WASHINGTON: The United States is on a collision course with its NATO ally Turkey, pushing ahead with arming Syrian Kurds after deciding the immediate objective of defeating Islamic State militants outweighs the potential damage to a partnership vital to U.S. interests in the volatile Middle East.
The Turks are fiercely opposed to the U.S. plans, seeing the Kurdish fighters as terrorists. And when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House this week, the most he and President Donald Trump may be able to do is agree to disagree, and move on.
"The Turks see this as a crisis in the relationship," said Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
The challenge is hardly new. Long before Trump took office, U.S. presidents have grappled with the fragility of partnering with Turkey's government and the Kurds to carry out a Middle East agenda.
Past administrations have sought a delicate balance. Too exuberant in its support for the Kurds, and the U.S. risks pushing ally Turkey toward U.S. geopolitical rivals like Russia or emboldening the Kurds to try to create an independent state — a scenario that would destabilize multiple countries in the region. Too little cooperation with the Kurds risks squandering a battlefield ally with proven effectiveness against extremist threats and who has staunchly supported Washington.
Trump has made his priorities clear.
His administration is arming Syrian Kurdish fighters as part of an effort to recapture the Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group's self-declared capital. Coupled with the U.S.-backed fight in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Raqqa is seen as a key step toward liberating the remaining territory the militants hold.
Turkey has been pressuring the U.S. to drop support for the Kurdish militants in Syria for years and doesn't want them spearheading the Raqqa effort. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish group, known as the YPG, a terrorist group because of its ties to the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party inside Turkey. The United States, the European Union and Turkey all agree the YPG is a terrorist organization.
The Turks fear any weapons the U.S. provides the Syrian Kurds could well end up with their ethnic brethren in Turkey, who've fought violently as part of a separatist insurgency for more than three decades. As a nod to Turkey's concerns, the Pentagon has promised tight monitoring of all weapons and greater intelligence sharing to help the Turks better watch over their frontiers. Kurds are an ethnic group predominantly concentrated along the borders of four countries — Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
But a face-to-face confrontation on the matter between Trump and Erdogan seems inevitable.
Erdogan and other top Turkish officials have pressed for the U.S. to reverse its strategy, however low the prospects of Trump changing his mind. As a result, experts see Erdogan using the meeting to confront Trump on a host of other Turkish grievances. Those include extraditing the Pennsylvania-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for fomenting a failed coup last summer, and dropping U.S. charges against Reza Zarrab, a Turkish businessman accused of money-laundering and violating U.S. sanctions in Iran.
"I see this trip as a new milestone in Turkey-U.S. relations," Erdogan said, as he prepared to fly to Washington.
The U.S., too, has a wish list for Turkey. Washington is concerned by rising anti-Americanism in Turkey that Erdogan's government has tolerated since the July coup attempt. The U.S. also has pressed unsuccessfully for the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, and other detained U.S. citizens.
Trump also has much at stake. His willingness to partner with authoritarian rulers and overlook their shortcomings on democracy and human rights have alarmed U.S. lawmakers of both parties. Trump's premise has been that he is focusing on deal-making. That puts added pressure on him to get results.
Trump has gone out of his way to foster a good relationship with Erdogan. After a national referendum last month that strengthened Erdogan's presidential powers, European leaders and rights advocates criticized Turkey for moving closer toward autocratic rule. Trump congratulated Erdogan.
Now, the American leader may try to cash in.
"Trump has prioritized protecting U.S. national security interests over lecturing allies on democratic values or human rights," said James Phillips, a senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at the Heritage Foundation. "I don't think the president will lose any sleep if he is criticized for meeting with President Erdogan, as long as it pays dividends for advancing his foreign policy agenda."
But Erdogan may not be amenable to accepting the U.S. military support for the Kurds in a quid pro quo. Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about six miles (10 kilometers) away. His government has insisted it may attack Syrian Kurdish fighters again. The U.S., whose forces are sometimes embedded with the Kurds, has much to fear.
