The militaries of the United States, Britain, France and others stepped in to help Israel defend against the fusillade of more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles, nearly all of which were intercepted. A similar number of aerial weapons are fired at Ukraine on a weekly basis, its officials say, with many of the drones in those attacks designed by Iran and now produced by Russia.
Archiv: OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) / OPEC plus / cartel / Saudi Arabia / Russia / etc)
Hilfe für die Ukraine – Selenski fordert, was Israel bekam
Israel parierte den iranischen Grossangriff aus der Luft – und zwar mithilfe der USA, Grossbritanniens, Frankreichs, Jordaniens und möglicherweise Saudi-Arabiens. Genau solche Hilfe fordert nun der ukrainische Präsident Wolodimir Selenski für sein Land gegen die russischen Luftangriffe. Das ist legitim. Doch passieren wird es nicht.
Israel treats Palestinians as ‘disposable objects’: Saudi Arabia tells ICJ
– The Kingdom expresses its profound revulsion for the killing of civilians in Gaza and Israel’s protracted impunity
– Israel’s argument that it has a right to self-defence distorts reality. Depriving the Palestinian population of all means of survival is not justified under any circumstances
OPEC Could end the war in Gaza almost immediately by cutting oil exports to Europe and the US.
BREAKING: Unusual incident at Rafah Crossing: A Palestinian youth was shot dead while attempting to take humanitarian aid from the crossing along with many others.
(16.02.2024)
He was likely shot by Hamas police. In response, many from the young man‘s family arrived at the crossing, starting riots and mass confrontations. The crossing‘s entrance gate was also set ablaze. Hamas police intervened in an attempt to restore order.
Ireland pledges $21.5M to UNRWA; but as major Western donors cut aid, UNRWA will need to halt its services for the 2+ million Palestinian refugees in Jordan & Lebanon by March • No aid trucks w/ essential goods has passed through Egypt’s Rafah crossing since Feb 4, …
(16.02.2024)
…while
there’ve been deliberate delays at Israel’s Karem Abu Salem crossing
No aid had Entered Gaza since 4th of Feb
(15.02.2024)
Why
Where R the Human rights NGO which come mocking on the doors of Muslim countries why they R not asking questions from Israel & Protesting against them. Hypocrisy on its limits
#النصر_الفيحاء
#Rafah
Gaza war: Why did Arab states not join South Africa‘s case against Israel in the ICJ?
All Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have issued many statements condemning Israel‘s assault on Gaza, but they did not take any further action. Saudi Arabia and the Arab League waited for more than a month of onslaught in Gaza to hold a summit in Riyadh to discuss the issue.
The summit decided to break the siege and blockade, but Arab countries never turned this resolution into action. Instead, Egypt obeyed Israeli commands and refused to give access to move injured civilians for treatment outside of Gaza unless Israel approved their names.
War on Gaza: OIC and Arab League must back South Africa‘s ICJ case on Israel
Beyond material progress and architectural marvels that rival ancient wonders, a truly progressive state is marked by its commitment to accountability and justice – a domain where some established democracies have faltered.
After enduring a harrowing 85 days of bombardment resulting in nearly 22,000 killed, including more than 8,000 children and 6,000 women, 1.9 million displaced and the collapse of the health infrastructure, South Africa, a signatory of the Genocide Convention has finally called upon the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to examine the crisis.
This long-awaited step reflects a crucial recognition of the international community‘s role in conflict resolution and human rights protection.
PM: I’m proud I blocked a Palestinian state. Looking at Gaza, everyone sees what would have happened
At the Tel Aviv press conference, Netanyahu is asked by a reporter why he did not withdraw from the Oslo Accords, given that he keeps criticizing them.
“I inherited the Oslo Accords,” he says. “The decision to bring the PLO from Tunis, and plant it in the heart of Judea and Samaria [West Bank], and in Gaza, was a decision made and implemented before I became prime minister. I thought it was a terrible mistake and I still do.”
Turning on the reporter, he says: “You and your journalist friends have been blaming me for almost 30 years for putting the brakes on the Oslo Accords, and preventing the Palestinian state. That’s true,” he says.
‘Absolute Recklessness’: Saudi Arabia slams Israeli suggestion of “nuking Gaza”
The Israeli minister’s comments showed the penetration of “extremism and brutality” among members of the Israeli government, a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said.
“Moreover, not dismissing the minister and only freezing his membership constitutes the utmost disregard for all human standards and values,” it added.
Israel, Saudi Arabia Reportedly in Talks Over Increasing Military and Intelligence Ties
(18.02.2023)
The talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which are backed by the U.S., were held before the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group gathering in Riyadh, which was focused on defense and security, Bloomberg reported several anonymous sources involved in the meetings as saying.
More meetings between the two countries are expected to occur this weekend in Prague, during the Munich Security Conference, according to several of the sources.
OPEC+ panel holds oil policy steady as Saudi, Russia keep cuts
(October 4, 2023)
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, speaking on the Rossiya-24 news TV station, said the joint cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia had helped to balance the global oil market. „We are also fulfilling our obligations in full,“ he said.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who chairs the JMMC, last month said OPEC+ cuts were needed to stabilise the market, and prices were not being targeted.
Riyadh said willing to boost oil output to help clinch normalization deal with Israel
Saudi Arabia would be willing to boost oil production next year in a move aimed at earning goodwill with Congress toward a normalization agreement with Israel that would include a key mutual defense pact and weapons deal with Washington, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
According to the report, which cited Saudi and US officials, Riyadh has told the White House it would be willing to increase oil production if crude prices are high to help secure the deal.
Russia maintaining plans to cut oil exports by 300,000 bpd until end of 2023; will assess changes in production volumes in Nov – deputy PM
(4 Oct 2023)
„Russia will continue the additional voluntary reduction in supplies to global markets by 300,000 bpd until the end of December 2023, which entered into force in September and October 2023,“ Novak said.
(…)
Novak recalled that the measure is in addition to the voluntary cut in reduction of 500,000 bpd announced in April, which will last until the end of 2024.
Gabon soldiers seize power in OPEC member in latest coup
Gabon’s dollar bonds due June 2025 and November 2031 were the worst-performing in emerging markets on Wednesday. The 2025 notes fell 8.55 cents to 84.74 cents on the dollar as of 11:48 a.m. in London. Shares in French mining group Eramet SA, oil and gas producer Maurel & Prom SA and a listed unit of TotalEnergies SE, which all have operations in Gabon, sank in Paris trading.
The Untold Story Behind Saudi Arabia’s 41-Year U.S. Debt Secret
(May 31, 2016)
The basic framework was strikingly simple. The U.S. would buy oil from Saudi Arabia and provide the kingdom military aid and equipment. In return, the Saudis would plow billions of their petrodollar revenue back into Treasuries and finance America’s spending.
It took several discreet follow-up meetings to iron out all the details, Parsky said. But at the end of months of negotiations, there remained one small, yet crucial, catch: King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud demanded the country’s Treasury purchases stay “strictly secret,” according to a diplomatic cable obtained by Bloomberg from the National Archives database.
Saudi Arabia extends oil production cut even as US gas prices hit nine-month highs
(August 3, 2023)
It’s the second time the kingdom has extended the cut, which was first announced in June after a meeting of the alliance between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other smaller producers.
At almost the same time, Russia announced plans to cut oil exports by 300,000 barrels per day, in September according to Reuters.
US oil prices rose 1.6% on Thursday to $81.05 a barrel. Brent crude, the world benchmark, jumped 1.5% to $84.50 a barrel.
Inside Saudi Arabia’s Global Push for Nuclear Power
(April 1, 2023)
For years, Saudi Arabia has pressed the United States to help it develop a nuclear energy program, as Saudi leaders look beyond oil to power their country.
