Middle East

Charles Michel in Qatar to Discuss Energy Crisis
Business, Europe, Middle East, News, Qatar

Charles Michel in Qatar to Discuss Energy Crisis

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday. He is on a diplomatic mission with the European Union to discuss various issues such as the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, AFP reports. The visit is "an important signal of our political will to strengthen ties with Qatar" in several areas such as "energy, economic development and global security", Michel said. He will meet several people during his visit, including Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and the Minister of Energy, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi. Gas shortages are looming in Europe this winter as the Russian state gas company recently announced the shutdown of the critical Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Qatar is one of the principal gas producers in t...
American Foreign Minister Pompeo Starts Visit to the Middle East
News, Middle East, US

American Foreign Minister Pompeo Starts Visit to the Middle East

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Israel at the start of a five-day tour of the region.   He consults with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others, about Iran and about further expansion of Israel's relations with other countries in the Middle East. Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) first established diplomatic relations with Israel. In the Arab world, only Egypt and Jordan had diplomatic relations with Israel, recognizing Israel. Many other Arab countries demand that there be a Palestinian state first and that Israel return the occupied territories, including Arab East Jerusalem, for that purpose. The UAE dropped that line and entered into relations. Pompeo will go to Sudan and Bahrain after he visits Israel. He hopes that those countrie...