Barack Aydin of the Washington-based Kurdish Policy Research Center, said the key ought to be a broader peace process between Erdogan's government and Kurdish opponents in Turkey, which would eliminate these problems.
"That would be a very good start," Aydin said.
Erdogan visits Trump, amid much friction between US, Turkey
Erdogan visits Trump, amid much friction between US, Turkey
Israeli troops reach deepest point in Lebanon since October 1 invasion
- Media reports: Israeli ground forces pull back early Saturday after fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters
- Israeli troops earlier captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa
BEIRUT: Israeli ground forces reached their deepest point in Lebanon since they invaded six weeks ago, before pulling back early Saturday after fierce battles with Hezbollah militants, Lebanese state media reported.
Israeli troops captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Israeli border early Saturday, the state-run National News Agency reported. It said Israeli troops were later pushed back from the hill.
It added that Israeli troops detonated the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet in Chamaa as well as several homes before they withdrew, but the claim could not be immediately verified.
Israel’s military said in a statement that its troops “continue their limited, localized, and targeted operational activity in southern Lebanon.” The military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Lebanese media reports.
The push on the ground came as Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs as well as several other areas in southern Lebanon including the port city of Tyre.
The morning strike in Beirut hit an area known as Dahiyeh, which the Israeli military called a Hezbollah stronghold, saying its planes had hit multiple sites used by the militant group. Residents were given advance warning by Israel, and it was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
The increase of violence came as Lebanese and Hezbollah officials are studying a draft proposal presented by the US earlier this week on ending the war.
Since late September, Israel dramatically escalated its bombardment of Lebanon, vowing to cripple Hezbollah and end its barrages in Israel. More than 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire – 80 percent of them in the eight weeks – according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
On Friday, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister apparently urged Iran to try and convince Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire deal with Israel, which would require the group to pull back from the Israel-Lebanon border. The proposal is based on UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war in the summer of 2006.
A copy of the draft proposal was handed over earlier this week by the US ambassador to Lebanon to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who has been negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, according to a Lebanese official. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the secret talks said Berri is expected to give Lebanon’s response on Monday.
Another Lebanese politician said Hezbollah officials had received the draft, were studying it and would express their opinion on it to Berri. The politician also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media about the ongoing talks.
Berri told the pan-Arab Asharq Al-Awsat daily newspaper that the draft does not include any item that allows Israel to act in Lebanon if the deal is violated.
“We will not accept any infringement of our sovereignty,” Berri was quoted as saying.
He added that one of the items mentioned in the draft that Lebanon does not accept is the proposal to form a committee to supervise the agreement that includes members from Western countries.
Berri added that talks are ongoing regarding this point as well as other details in the draft, adding that “the atmosphere is positive but all relies on how things will end.”
There is also a push to end the war between Israel and Hamas, which began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and abducting 250 others.
The UN Security Council’s 10 elected members on Thursday circulated a draft resolution demanding “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, holds the key to whether the UN Security Council adopts the resolution. The four other permanent members – Russia, China, Britain and France – are expected to support it or abstain.
Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives since the initial Hamas attack have killed more than 43,000 people in Gaza, Palestinian health officials say. The officials don’t distinguish between civilians and combatants but say more than half of those killed have been women and children.
Pakistan offers incentives to New York firms seeking South and Central Asia expansion
- Pakistan’s envoy to the US holds a meeting with the head of the New York Chamber of Commerce
- The United States is already Pakistan’s largest export market for textiles, apparel and leather goods
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has offered New York-based businesses investment incentives to expand their footprint in South and Central Asia, citing its strategic location as a key advantage, state-run media reported on Saturday.
Seeking to position itself as a pivotal trade and transit hub, Pakistan has sought to involve other countries in its economic plans, particularly within its own neighborhood where it has offered landlocked Central Asian states access to its ports to facilitate their connection to global markets.
US-Pakistan trade relations have long been significant, with the US serving as Pakistan’s largest export market for textiles, apparel and leather goods.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, met with Mark Jaffe, Head of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, to discuss strategies for enhancing bilateral trade between the two nations.