But talks about a nuclear partnership have dragged on, largely because the Saudi government refuses to agree to conditions that are intended to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons or helping other nations do so, according to officials with knowledge of the discussions.
Frustrated Saudi officials are now exploring options to work with other countries, including China, Russia or a U.S. ally.
Saudi’s MBS wants more than peace at his Ukraine summit
In the days ahead of the summit, the Ukrainians set out their intent. “Our goal in Saudi Arabia is to develop a unified vision of the formula and to work out the possibilities of holding the future Global Peace Summit,” they said, referring to Ukraine’s peace plan. (…=
t’s a work in progress, but he sees where he wants to go and part of that involves one of the Middle East’s thorniest issues: Saudi’s rapprochement with Israel.
On that, Saudi negotiations with the US are underway, and reportedly include domestic energy nuclear power plants, F-35 fighter aircraft and security guarantees for the desert kingdom.
U.S. President Biden Says Deal May Be on the Way With Saudi Arabia, Rapprochement With Israel
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, in a piece published on Thursday, said Biden was considering whether to pursue a U.S.-Saudi mutual security pact that would involve Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, one of Biden’s most trusted aides, was in Jeddah this week with Middle East envoy Brett McGurk discussing the possibility of a normalization deal, White House officials said.
U.S. Examines Whether Saudi Nuclear Program Could Lead to Bomb Effort
(Aug. 5, 2020)
Last week, the House Intelligence Committee, led by Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California, included a provision in the intelligence budget authorization bill requiring the administration to submit a report about Saudi efforts since 2015 to develop a nuclear program, a clear indication that the committee suspects that some undeclared nuclear activity is going on.
The report, the provision stated, should include an assessment of “the state of nuclear cooperation between Saudi Arabia and any other country other than the United States, such as the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation.”
Saudi-Israel Peace Deal Could Come Before 2024 Election
(May 3, 2023)
For Mr. Biden, such a deal would be a trophy foreign policy accomplishment going into a presidential election in which he doesn’t otherwise, at least so far, have much to show the voters. For the Saudis, a deal could bring economic benefits and help to put relations with the United States back on a stable track after strains and disruptions related to the Saudi assassination of a Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.
For Mr. Netanyahu, the deal could boost Israel strategically and redeem him politically after his attempt at judicial reform met fierce resistance.
Netanyahu to Meet Top Biden Advisers After Saudi Talks in Pursuit of Normalization
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet on Monday in Jerusalem with two senior advisers to U.S. President Joe Biden on Middle East affairs, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, after they concluded talks in Saudi Arabia.
McGurk is responsible for the Middle East at the National Security Council in the White House, while Hochstein serves as Biden‘s special envoy for energy affairs.
Israel optimistic after Sullivan urges Saudi ties
Officials in Jerusalem say the Biden administration will have a 1-year window of opportunity to secure normalization deal after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says Israeli-Saudi ties are a top U.S. priority
White House national security adviser meets Saudi prince
Saudi state media did not immediately publish either video or photographs of the meetings.
A war for our age: how the battle for Sudan is being fuelled by forces far beyond its borders
In this conflict frontiers have no significance, control of resources is the primary prize, with forces arising in borderlands seeking their revenge on once contemptuous metropolitan elites. Trafficking networks across swathes of desert are extensions of the “battlespace”, and almost innumerable actors with an axe to grind or an agenda to pursue vastly outnumber those who seek to stop the fighting.
All of this happens in a shadowy penumbra defined by backroom deals, obscure alignments of interests, brutal realpolitik and disinformation. The poor and the weak and the unarmed suffer most, as ever.
Additional efforts taken toward Israeli-Saudi normalization
(today)
Washington is said to be examining demands put forth by Riyadh as conditions for normalization with Jerusalem, one of which is for a civilian nuclear program.
Despite the shocking recent rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, the prospect of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is progressing, Israel Hayom has learned.
