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CNN —Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to “intensity efforts” to deescalate tensions at their contested border, in a rare face-to-face meeting since a deadly clash strained relations more than three years ago. Face-to-face meetings between the leaders of India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, are rare. They had a brief conversation weeks later on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia. India’s decision to host this year’s SCO virtually meant that Modi and Xi did not have an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting. Xi is also expected to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in New Delhi next month.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping, ”, Modi, Xi, Vinay Kwatra, ” Kwatra, “, assertiveness Organizations: CNN, Indian, LAC, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, India’s, External Affairs, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Huawei Locations: Johannesburg, India, China, New Delhi, Beijing, Western, Uzbekistan, Bali , Indonesia, Aksai Chin, Ladakh, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, United States, Japan, US, Australia, Jammu, Kashmir, Pakistan

☆ Ukraine seeks progress towards peace at Saudi Arabia talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Maha El Dahan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at present, with the war raging. The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, which has maintained contacts with both sides since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, has played a role in convening countries that did not join earlier meetings, Western diplomats have said. SAUDI DIPLOMACYWestern officials and analysts said Saudi diplomacy had been important in securing China's presence at the talks. Zelenskiy attended an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia last year where MbS voiced readiness to help mediate in the war. In March, Beijing brokered a resumption of ties between Saudi Arabia and its arch regional foe Iran.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Russia's, Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, Ajit Doval, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Xi Jinping, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice, Yun Sun, Sun, Lidia Kelly, Maha El Dahan, Omar Abdel, Michael Martina, Aftab Ahmed, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: International, REUTERS, Saudi, Global, Kremlin, Eurasian Affairs, Indian National Security, Crown, Arab, MbS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Iran, Baker Institute, Stimson, Razek, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, China, India, Jeddah Ukraine, Russia, DUBAI, United States, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian, Copenhagen, Beijing, Moscow, Jeddah, Riyadh, SAUDI, Saudi, Turkey, Middle East, Washington, Warsaw, Maha, Dubai, New Delhi

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addresses the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, hosted virtually by India, in Islamabad, Pakistan July 4, 2023. Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via REUTERS /File PhotoISLAMABAD, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that parliament be dissolved on Aug. 9, three days before the end of its term, political sources said on Friday, paving the way for a general election by November. Parliament's five-year term is set to expire on Aug. 12. Sharif's coalition came to power after former cricket star Khan was ousted in a vote of no confidence in April 2022. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history, denies that.

Persons: Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Khan, Asif Shahzad, Robert Birsel Organizations: Pakistan's, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Summit, Press Information Department, REUTERS, Pakistani, Sharif, Thursday, Reuters, Information, Monetary, Thomson Locations: India, Islamabad, Pakistan, ISLAMABAD

☆ Kremlin says Turkey should have no illusions over its EU bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Gareth Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. He has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over the invasion and has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkey in August. Turkey had held up Sweden's accession, accusing the Nordic country of not doing enough to crack down on people Ankara sees as terrorists. He was alluding to long-standing EU resistance to admitting Turkey, a large, relatively poor Muslim country adjoining the Middle East. Turkey also helped last year to broker prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and the Kremlin says Putin highly appreciates Erdogan's efforts to mediate in the war.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Alexander Demyanchuk, Ukraine Erdogan, Dmitry Peskov, Erdogan, Peskov, Putin, Gareth Jones, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Sputnik, NATO Russia, EU, European Union, Kremlin, NATO, Russia, Russian, Nordic, Ankara, NATO's, United Nations, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Turkish, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Moscow, Ankara, Lithuania, Kyiv, Republic of Turkey, Europe

☆ Opinion: Putin faces a challenging task that threatens his power
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Russian president needs to restore his image of a man in full command of his country to audiences at home and abroad. Speaking at the summit, Putin tried to reinforce the message he had delivered to the Russian people, the claim that all Russians had stood with him. It wasn’t just his use of “alternative facts” that undermined Putin’s effort to leverage the SCO summit into a place to restore his standing as Russia’s czar for the foreseeable future. In fact, in the aftermath of the Prigozhin uprising, Putin has echoed the traditional strongman’s playbook of buying loyalty. Putin now faces a triple task: reclaiming the mantle of invincibility in Russia, rebuilding that image abroad and winning his calamitous war in Ukraine.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin —, —, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, Putin, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, ”, “, Modi, Ebrahim Raisi, Xi, Dmitry Peskov, India’s Modi, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Frida Ghitis CNN, Wagner Group, Belarussian, Indian, Biological Safety, Twitter, Financial Times, Russian Locations: Russia, China, India, Russian, Moscow, St . Petersburg, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Rostov, New Delhi, Iranian, Republic, Dagestan, Kremlin, Asia, Washington, Beijing

☆ 4 things making it harder for Janet Yellen to repair the US-China relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The global economy stands to gain if Washington and Beijing can mend fences, but analysts say this appears unlikely. Here are four things likely to make it harder for Yellen to repair US-China ties, and one thing keeping the relationship going. Sequoia’s executives said in a statement that it has become “increasingly complex” to run a decentralized global investment business. On Wednesday, US pharmaceutical firm Moderna (MRNA)signed a deal to make its first major investment in China. “Both sides are ramping up commercial restrictions in the name of national security and national interests,” she said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, China, ” Wei Jianguo, ”, Anna Ashton, Biden, Beijing’s, Wei, Capvision, Xi Jinping’s, “, Li Qiang, Xi, Alex Capri, ” Ashton, —, Jennifer Hansler, Wayne Chang, Bryan Mena Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Eurasia Group, Micron Technology, China Daily, Analysts, China, Capvision, Bain & Company, Group, Forrester Research, Ontario, Republicans, Hawks, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Xinhua, US Commerce Department, “, National University of Singapore Business School, Moderna Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, China, Chinese, Washington, Japan, Europe, Shanghai, New York, decouple, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan, Tianjin

On Tuesday, Mr. Putin called for a “multipolar world” in an apparent reference to the role of these countries as a bulwark against Washington. China has made a long-term bet on Mr. Putin as a partner in challenging a global order that is dominated by the United States. India is also a member of a security-focused coalition with the United States called the Quad, which also includes Australia and Japan. For Mr. Modi, the summit was a forum to balance out India’s ties with the United States and other Western allies as it exercises a policy of nonalignment. Mr. Xi and Mr. Modi are bound by an economic interest as Mr. Modi looks to Beijing for answers on the question of how to advance India’s economy.

Persons: Here’s, Vladimir V, Putin, Xi Jinping, Xi, Narendra Modi, Modi Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Mr, NATO Locations: Ukraine, China, India, Russia, Moscow, Washington . China, Beijing, United States, Europe, Washington, Australia, Japan, Kyiv . India

☆ India downplays SCO Summit but Putin and Xi may not be complaining
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Last year, the world watched closely as China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi of India and other world leaders within a Moscow-friendly group gathered in the Uzbek city of Samarkand for a high-profile, two-day summit. World leaders pose for a photo during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022. It remains unknown how tight a grip Putin now has on power in Moscow, and although he attended last year’s SCO summit, he has rarely left Russia since his invasion of Ukraine. Face-to-face meetings, however, can also provide opportunity for world leaders to talk out sensitive issues or push on points of contention that may be handled less delicately in a virtual setting. Given their respective ties with Moscow, both China and India have received pressure from the West to limit their relations or even push Putin toward peace.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Xi, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin –, Putin, Modi –, –, Modi, ”, Manoj Joshi, India didn’t, Murat Kula, what’s, Wagner, Steve Tsang, It’s, “, Moritz Rudolf, Paul Tsai, Tsang, Putin “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, “, Observer Research, Anadolu Agency, Getty, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Moscow, Paul Tsai China Center of, Yale Law School, Central, Soviet, Ukraine Locations: Hong Kong, India, Moscow, Uzbek, Samarkand, Ukraine, Eurasia, Russia, China, New Delhi, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, –, Iran, Washington, ”, Europe, Beijing, Belarus, Central Asia, Soviet Union