“The Pakistani envoy underscored Pakistan’s liberal investment regime, strategic geographic location, and incentives for foreign investors, emphasizing the benefits for New York businesses seeking to expand their footprint in South and Central Asia,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
Jaffe expressed interest in Pakistan’s textile, leather, surgical and information technology sectors apart from outlining efforts to promote trade and investment, it added.
Ambassador Sheikh appreciated Jaffe’s support and interest in Pakistan’s 5th International Textile and Leather Exhibition 2024 held last month in the country’s southern metropolis of Karachi, APP said.
He also invited the New York City chamber to participate in the 4th Engineering and Healthcare show in Lahore next year.
The Pakistani envoy highlighted how Pakistan’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status in the European Union and Free Trade Agreement with China could provide added advantages for foreign investors working in his country.
The meeting took place at a time when Islamabad is seeking to bolster trade and investment relations with allies to stabilize its fragile $350 billion economy as it faces an acute balance of payment crisis amid soaring inflation and surging external debt.
Iran ‘categorically’ denies envoy’s meeting with Musk
TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Saturday “categorically” denied The New York Times report on Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations meeting with US tech billionaire Elon Musk, state media reported.
In an interview with state news agency IRNA, spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was reported as “categorically denying such a meeting” and expressing “surprise at the coverage of the American media in this regard.”
The Times reported on Friday that Musk, who is a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, met earlier this week with Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani.
It cited anonymous Iranian sources describing the encounter as “positive.”
Iranian newspapers, particularly those aligned with the reformist party that supports President Masoud Pezeshkian, largely described the meeting in positive terms before Baghaei’s statement.
In the weeks leading up to Trump’s re-election, Iranian officials have signalled a willingness to resolve issues with the West.
Iran and the United Stated cut diplomatic ties shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
Since then, both countries have communicated through the Swiss embassy in Tehran and the Sultanate of Oman.
The urgency of climate finance: Is the world ready to commit?
BAKU: As global leaders gather in Baku for the COP29 UN climate change conference, the focus on climate finance has never been more pressing. This year’s conference theme, “Accelerating Climate Action for Sustainable Development,” suggests that climate action must advance economic stability as well as address environmental concerns.
Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan’s lead negotiator for COP29, has said that “trillions of dollars” are needed to fund the fight against climate change — a significant increase from the longstanding annual target of $100 billion, which itself remains unmet. Vulnerable nations are especially affected by this shortfall, lacking the resources to build resilience against climate impacts.
The need for equitable financing
Delegates from developing regions, including African representatives, have called for climate finance to reflect the distinct economic realities faced by less developed countries.
Shaimaa Al-Sheiby, senior director of strategic planning at OPEC, spoke to Arab News about the importance of ensuring that climate finance meets the needs of developing economies
“In many countries, it’s difficult for governments to sustain economic progress without accessible financing,” Al-Sheiby said. She advocated for wealthier nations and financial institutions to play a greater role in “de-risking” investments in developing markets to attract private capital for renewable projects.
Yusuf Idris Amoke, a Nigerian climate adviser, said: “The Global South is on the receiving end of climate impacts while contributing far less to emissions.”
For these countries, the push to phase out fossil fuels often clashes with immediate economic needs, especially given that alternatives are limited and expensive.
“Financing third world countries or the Global South is key,” Amoke added, saying that transitioning without robust financial support is neither equitable nor feasible.
Voluntary carbon markets and climate solutions
Voluntary carbon markets have been gaining traction as a flexible solution for reducing emissions, especially in regions where compulsory systems have struggled to achieve significant results.
These markets encourage companies to take part in climate initiatives by creating financial incentives, which, as Al-Sheiby said, are essential for involving the private sector.
“Private capital is very shy,” she added, saying that risk-reduction strategies could help attract these funds to where they are most needed.
The success of voluntary markets, however, depends on strong regulatory support, transparency and accountability.