U.S. Examines Whether Saudi Nuclear Program Could Lead to Bomb Effort
(Aug. 5, 2020)
Last week, the House Intelligence Committee, led by Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California, included a provision in the intelligence budget authorization bill requiring the administration to submit a report about Saudi efforts since 2015 to develop a nuclear program, a clear indication that the committee suspects that some undeclared nuclear activity is going on.
The report, the provision stated, should include an assessment of “the state of nuclear cooperation between Saudi Arabia and any other country other than the United States, such as the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation.”
Prices Rally As Crude Oil, Products Draw Down
This week, SPR inventory dropped for the third week in a row losing another 1.6 million barrels for the week to reach 368 million barrels—the lowest amount of crude oil in the SPR since October 1983.
U.S. crude oil production rose during the week ending April 7, to 12.3 million bpd. U.S. production is now 800,000 bpd lower than the peak production seen in March 2020, but 500,000 bpd higher than this time last year.
Sudan supports OPEC’s decision to cut oil production
(October 19, 2022)
On Tuesday, the Sudanese foreign ministry voiced its support for OPEC +’s decision and denounced “the campaign” against Saudi Arabia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has closely followed the repercussions of the OPEC+ decision to reduce oil production (…), the campaign against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the attempts to blame it for the consequences of the decision.” the ministry said in a statement.
Israel, Saudi Arabia Reportedly in Talks Over Increasing Military and Intelligence Ties
(18.02.2023)
The talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which are backed by the U.S., were held before the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group gathering in Riyadh, which was focused on defense and security, Bloomberg reported several anonymous sources involved in the meetings as saying.
More meetings between the two countries are expected to occur this weekend in Prague, during the Munich Security Conference, according to several of the sources.
Saudi Arabia to host first Hamas delegation in over a decade
Palestinian leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, to travel to Riyadh on Monday to discuss improving relations after years of tension
U.S. Sends Delegation To Saudi Arabia To Discuss Energy And Security
(Apr 14, 2023)
White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa and the U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security visited Saudi Arabia officials on Friday to discuss regional security and energy matters.
Oil Steady After Four Weekly Gains as IEA Warns of Price Rises
West Texas Intermediate futures traded above $82 a barrel after posting the longest run of weekly gains since June. A surprise production cut by OPEC+ will tighten the market more than previously expected and lead to further price increases, inflicting more pain on consumers, the IEA said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia’s national oil company raked in a record $161 billion profit last year, as the Ukraine war and OPEC+ drove a 46% increase
(12.03.2023)
Aramco boosted its dividend — a crucial source of funding for the Saudi Arabian government — to $19.5 billion for the final quarter, up 4% from the previous three-month period.
US and European peers such as Chevron Corp. and Shell Plc also reported blowout earnings and are returning billions of dollars to shareholders through larger dividends and buybacks. Aramco, until now, has instead focused on using its extra cash to increase output.
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva slams US and Europe for fueling war | Latest World News | WION
Following his visit to China on Saturday, UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan met with Brazilian President Lula de Silva to explore a potential cooperative mediation effort for Russia‘s conflict in Ukraine with China.
Präsident von Brasilien will mit China und den Emiraten im Ukraine-Krieg vermitteln
Lula, der sich zuvor drei Tage lang in Peking aufhielt, besuchte am Samstag und Sonntag die VAE. Er habe mit seinen Amtskollegen Mohammed bin Zayid al Nahyan und Xi Jinping über die Schaffung einer Gruppe von Ländern ähnlich der G20 gesprochen, um im Konflikt zwischen Russland und der Ukraine zu vermitteln, erklärte er gegenüber Medienvertretern.
I had the pleasure of welcoming President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the UAE. Brazil has long been a key strategic partner of the UAE and our talks explored further opportunities for collaboration focused on sustainability, innovation & economic opportunity.
(15.04.2023)
UAE: Mohammed bin Zayed officially named new president
(14.04.2023)
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan became the ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday after being elected president following the death of his half-brother, long-time ruler Khalifa bin Zayed, the previous day, official media has reported.
