distancing measures after June 21. Mecca will remain in the first phase until June 20 thereafter prayer will only be allowed to resume in mosques from June 21.

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia to ease curfew on June 21, except Mecca

Mosques in Saudi Arabia & the U.A.E will remain shut on Eid. Meanwhile, Oxford University is recruiting 10,000 people for a vaccine trial. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you the big global developments for Friday.

Gravitas: Coronavirus: The big global developments for May 22

More than 28,000 Indians have registered for repatriation in western Saudi Arabia while in that part of the country 43 Indians have been confirmed dead due to COVID.

Speaking exclusively to Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, India's Consul General in Jeddah, Noor Rahman Sheikh said the consulate had was able to repatriate 3035 Umrah pilgrims before India announced its pan India lockdown. Meanwhile, Saudi government has advised Indian consulate in Jeddah to put on hold Haj Arrangements which is due to begin on 22nd June.

WION: How is the Indian consulate reaching to stranded Indians in the Jeddah?&nbsp;

Noor Rahman Sheikh: Since 12 March, the consulate has activated 24/7 help desk pertaining to COVID. All our nationals requiring assistance is promptly provided possible assistance. From 12th to 19h March 2020, the consulate facilitated the repatriation of 3035 Umrah pilgrims as Saudi govt had announced the suspension of flights, both domestic and international. All our nationals who want to get repatriated to India registered at our embassy in Riyadh. Database of Indians residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia is then transferred and made available with consulate general of India in Jeddah. We also have a large number of Indian community members who work as volunteers through whom we provide all possible assistance to our nationals.&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp;Are any Indians infected? And have any of the Indian nationals lost their lives? 
Noor Rahman Sheikh: We understand more than 3000 Indians are impacted by COVID throughout the kingdom, though we don't have region-wise figures. So far from the western region of Saudi Arabia, 43 Indians have died due to COVID.

WION: If you can give details on the repatriation flights..how many registered? 
Noor Rahman Sheikh: Three flights have operated under the Vande Bharat mission from Jeddah. In the first phase, 2 flights went to Kozhikode on 13th May, another to Kochi on 14th May. Last week, as part of phase 2 of the mission, there was a flight to Vijayawada and to Hyderabad that carried 145 passengers. &nbsp;More flights are anticipated in phase 3 of Vande Bharat mission. So far, more than 28000 Indians residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia have registered for repatriation to India. Of course on compelling reasons like medical emergencies, pregnant ladies, expiry of visit visa, Umrah pilgrims have been given priority in flights.&nbsp;

WION: How has the ground situation in Jeddah changed, how have Indian diplomats faring? Has it been difficult? 
Noor Rahman Sheikh: From the beginning of March this year Saudi Arabia has been taking various measures to contain the spread of the pandemic including suspension of both domestic, international flights of Umrah, prayers at all Mosques, imposing curfews, lockdowns etc. From 23nd to 27th of May, during the Eid days, it will be a complete lockdown at the kingdom. The city of Mecca remains completely sealed and no one can enter or exit the city. So all this has certainly changed the way&nbsp;we used to work earlier. Since the consulate handles Haj operations, based on Saudi Govt's advise have put on hold arrangements of Haj due to pandemic. Haj operations were supposed to start on 22nd June and conclude on 3rd September this year. It has been a unique experience for all of us at the consulate. Last year, 2 lakh Indian nationals had performed Haj. We are hoping situation will improve.&nbsp;

More than 28,000 Indians have registered for repatriation in western Saudi Arabia while in that part of the country 43 Indians have been confirmed dead due to COVID.

More than 28,000 Indians have registered for repatriation in western Saudi Arabia while in that part of the country 43 Indians have been confirmed dead due to COVID. Speaking exclusively to Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, India's Consul General in Jeddah, Noor Rahman Sheikh said the consulate had was able to repatriate 3035 Umrah pilgrims before India announced its pan India lockdown. Meanwhile, Saudi government has advised Indian consulate in Jeddah to put on hold Haj Arrangements which is due to begin on 22nd June. WION: How is the Indian consulate reaching to stranded Indians in the Jeddah? Noor Rahman Sheikh: Since 12 March, the consulate has activated 24/7 help desk pertaining to COVID. All our nationals requiring assistance is promptly provided possible assistance. From 12th to 19h March 2020, the consulate facilitated the repatriation of 3035 Umrah pilgrims as Saudi govt had announced the suspension of flights, both domestic and international. All our nationals who want to get repatriated to India registered at our embassy in Riyadh. Database of Indians residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia is then transferred and made available with consulate general of India in Jeddah. We also have a large number of Indian community members who work as volunteers through whom we provide all possible assistance to our nationals. WION: Are any Indians infected? And have any of the Indian nationals lost their lives? Noor Rahman Sheikh: We understand more than 3000 Indians are impacted by COVID throughout the kingdom, though we don't have region-wise figures. So far from the western region of Saudi Arabia, 43 Indians have died due to COVID. WION: If you can give details on the repatriation flights..how many registered? Noor Rahman Sheikh: Three flights have operated under the Vande Bharat mission from Jeddah. In the first phase, 2 flights went to Kozhikode on 13th May, another to Kochi on 14th May. Last week, as part of phase 2 of the mission, there was a flight to Vijayawada and to Hyderabad that carried 145 passengers. More flights are anticipated in phase 3 of Vande Bharat mission. So far, more than 28000 Indians residing in the western region of Saudi Arabia have registered for repatriation to India. Of course on compelling reasons like medical emergencies, pregnant ladies, expiry of visit visa, Umrah pilgrims have been given priority in flights. WION: How has the ground situation in Jeddah changed, how have Indian diplomats faring? Has it been difficult? Noor Rahman Sheikh: From the beginning of March this year Saudi Arabia has been taking various measures to contain the spread of the pandemic including suspension of both domestic, international flights of Umrah, prayers at all Mosques, imposing curfews, lockdowns etc. From 23nd to 27th of May, during the Eid days, it will be a complete lockdown at the kingdom. The city of Mecca remains completely sealed and no one can enter or exit the city. So all this has certainly changed the way we used to work earlier. Since the consulate handles Haj operations, based on Saudi Govt's advise have put on hold arrangements of Haj due to pandemic. Haj operations were supposed to start on 22nd June and conclude on 3rd September this year. It has been a unique experience for all of us at the consulate. Last year, 2 lakh Indian nationals had performed Haj. We are hoping situation will improve.

COVID 19: On Saudi Arabia's advice, Haj arrangements are on hold

The coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout calls into question Gulf states’ ability to fund a brewing, costly regional arms race. That, in turn, could not only reshape their geopolitical posture but also efforts to make the military a pillar of a new national identity at a time that they are forced to renegotiate outdated social contracts.

A significant drop in revenues, as a result of the collapse of oil and gas prices and vastly reduced global demand, raises the question whether countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, can maintain huge military expenditures that rank them among the world’s foremost arms buyers.

Saudi and UAE expenditure was driven by a perceived need to counter Iranian advances in the development of ballistic missiles and drones as well as a potential nuclear military capability and Iranian-backed Arab proxies. Qatar joined the race more recently in response to the three-year-old, Saudi-UAE-led economic and diplomatic boycott of the Gulf state.

The expenditure positioned the military as a driver of an identity grounded in nationalism rather than religion or tribal heritage and was intended to help lay the groundwork for eventual, potentially painful, transitions to more diversified and streamlined post-oil economies.

Male conscription introduced in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait and a Saudi decision to open volunteering for military service to women over the last decade served that purpose, as well as, government efforts to expand citizen participation in the workforce at the expense of migrant and expatriate labour, including in the armed forces.

The moves constituted a break with a past in which Arab rulers largely distrusted their militaries and employed multiple ways to shield themselves against feared military-backed attempts to remove them from power.

Saudi and Emirati rulers expected that their military intervention in Yemen and the UAE’s involvement in the Libyan war would boost the military’s prestige with quick and decisive victories.

Five years later, the ill-conceived intervention in Yemen has produced at best-mixed results. So has the more recent effort to topple the internationally recognised, Islamist Libyan Government of National Accord.

The UAE, dubbed Little Sparta by former US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, withdrew partially from Yemen in a bid to cut its losses. UAE forces, moreover, suffered the deaths of tens of Emirati citizens, a high number for a population of only 1.4 million nationals. As a result, the UAE relies increasingly on proxies and mercenaries.

Nonetheless, the UAE may have fared better than the Saudi military whose image, at least internationally, has been severely tarnished.

Recently, the kingdom appears to implicitly acknowledge that it cannot win the Yemen war militarily. Media reports suggested that the Saudi government was cutting back on funding of the internationally recognised, largely Saudi-based Yemeni government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Saudi conduct of the war has involved multiple attacks on civilian targets, devastated the country’s economic and civilian infrastructure and turned it into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophes.

Similarly, UAE-backed Libyan rebels led by self-appointed Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar have suffered a similar fate. Haftar’s promise more than a year ago to launch a blitz conquest of the Libyan capital Tripoli has not only proven to be an illusion. Turkish-backed government troops have put his rebels on the defensive.

Saudi and UAE rulers are betting that their emphasis on values associated with nationalism and armed forces such as patriotism, sacrifice, discipline, duty and concepts of heroic model citizens will reinforce public appreciation of the military despite its chequered track record. For now, that appears to be a winning bet.

Saudi Arabia has successfully garnered popular support for the armed forces and the Yemen war, despite widespread international criticism, by eulogizing patriotic sacrifices of Saudi military casualties, generously compensating families of permanently disabled or fallen soldiers and creating multiple institutions to ensure veterans’ rights. The UAE has institutionalised the honouring of military martyrs.

Ultimately, however, the Saudi and UAE military’s mixed track record raises questions about the degree to which they can be unqualified standard-bearers of new national identities.

It also begs the question whether populations in countries such as Saudi Arabia that were forced to introduce painful social spending cutbacks with no indication that elites are sharing the burden will continue to endorse massive military expenditure at a time of austerity.

If social media are anything to go by, many Saudis praise the government for ensuring the return to the kingdom of Saudi nationals abroad at the beginning of the pandemic, funding their quarantining to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, and subsidizing private-sector salaries impacted by a lockdown for up to 60 per cent.

A fair number, however, expressed concern that the middle and lower classes would shoulder the brunt of the economic fallout of the pandemic and questioned continued investment in trophies like English soccer club Newcastle United by the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. Military expenditure has so far not been called into question.

Potentially complicating issues is the fact that a majority of Emirati and Saudi casualties in Yemen hailed from less privileged emirates in the UAE and provinces in the kingdom, some of which are home to religious minorities with a history of feeling disadvantaged, As a result, it remains to be seen whether military service will ultimately narrow or broaden social gaps.

“Militarisation bolsters regime security, thereby serving national security twice over. However, rising nationalist feelings are likely to enhance regional polarization,” warned Gulf scholar Eleonora Ardemagni.

Ardemagni’s caution focused on the risk of militarisation entrenching differences among Gulf states. The question is whether militarisation’s so far successful boosting of domestic cohesion could have a flip side that in more dire circumstances polarises rather than unites. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout calls into question Gulf states’ ability to fund a brewing, costly regional arms race. That, in turn, could not only reshape their geopolitical posture but also efforts to make the military a pillar of a new national identity at a time that they are forced to renegotiate outdated social contracts.

The coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout calls into question Gulf states’ ability to fund a brewing, costly regional arms race. That, in turn, could not only reshape their geopolitical posture but also efforts to make the military a pillar of a new national identity at a time that they are forced to renegotiate outdated social contracts. A significant drop in revenues, as a result of the collapse of oil and gas prices and vastly reduced global demand, raises the question whether countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, can maintain huge military expenditures that rank them among the world’s foremost arms buyers. Saudi and UAE expenditure was driven by a perceived need to counter Iranian advances in the development of ballistic missiles and drones as well as a potential nuclear military capability and Iranian-backed Arab proxies. Qatar joined the race more recently in response to the three-year-old, Saudi-UAE-led economic and diplomatic boycott of the Gulf state. The expenditure positioned the military as a driver of an identity grounded in nationalism rather than religion or tribal heritage and was intended to help lay the groundwork for eventual, potentially painful, transitions to more diversified and streamlined post-oil economies. Male conscription introduced in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait and a Saudi decision to open volunteering for military service to women over the last decade served that purpose, as well as, government efforts to expand citizen participation in the workforce at the expense of migrant and expatriate labour, including in the armed forces. The moves constituted a break with a past in which Arab rulers largely distrusted their militaries and employed multiple ways to shield themselves against feared military-backed attempts to remove them from power. Saudi and Emirati rulers expected that their military intervention in Yemen and the UAE’s involvement in the Libyan war would boost the military’s prestige with quick and decisive victories. Five years later, the ill-conceived intervention in Yemen has produced at best-mixed results. So has the more recent effort to topple the internationally recognised, Islamist Libyan Government of National Accord. The UAE, dubbed Little Sparta by former US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, withdrew partially from Yemen in a bid to cut its losses. UAE forces, moreover, suffered the deaths of tens of Emirati citizens, a high number for a population of only 1.4 million nationals. As a result, the UAE relies increasingly on proxies and mercenaries. Nonetheless, the UAE may have fared better than the Saudi military whose image, at least internationally, has been severely tarnished. Recently, the kingdom appears to implicitly acknowledge that it cannot win the Yemen war militarily. Media reports suggested that the Saudi government was cutting back on funding of the internationally recognised, largely Saudi-based Yemeni government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi conduct of the war has involved multiple attacks on civilian targets, devastated the country’s economic and civilian infrastructure and turned it into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian catastrophes. Similarly, UAE-backed Libyan rebels led by self-appointed Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar have suffered a similar fate. Haftar’s promise more than a year ago to launch a blitz conquest of the Libyan capital Tripoli has not only proven to be an illusion. Turkish-backed government troops have put his rebels on the defensive. Saudi and UAE rulers are betting that their emphasis on values associated with nationalism and armed forces such as patriotism, sacrifice, discipline, duty and concepts of heroic model citizens will reinforce public appreciation of the military despite its chequered track record. For now, that appears to be a winning bet. Saudi Arabia has successfully garnered popular support for the armed forces and the Yemen war, despite widespread international criticism, by eulogizing patriotic sacrifices of Saudi military casualties, generously compensating families of permanently disabled or fallen soldiers and creating multiple institutions to ensure veterans’ rights. The UAE has institutionalised the honouring of military martyrs. Ultimately, however, the Saudi and UAE military’s mixed track record raises questions about the degree to which they can be unqualified standard-bearers of new national identities. It also begs the question whether populations in countries such as Saudi Arabia that were forced to introduce painful social spending cutbacks with no indication that elites are sharing the burden will continue to endorse massive military expenditure at a time of austerity. If social media are anything to go by, many Saudis praise the government for ensuring the return to the kingdom of Saudi nationals abroad at the beginning of the pandemic, funding their quarantining to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, and subsidizing private-sector salaries impacted by a lockdown for up to 60 per cent. A fair number, however, expressed concern that the middle and lower classes would shoulder the brunt of the economic fallout of the pandemic and questioned continued investment in trophies like English soccer club Newcastle United by the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. Military expenditure has so far not been called into question. Potentially complicating issues is the fact that a majority of Emirati and Saudi casualties in Yemen hailed from less privileged emirates in the UAE and provinces in the kingdom, some of which are home to religious minorities with a history of feeling disadvantaged, As a result, it remains to be seen whether military service will ultimately narrow or broaden social gaps. “Militarisation bolsters regime security, thereby serving national security twice over. However, rising nationalist feelings are likely to enhance regional polarization,” warned Gulf scholar Eleonora Ardemagni. Ardemagni’s caution focused on the risk of militarisation entrenching differences among Gulf states. The question is whether militarisation’s so far successful boosting of domestic cohesion could have a flip side that in more dire circumstances polarises rather than unites. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The potential dark side of the militarisation of Gulf societies

Saudi Arabia is on a mission to cut costs & hike taxes to heal its bleeding economy. WION's Palki gets you a report on the oil-rich kingdom's 'austerity mission'.

Gravitas: How Saudi Arabia plans to heal its bleeding economy?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

However,&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake.

In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-enforce-24-hour-curfew-during-the-five-day-eid-al-fitr-holiday-298476">Also read:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday</a>

The accidental revelation&nbsp;was spotted by&nbsp;Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News.

"When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said.

"In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added.

The declaration was made by&nbsp;Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division.

When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah.

However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed.

This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up."

Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads:&nbsp; "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. However, Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake. In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks. Also read: Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday The accidental revelation was spotted by Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News. "When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said. "In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added. The declaration was made by Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division. When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah. However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed. This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up." Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads: "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

FBI accidentally reveals Saudi official link to 9/11 attacks

Aircraft maker Boeing has been awarded two defence contracts worth more than 2 billion dollars for the delivery of 1000 missiles to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia to receive over 1000 missiles

Saudi Arabia will introduce full-day lockdowns and curfews across the country to contain the coronavirus during this year's Eid holidays

Saudi Arabia to introduce full lockdown during Eid

saudi-arabia

Saudi Arabia, News on Saudi Arabia, stories on Saudi Arabia, articles on Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia stories at Wion, Saudi Arabia news, Saudi Arabia latest news

saudi arabia