DPG West Asia Review
Date: August 10, 2020
Massive explosion caused by “Ammonium Nitrate” stored at the city’s port has devastated Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Since then, violent clashes have erupted against the government’s corruption; Lebanese news agency LBCI boycotted press conferences of politicians including one by Iran-backed Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Reportedly, Hezbollah denied claims of Israeli involvement in this massive blast. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi described the blast in Beirut as an “accident”. In another major disaster, Air India flight repatriating 190Indians from Dubai skidded from the runaway in Kozhikode (Kerala), killing 23 including both pilots.
On the regional security front, the UNSC will vote on extending an international arms embargo on Iran this week. The United States, Israel and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are in favour of extendingthe arms embargo; while, Russia and China are opposed. In another major development, Elliot Abrams will replace Brian Hook as the US Special Envoy for Iran. The US has claimed that China’s partnership with Iran will further destabilize the Middle East.
Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi will visit Washington on August 20, 2020 to hold talks with US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the UK’s Defence Secretary described ISIS as the “Most Significant Threat” to the country, adding that the, “RAF has struck 40 ISIS terrorist targets in the past 12 months.”
Frustrated by OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) declining to hold a special session on Kashmir, Pakistan has threatened the OIC to hold Islamic Conference on Kashmir on its own even if the Saudi-led organization fails to do so. Saudi Arabia has retaliated to Pakistan’s threats by halting the delivery of oil on loan to the Imran Khan led Pakistan government. In another development on the energy front, Saudi Arabia has reportedly expanded its nuclear program with China’s assistance. Concerned by the development, the US intelligence agencies are scrutinizing Saudi Arabia’s ability to produce nuclear fuel that will eventually put the kingdom on the path of developing nuclear weapons.
In light of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz informed that human trials of Israeli coronavirus vaccine will start in mid-October. Towards this the Israeli delegation reportedly collected close to 20,000 swabs in India which will help Israel build coronavirus tests that can provide instant results.
Tensions in East Mediterranean show no signs of abating. Egypt and Greece singed a deal that sets maritime boundary between the two countries and demarcates exclusive economic zone for oil and natural gas exploration. This deal is in response to the earlier maritime agreement signed between Turkey and Libya’s UN backed government. The UAE and Bahrain have welcomed maritime agreement between Egypt and Greece.
Links to major developments in West Asia of strategic relevance to India, compiled from open source media, can be found below.
