Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Russia-Israel- Syria: A four-way summit on Syria took place last to last weekend where leaders from Germany, and France, met with the leaders of Turkey, and Russia and discussed the prospect of peace going ahead. It is being reported that works are being done to form the new constitution of Syria. More progress is possible at the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Putin who are set to meet in Europe.
   
• Korean Peninsula: Two Koreas formally agreed to submit a joint bid to co-host the 2032 Olympic. According to reports from both Koreas, significant economic and military progress is being made.  
   
• Palestine - Israel: After intense firefighting, airstrikes and rocket fires along the Gaza border, Israel was inching closer in forging a truce agreement with Hamas over the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Authority leaders have foiled the move and the focus has now turned to solve the West Bank issue first before any truce along Gaza. As the Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders heightened the harsh rhetoric, President Trump of the United States has called of as much as $200 million aid to PA.  President Trump has also reportedly revived the confederation idea between Jordan and West Bank, which was initially proposed by King Hussain of Jordan and Yasser Arafat, the PA President. The plan was abandoned by Jordan in 1988. President Trump is also negotiating with Arab leaders to provide citizenships to Palestinian refugees living in their country. Recently, Paraguay, which had said that it would follow the U.S. footsteps in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by moving its embassy, scrapped the move, angering Israel which has chosen to close its embassy in Paraguay. According to the latest reports, violence has once again erupted across West Bank. Israel is likely to go ahead with its planned but controversial demolition of a Bedouin village as it has given its residents 8 days to clear area earlier this week.  Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Palestine called on countries to recognize Israel as a state which fundamentally violates the rights of children. Once again violence is escalating along the Gaza region. Reports suggest that President Trump will reveal his ‘deal of the century’ after the mid-term.
   
• Turkey-United States: Tensions eased between Ankara and Washington as Pastor Branson was finally released by Turkish court earlier this month. In the latest move of easing tensions, both Ankara and Washington have dropped sanctions on senior officials.
   
• Trade war: The U.S., Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The United States has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of trade. China has retaliated in response with tariffs on $110 billion worth of goods. Recently, President Trump has indicated in a tweet that he has personally talked with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the deal is coming along nicely. Chinese media has also confirmed the talk and suggested that both Presidents have agreed to cooperate to resolve disputes.
   
• Saudi Arabia- Canada: Saudi Arabia has severed economic and diplomatic ties with Canada in response to Canada’s criticism of Saudi Arabia’s handling and capture of activists. Saudi Arabia ordered the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador and the halting of all new trade and investment deals between the two countries after Canada said it was gravely concerned about the recent arrests of Saudi civil society and women’s rights activists. It has also called back its diplomats from Canada. Saudi Arabia has suspended flights to Toronto as the escalation is showing no signs of abating. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that Canada is engaging diplomatically with Saudi Arabia to resolve the dispute, however, no reports of any breakthrough yet. Canada tried the UNGA meetings to resolve disputes, however, no breakthrough yet as Saudi Arabia speaking to UNGA demanded official apologies from Canada over the comments and called on the country to stop treating the kingdom as a banana republic. Canada has halted $15 billion arms sales after the murder of Journalist at Saudi Consulate in Turkey. (Read below)
   
• U.S. - China: In addition to the trade tensions which has increased the diplomatic friction between the two countries reached new heights as the United States announced sanctions on a Chinese military organization for buying military equipment from Russia. The purchase deal included Russian Su-35 combat aircraft and equipment related to the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. The sanction bars the organization’s access to the dollar-based financial system. China summoned U.S. ambassador to announce its opposition in the harshest manner possible. In addition to that, there has been accusation that China has used spy chips to infiltrate U.S. companies like Intel, Google, Microsoft, as well as the United States military contractors. In a speech Vice President Mike Pence and in an interview, President Trump has described China as the number one enemy of the United States. President Trump is expected to meet President Xi at the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Argentina.
   
• Missing reporter at Saudi consulate: The geopolitical tensions surrounding the missing Saudi Journalist, a writer for the Washington Post continue to simmer as Saudi Arabia is being widely accused of assassinating the journalist at its consulate in Turkey, over his negative views and writings with regard to the Saudi Royal family, especially the new crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. He was a renowned Middle East journalists with an expertise on dreaded terrorist Osama bin Laden. He vanished on October 2nd, and currently feared to be murdered. Last week, Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to finalize his divorce, so he can be married to his fiancée who was waiting outside the consulate. According to her account and released CCTV footage by Turkey shows that Khashoggi entered the consulate but never came out. However, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince called the accusation a conspiracy theory and added that the journalist left the consulate shortly after entering. U.S. President Donald Trump though not very eager to cancel arms deal with Saudi Arabia warned of severe consequences of the allegations are proven to be true. Saudi Arabia has also promised to retaliate if sanctions are imposed over Khashoggi’s disappearance. In the latest turn of events, Saudi Arabia finally accepted that the murder of the reporter was premeditated. Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan has called for the extradition of 18 people who were involved.  Saudi Arabia has refused the request. Despite international pressure, Khashoggi’s body remains yet to be found.
   
• INF treaty: The United States under the leadership of President Trump announced that it plans to exit from a cold-war era treaty known as Intermediate range nuclear forces (INF) Treaty that was forged back in 1987 and reportedly served as a key cornerstone of global arms control. The United States cited Russia’s violation of the treaty and China’s building up of a nuclear arsenal. It is likely that there would be negotiations before exit. President Trump and President Putin are expected to discuss the issue at their meeting on November 11th.