Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani‘s visit to Brussels last week, which was intended to drum up support for a referendum on Kurdish independence, did not produce the desired results. According to our sources, European diplomats told Barzani they…
Iran
Iran’s Suleimani, America’s biggest Middle East challenge
With tensions running very high between Washington and Tehran, Donald Trump‘s national security advisor, Lt. Gen. HR McMaster, is now targeting Iranian spymaster Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Al Quds Force, the covert operations wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary…
Intelligence, Russia
Russia’s SVR Sergei Naryshkin has an additional role…Head Historian
Sergei Naryshkin, President Vladimir Putin‘s long-standing ally and former chief of staff, has another less publicized role in addition to heading the external intelligence service, the SVR. He is also the chairman of the Russian Historical Society (RHS), a modern…
Middle East, Military
Macron looks to find new channels in negotiating Saudi defense contracts
Paris is looking to get back in with the Saudis after the flurry of deals that Riyadh has struck with the US in a blossoming relationship underscored by Donald Trump’s visit last month. Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s new crown…
Middle East, Military
Speculation mounts over who will head defence contracts arm
The creation of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has shaken up procurement at the ministry of defence, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The SAMI is under the close supervision of the defence minister’s powerful advisor, Ahmed al Khateeb…
China
What’s Behind the Resumed Vietnam-Philippines South China Sea Activity?
Manila and Hanoi resumed naval personnel interaction on a feature in the disputed waters. On June 22, Vietnam and the Philippines conducted the third iteration of their naval personnel interactions on Southwest Cay in the Spratly Islands in the South…