☆ A defiant Putin renewed calls for countries to trade with Russia using local currencies in his first international appearance after the failed Wagner mutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At a trade summit, Putin said 80% of the Russia-China trade is now transacted in the yuan and the ruble. The Russian currency was used in 40% of all export transactions with SCO countries, Putin added. Founded in 2001, SCO member countries include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran. The tough restrictions against Russia spooked other countries so much that they are now lining up backup currencies for trade. Sanctioned countries like Russia and emerging nations like Argentina have recently started using the yuan for trade, primarily with China.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, —, Wagner, Xi Jinping, Xi Organizations: Service, Russia, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO —, SCO, CGTN Locations: Russia, China, Ukraine, People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Argentina

☆ China adviser warns chipmaking export curbs are 'just a start', as Yellen visit looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Shares in some Chinese metals companies rallied for a second session, with investors betting that higher prices on gallium and germanium, which Beijing's export restrictions target, could boost revenues. Germanium is used in high-speed computer chips, plastics, and in military applications such as night-vision devices as well as satellite imagery sensors. China is the world's biggest producer of rare earths, a group of metals used in EVs and military equipment. CURBS ON EXPORTS TO CHINAWashington is considering new restrictions on the shipment of high-tech microchips to China, following a series of curbs over the past few years. China's germanium ingot was priced at 9,150 yuan per kg on Tuesday, also flat on the day and on the week, Refinitiv data showed.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen's, Biden, China's, Wei Jianguo, Wei, Xi Jinping, Eikon, Brenda Goh, Amy Lv, Christopher Cushing, Muralikumar Organizations: Independence, Analysts, Micron, Commerce, China Daily, China Center for International Economic Exchanges, Global Times, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Shanghai Metal Exchange, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Beijing, Japan, Netherlands, China, CHINA Washington, United States, Yunnan

☆ China’s Xi says countries share responsibility to promote growth, opposes decoupling
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that Beijing opposes "decoupling and breaking links," according to a CNBC translation of a Chinese-language state media readout. Promoting economic growth is the shared responsibility of countries in the region, Xi said, per the report of his remarks at a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The SCO is a political, security and trade alliance whose members are China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. China is willing to work with all parties to implement the Global Development Initiative, and make the "cake" bigger so that people in different countries can benefit, the state media report of Xi's remarks said. The country opposes protectionism, unilateral sanctions and generalizing the concept of national security, the report also said Tuesday.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Xi's Organizations: National Congress, Communist Party of China, of, People, CNBC, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Global Development Initiative, Global, Initiative, United Nations Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia

Putin used his moment to speak at the one-day summit to give his answer to that question. That event stretched over two in-person days in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and featured a number of sideline meetings between attending leaders. India announced last month that its leaders’ summit would be held virtually, without specifying why. At last year’s SCO summit, Modi told Putin in “today’s era is not an era of war.”And India has its own friction with neighboring China. In May, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became the most senior-level official to visit India in seven years, when he joined a SCO foreign ministers meeting.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin, Wagner, ”, ” Putin, China’s Xi, Belarus ’ Alexander Lukashenko, Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, ” Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, Xi, ” Xi, Biden, “, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Indian, India, China’s Foreign Ministry, India’s Ministry, External, CNN, Pakistani, Belarus Locations: Hong Kong, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, spreadheaded, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Eurasia, Tuesday’s, Iran, Beijing, Samarkand, New Delhi, Pacific, ”

☆ China can gain leverage over Russia during SCO summit: Wilson Center
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina may be able to gain more leverage over Russia during SCO summit, says Wilson Center analystChina may be able to gain more leverage over Russia as the Kremlin becomes more dependent on Beijing, says Michael Kugelman, a deputy director at Wilson Center, when asked about what to expect at the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Persons: Michael Kugelman Organizations: China, SCO, Wilson Center, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Locations: Russia, Beijing

☆ Putin expected to meet Xi and Modi at SCO Summit following Wagner insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —All eyes will be on Vladimir Putin this week, with the Russian president expected to make his first appearance on the world stage since the Wagner insurrection threatened his steel grip on power. In the brief, chaotic insurrection, Wagner – a private mercenary group led by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – took control of key military facilities in two Russian cities. Participants of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. By contrast, Putin managed to end the Wagner insurrection before it reached the capital, without bloodshed. Modi made headlines at last year’s in-person SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when he told Putin that now is not the time for war, appearing to directly rebuff the invasion.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Putin, Wagner –, Yevgeny Prigozhin –, Prigozhin, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi –, –, they’re, ”, Derek Grossman, Grossman, ” Grossman, Murat Kula, “, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Matsuda, ” Matsuda, “ Xi Jinping, Alexander Korolev, That’s, won’t, Korolev, India’s Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, RAND’s Grossman, India’s Organizations: CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Kremlin, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Tokyo, “ Russia, China –, Kazakhstan, University of New Locations: Russian, Beijing, Moscow, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, US, Russia, China, Samarkand, Central Asia, Iran, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, University of New South Wales, Australia, India, Washington, Indian, Goa, Delhi

