West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | January 2024
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues WANA Regional Security and Terrorism Following the end of the humanitarian pause and exchange of some of the hostages and prisoners, the IDF-Hamas hostilities resumed in Gaza on Dec 1 and continued unabated till the end of the month under review. According to the Hamas-run Gaza […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | December 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues WANA Regional Security and Terrorism During most of the month under review, the ferocious campaign by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in Gaza against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (“Operation Iron Swords”, or OIS) that began on Oct 8, continued. The only exception was during the […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | November 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues WANA Regional Security and Terrorism On the October 7 day break, several specially trained units of the Izzat al-Din al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas (“Al-Harkat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya”, or Islamic Resistance Movement) and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighters launched a well-coordinated, multi-pronged attack titled “Amaliya Al-Aqsa Toofan” or “Operation Al-Aqsa […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | October 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments The flux and fog about the United States (US) mediated rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia persisted during the month with the stakeholders making periodic remarks swinging between the difficulties and early conclusion of the process. Thus, Reuters reported in an exclusive on Sept […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | September 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg decided to invite 6 countries to join the organisation from 1.1.2024. These included four from the WANA region, viz. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and the UAE. Of these, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | August 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments Repeated incidents of public burning of the Quran in Nordic countries (Sweden on 20/7, Denmark on 24/7 and 25/7) ignited – as intended – a strong reaction in many countries of the West Asia North Africa (WANA) […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | July 2023
H I G H L I G H T S Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments ∙ The visit by the US secretary of state Antony Blinken to Saudi Arabia on June 8-9 included a call on Saudi PM and Crown Prince Mohammed bin […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | June 2023
HIGHLIGHTS Political Developments Economic Developments Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments The Arab League held its 32nd ordinary Summit on May 19 in Jeddah. It was conspicuous for two developments: firstly, it readmitted Syria to the Arab fold after over 11 years and President Bashar Al-Assad attended the […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | May 2023
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Regional and International Developments As a follow-up to March 10 ground-breaking meeting between their respective national security advisors hosted by China, the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing on April 6. The following joint statement was issued […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | March 2023
IA) Political Developments: Pan-Regional and Global Issues Pandemics and Natural Disasters: Two severe earthquakes struck south-central Turkey and north-western Syria on Feb 6 causing colossal death and destruction. The first, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, happened before sunrise and was centred 26 km east of the Turkish city of Nurdagi; the second, 7.5 strong, […]