Global initiatives and South-South collaboration
The COP29 Presidency has launched the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment and Trade, a collaborative platform designed to align climate finance and trade with sustainable development priorities. By convening leaders from developed countries and the Global South, the initiative aims to foster equitable climate solutions.
In Africa, Saudi Arabia’s “Empowering Africa Initiative” exemplifies South-South collaboration. Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has signed agreements with Ethiopia, Chad, Senegal and other countries to promote energy equity as well as accelerate the continent’s energy transition. These agreements are set to harness Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, including its 10 terawatts of solar capacity.
Abid Malik, ACWA Power’s geo head for Central Asia, highlighted the importance of fostering local expertise during an interview with Arab News. “Our projects in Africa don’t just bring renewable energy; they create jobs, enhance technical skills and empower local communities to take charge of their energy futures,” he said.
The intersection of climate finance and conflict recovery
The recently announced Baku Call on Climate Action for Peace, Relief and Recovery highlights the role of climate action in stabilizing conflict-affected regions. “Climate-induced challenges such as water scarcity and food insecurity are catalysts for conflict,” said Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 president. “Peace-sensitive climate action is crucial for the most vulnerable.”
Gilles Carbonnier, vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, highlighted the environmental fallout in conflict zones like Gaza. “In places like Gaza, where infrastructure has been decimated, renewable energy offers a lifeline,” he told Arab News. “Solar microgrids in refugee camps are providing critical electricity for healthcare and other essential services.”
Charting a path forward
The commitments announced at COP29 reflect a growing recognition of the interconnected challenges of climate finance, energy equity and conflict recovery. With asset owners controlling $10 trillion pledging to accelerate private capital deployment and initiatives like BICFIT gaining momentum, the foundations for transformative change are being established.
For vulnerable nations, these efforts offer a glimmer of hope. However, achieving a just transition will require sustained political will and a reimagining of global financing systems. As COP29 unfolds, the world is watching to see if the pledges made in Baku will translate into tangible action.
Indian private university opens first international campus in Dubai
- Indian FM inaugurated the Dubai campus of Symbiosis International University on Thursday
- Under national education policy, New Delhi wants to internationalize Indian education system
New Delhi: A private Indian university has opened its first international campus in Dubai this week, marking a growing education cooperation between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
Symbiosis International University is a private higher education institution based in the western Indian city of Pune with at least five other campuses operating across the country, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate-level programs.
It is considered one of the top private business schools in the South Asian country, ranking 13th in management in the Indian Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework.
SIU’s Dubai campus, which will offer management, technology and media and communications courses, was officially inaugurated on Thursday by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the UAE minister of tolerance and coexistence.
“I am sure that this campus will foster greater collaboration and research linkages between scholars of India and UAE, for mutual prosperity and global good,” Jaishankar said during the ceremony.
“(The) ceremony is not just an inauguration of a new campus; it is a celebration of the growing educational cooperation between our two countries. Right now, Indian curriculum and learning is being imparted through more than 100 International Indian Schools in UAE, benefitting more than 300,000 students.”
Under India’s National Education Policy 2020, New Delhi aims to internationalize the Indian education system, including by establishing campuses abroad.
Another top Indian school, the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, began its first undergraduate courses in September, after starting its teaching program in January with a master’s course in energy transition and sustainability.
Initially launched in September with more than 100 students, the SIU Dubai Campus is the first Indian university in Dubai to start operations with full accreditation and licensing from the UAE’s top education authorities, including the Ministry of Education.
“A university setting up a campus abroad is not just a bold step, but a concrete commitment to the goal of globalizing India. They certainly render an educational service, but even more, connect us to the world by strengthening our living bridges,” Jaishankar added as he addressed the students.
Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, pro-chancellor of Symbiosis International University, said that the school’s establishment in Dubai was in line with the UAE’s education goals.
“Internationalization is central to the UAE’s educational vision,” Yeravdekar said on Friday.
“By opening our campus in Dubai, we are creating a gateway for students from around the world to engage in a truly global academic experience, where they can benefit from international faculty, real-world industry collaborations, and a curriculum that meets the needs of a changing world.”