☆ India's Modi is on a landmark visit to the U.S. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"This is a very important visit, it is as much about India reaching out to the U.S., as it is about the U.S. reaching out to India," Pant said. Energy: Reliance on Russian oilAlthough India's purchase of Russian weapons could fall, the same can't be said for oil. When Western nations imposed sanctions on Russian oil as a result of the unprovoked war in Ukraine, India doubled down on its purchases. Russian oil currently accounts for almost 20% of India's annual crude imports, a significant increase from just 2% in 2021, Reuters reported. But India has continued to buy cheap Russian oil since and continues trading with the country despite global sanctions on the Kremlin.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Harsh, Pant, Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Yoon Suk, Aamer, Vladimir Putin, Alexandr Demyanchuk, Modi, Manjari Miller, Lisa Curtis, Curtis, Karthik Nachiappan, Ashley Tellis, Amit Ranjan, India, Ranjan, —, Tesla, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Google's Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Raj Subramaniam Organizations: Indian, White House, Getty, U.S, Observer Research Foundation, South, Asia Society Policy Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Reuters, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Afp, India's Ministry of Defense, Council, Foreign Relations, NATO, Pacific Security, Center, New, New American Security, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, Energy, Reliance, NUS Institute of South Asian Studies, Technology, China Partnerships, Emerging Technology Locations: Washington ,, India, U.S, Delhi, South Asia, Russia, Ukraine, Samarkand, Pakistan, New American, China, United States, Asia, New York

☆ Turkey at a crossroads: Will it turn to the East or West?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Idil Karsit | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey joined NATO in 1952, formally cementing its place in the free world and within the Western fold. The two countries doubled their trade to $68 billion in 2022, despite sanctions on the Russian economy by Turkey's NATO allies. "This creates a system in which midsize players have more space to conduct partially independent foreign policies from the United States," she explained. "As the United States is less interested to play the regional politics, I think Turkey becomes an important actor — a stabilizing actor," he added. As Erdogan secures a third term in office, Turkey is at a crossroads: will it pivot to the East or West?

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, China —, Senem Aydin, Talha Kose, Erdogan Organizations: NATO, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China, United, Sabanci University, Foundation for Political, Social Research Locations: Turkey, Ottoman, Russia, United States, China, India, Turkish

☆ India and China are kicking out each others' journalists in latest strain on ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Visa spatOn Sunday, Xinhua published a first-person account from Hu Xiaoming, the state agency’s New Delhi bureau chief since 2017, describing the “torment” of Chinese reporters’ “visa hassle” in India. A spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Friday declined to comment on the number of Chinese journalists in the country when asked in a regular briefing. “All foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists, have been pursuing journalist activities in India, without any limitations or difficulties in reporting,” spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Bagchi did not confirm that any Indian reporters had lost accreditation in China, but said such reporters had faced difficulties doing their jobs there. Because Chinese reporters are working for state media outlets, New Delhi is also likely looking at them as “state actors,” according to Kewalramani.

Persons: Mao Ning, It’s, Hu Xiaoming, ”, ’, Hu, Arindam Bagchi, Bagchi, Ananth Krishnan, Anshuman Mishra, Narendra Modi’s, “, Manoj Kewalramani, Modi, Xi Jinping, Kewalramani Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Beijing, CNN, Foreign, Washington, Visa, Xinhua, India’s Ministry, Affairs, Ministry, Prasar, Foreign Ministry, BBC, Takshashila, Huawei, Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — India, China, New Delhi, Beijing, India, Aksai Chin, Ladakh, Delhi, India China, Mumbai, British, Bengaluru, If, United States, Japan, US, Australia, Jammu, Kashmir, Pakistan

☆ Ukraine's Zelensky and India's Modi meet in Japan for first face-to-face since Russia invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan Saturday, the first in-person meeting between the two since Russia’s invasion began. Modi – who has so far refused to condemn the invasion – said India would do “everything we can” to help end the war. For me, it is an issue of humanity.”For his part, Zelensky invited Modi to join Ukraine’s peace efforts to bring the war against Russia to an end. Winning support or understanding from leaders like Modi could be a key motivation also driving Zelensky to attend the G7, analysts have said. Zelensky’s peace plan, in contrast, calls for the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

☆ Turkey's Erdogan faces toughest test yet in landmark election — with high stakes for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

He came to prominence as mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s, and was celebrated in the first decade of the new millennium for transforming Turkey's economy into an emerging market powerhouse. But recent years have been far less rosy for the religiously conservative leader, whose own economic policies have triggered a cost-of-living crisis. Now, given a recent downturn in support for Erdogan, some fear he may play dirty to ensure his hold on power. The stakes are high for the entire country and, more broadly, global geopolitics – and the mood on the ground is tense. Mustafa Kamaci | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images"I'm very concerned that [Erdogan] may deploy underhanded tactics, cheating and even violence," Ibish said.

New Delhi CNN —India’s defense minister told his Chinese counterpart on Thursday that violations of their shared border erode the “entire basis” of relations between the two Asian neighbors. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh made the comments during a meeting with newly appointed Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in New Delhi ahead of a regional security summit on Friday. “He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation,” the statement added. His visit comes four days after India and China concluded the 18th round of talks to attempt to resolve the border issue. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to the country will be the most senior-level one in seven years.

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Pakistan’s Foreign Minister will travel to India next month, the most senior-level visit in seven years in what is a major diplomatic breakthrough between two nuclear-armed neighbors with a long history of fractious relations. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) foreign ministers meeting on May 4-5 in the western Indian coastal state of Goa, Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed Thursday. This is the first time that the most senior Pakistani foreign office representative has visited India since 2016. Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have been beset by decades of distrust and occasional bouts of open conflict. The SCO and China’s growing hand in diplomacyThe SCO is an eight-member regional security and economic grouping led by China, and its members include India, Pakistan and Russia.

☆ Analysis: Saudi crown prince acts to realign Mideast dynamics amid concern over US support
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"Saudi Arabia is moving from disengagement towards engagement to allow it to focus on pushing ahead on Vision 2030," said Saudi analyst Abdulaziz Sager. A Saudi official said the United States and China are both very important partners for Riyadh. Washington and Riyadh are working on addressing common security challenges, he said. "The Saudis don’t want to be in a shooting war between Iran and the United States. Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution in Washington said Saudi Arabia's view that the U.S. is increasingly disengaged from the region is not entirely wrong.

☆ Saudi Arabia Strengthens Relations With China Amid Strained U.S. Ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Stephen Kalin | Summer Said | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI—Saudi Arabia is strengthening its commercial and security ties with China, as U.S. influence wanes in the Middle East region. The Saudi government approved partial membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a political and security bloc that includes China, Russia and India, the Saudi state news agency reported Wednesday. The decision comes ahead of a May meeting of foreign ministers from the regional grouping, where Iran recently gained full member status.

☆ Saudi Arabia takes step to join China-led security bloc, as ties with Beijing strengthen
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved a decision to join a China-led security bloc, strengthening Riyadh's eastern ties in a further step away from U.S. interests. The organization further tallies four observer states — including Iran — and nine dialogue partners, counting in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The White House did not immediately respond to a CNBC request to comment on Saudi Arabia's new dialogue partner status in the SCO. Saudi interests have long been intertwined with those of leading SCO members China and Russia. Beijing is Riyadh's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87.3 billion in 2021, according to Reuters.

☆ Riyadh joins Shanghai Cooperation Organization as ties with Beijing grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, March 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved on Wednesday a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns. Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), state news agency SPA said. Joining the SCO was discussed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia last December, sources have told Reuters. Dialogue partner status will be a first step within the organisation before granting the kingdom full membership in the mid-term, they said. Riyadh's growing ties with Beijing have raised security concerns in Washington, its traditional ally.

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