The collapse of U.S. influence over Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom’s new alliances with China and Iran are painful emblems of the abject failure of the Neocon strategy of maintaining U.S. global hegemony with aggressive projections of military power.
(04.04.2023)
China has displaced the American Empire by deftly projecting, instead, economic power. Over the past decade, our country has spent trillions bombing roads, ports, bridges, and airports. China spent the equivalent building the same across the developing world. The Ukraine war is the final collapse of the Neocon‘s short-lived “American Century.” The Neocon projects in Iraq and Ukraine have cost $8.1 trillion, hollowed out our middle class, made a laughingstock of U.S. military power and moral authority, pushed China and Russia into an invincible alliance, destroyed the dollar as the global currency, cost millions of lives and done nothing to advance democracy or win friendships or influence.
U.S. Losing Influence As Saudi Arabia Joins Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The Kingdom had already signed a memorandum of understanding on 16 September 2022 granting it the status of SCO dialogue partner, as was exclusively reported by OilPrice.com at the time. However, Saudi Arabia did nothing to encourage the release of the news at that point, unlike now – just after it resumed relations with Iran, in a deal brokered by China.
Will OPEC’s Surprise Production Cuts Push Oil Prices To $100?
It was Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait who led the surprise cuts, alongside OPEC’s second-largest producer Iraq and another half a dozen OPEC+ producers, including Russia.
While Russia’s extension of its own 500,000-bpd cut until the end of the year was no surprise – analysts had largely baked in a drop in Russian production in view of the embargoes and price caps on its oil – the move from OPEC’s heavyweights came as a surprise. And sent a clear message to the market—we are in charge.
OPEC: Saudis aren’t afraid of US anymore
Independent but time-coordinated statements were made by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, Oman and Kazakhstan, while Russia confirmed its intention to extend until the end of the year its own production reduction by 500,000 barrels per day, which began in March.
Significantly, these statements have been made precisely by those largest oil producers in OPEC, who have a record of fully utilising their existing quota. Put differently, the reduction in production is going to be real, not just on paper.
Why China is so important for the Russian economy
The Chinese currency, the yuan, has become a major player in Russia’s foreign trade, according to data from the country’s central bank. The share of renminbi in Russia’s import settlements jumped to 23% by the end of last year from only 4% in January 2022. The yuan’s share in export settlements also surged from 0.5% to 16%. At the same time, the two countries have been slashing the share of the US dollar and euro in their bilateral trade.
UAE halts purchase of Israeli defense shields following Iran-Saudi deal
(March 13, 2023)
”Until we make sure that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a government that he controls, we will not be able to do common things, “said UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
Russia‘s War In Ukraine Helps Oil Giant Saudi Aramco Post Historic $161 Billion Profit In 2022
The announcement came off the back of energy prices rising after Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, with sanctions limiting the sale of Moscow‘s oil and natural gas in Western markets. Aramco‘s results mirror the huge profits seen at U.S. and British oil giants.
Saudischer Ölkonzern Aramco meldet 161 Mrd. Dollar Gewinn
Der saudi-arabische Ölkonzern war erst 2019 an die Börse gegangen. Er ist das zweitwertvollste Unternehmen der Welt nach Apple. 2022 meldeten auch fünf weitere Ölgiganten Rekordgewinne: Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP und TotalEnergies.
China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal raises red flags for US
The deal also comes as Saudi Arabia is demanding certain security guarantees, a steady flow of arms shipments and assistance with its civilian nuclear program in order to normalize relations with Israel, a major U.S. ally, the White House confirmed on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. was “informed” about the Saudi Arabia-Iran talks but played no role in them.
Biden Turns the U.S. Into a Shadow Member of OPEC
(13.12.2022)
President Biden has urged the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase production of oil and criticized the cartel harshly when it declines to do so—most recently on Dec. 4. But actions speak louder than words. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. has been acting as shadow member of the cartel.