World

US bolsters military ties with Armenia, irking Russia

The US is conducting joint military drills with Armenia this week as the landlocked former Soviet Union republic faces off with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and Russia grows increasingly frustrated with Yerevan’s tilt to the West.

Though military ties between the US and Armenia are not new, the timing of the joint drills has raised eyebrows in Baku and Moscow.

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State Department officials said “Eagle Partner 2023” was pre-planned and not a reaction to any specific event or situation. They also said there were no complications with Azerbaijan over the drills.

The US Army said the exercise from Sept. 11-20 would involve around 85 American soldiers training alongside 175 Armenian soldiers near the Armenian capital.

The US and Armenia both said the exercise was planned to prepare the Armenian 12th Peacekeeping Brigade for a NATO Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) evaluation under the NATO Partnership for Peace program later this year.

“Eagle Partner is a vital opportunity for our soldiers from our two nations to build new relationships at the tactical level and to increase interoperability for peacekeeping operations,” said US Army Col. Martin O’Donnell.

A senior State Department official said the biggest reaction to the military drills was from Russia. “I think that’s who was most concerned about it,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

Russia has been angry at what it perceives as “hostile” decisions by its longtime ally and neighbor, Armenia.

The Armenian prime minister’s wife recently went on an official visit to Ukraine in a show of support, something which also drew the ire of the Kremlin.

Last week the Russian foreign ministry summoned Yerevan’s ambassador in what it said was due to Armenia’s transfer of humanitarian aid to “Kyiv’s Nazi regime.”

Complaints over Russia’s role as a peacekeeping force in the Armenian conflict with Azerbaijan also added to the turbulent times between Moscow and Yerevan.

“Russia, frankly, failed Armenia in ensuring its security,” said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Given the sanctions against Russia and the attrition of its military in Ukraine, Armenia is naturally looking to Washington,” he told Al Arabiya English.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan criticized Russia’s failure to convince Baku to reopen the Lachin Corridor, and he went as far as calling on the Russians to allow an international peacekeeping force to take its place in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Russia has used deployments to and basing in Collective Security Treaty Organization member states, including Armenia, to create a false perception of Russia being a good faith partner or mediator to conflicts in the former USSR,” a State Department official said.

US-Armenia military ties ‘multifaceted’

But the recent military drills are an example of how the US is seeking alliances around the globe, with one Pentagon official calling the bilateral ties “multifaceted and cooperative.”

Armenia’s ties with the US military date back to 2003 with the Kansas National Guard as part of the Pentagon’s State Partnership Program.

The Pentagon official said the Armenian military had shown a commendable commitment to global peace and security by actively participating in various US-sponsored training programs and exercises.

Armenia also contributes to international peacekeeping missions, some of which have been supported or spearheaded by the US.

While Armenia is part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), placing it in a unique geopolitical position, “its development of an Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO- an alliance to which the US is intrinsically bound- underscores its intention to foster a cooperative relationship with Western military institutions,” said the Pentagon official.

The US continues to map out future areas of cooperation with the Armenian military.

This week’s joint exercises are another example of how the US aims to bolster its ties with Armenia and something mutually beneficial.

“Essentially, the US-Armenia defense relationship is both cooperative and adaptive, evolving in response to regional challenges and mutual aspirations for a secure global landscape,” the Pentagon official told Al Arabiya English.

Original Article

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM