https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:59:28 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230729-asias-strategic-autonomy-how-the-new-era-could-shape-our-collective-identities/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 11:30:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656406 In a recent speech, China's highest-ranking diplomat Wang Yi spoke of a "united Asia" and its need to develop a "strategic autonomy". In principle, Wang was not wrong; after all, a stable and prosperous Asia would benefit the region's peoples and deny Western meddlers the chance to exploit historical fault lines and sow the seeds of political division. Wang's language, although from the outside may seem simple and straightforward, is quite loaded with meaning. "No matter how blonde you dye your hair, how sharp you shape your nose, you can never become a European or American, you can never become a Westerner," Wang said, as cited by Chinese state media. In fact, common culture, beliefs and origins have historically served […]]]> 656406 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-vietnam-and-israel-sign-free-trade-agreement/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:26:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655005 Vietnam and Israel signed a free trade agreement on Tuesday, predicting it would quickly boost annual bilateral trade by nearly 50 per cent, Reuters reports. The agreement was signed in Israel between the two countries' trade ministers after seven years of negotiations, Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement. The agreement is expected to soon bring bilateral trade to $3 billion, the Ministry said, after trade between the countries rose 18 per cent last year to $2.2 billion. The deal will "facilitate Vietnam's exports of its products, not only to Israel, but also pave the way for Vietnamese products to access other Middle East, North African and southern European markets," it said. READ: Egypt condemns recent Israel attacks on Palestine It was […]]]> 655005 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230607-iran-to-access-24bn-in-frozen-assets/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:21:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643056 Iran is to get access to $24 billion of its frozen assets, including more than $10bn in Iraq and $7bn in South Korea, ISNA reported yesterday. The agency said that the development came after the visit of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham Bin Tariq, to Iran, and the visit of US President Joe Biden's senior advisor for the Middle East, Brett McGurk, to Muscat. Tehran will also gain access to $6.7bn of its special drawing rights in the International Monetary Fund as a result of the recent talks between the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Reza Farzin, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington. The US Axios news site revealed recently that McGurk had visited Oman […]]]> 643056 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-israel-south-korea-sign-security-agreement-to-foster-business-cooperation/ Fri, 12 May 2023 16:59:34 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=636020 The Israeli High-Tech Association, this week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Korean cyber-security industry group during a visit to Israel by a Korean delegation, according to The Times of Israel.  The officials discussed ways to enhance and develop tracks of joint cyber-security and information cooperation during a meeting led by Dongbeom Lee, Chairman of the Korea Information Security Industry Association with Marian Cohen, Chairman of the Israel Hi-Tech Association and its CEO, Maya Schwartz. Under the agreement, the two sides will implement strategic partnership through mutual visits, seminars and business meetings between companies in both countries amidst the increasing global threat of cyber-attacks. "Korea and Israel are similar in many areas," said Lee. "It is easy for us […]]]> 636020 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230503-i-am-not-ending-my-hunger-strike-until-they-approve-my-asylum-request-or-i-die/ Wed, 03 May 2023 16:05:52 +0000 , Middle East Monitor , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633604 For ten days, Fathi Okil has only drunk a saltwater mix. South Korean authorities have sent an ambulance five times to where he is camped out in front of the Interior Ministry, but he just sends them away. "I am not leaving and I am not stopping my hunger strike until they approve my request for political asylum or I die," he tells MEMO. A former printing technician, Fathi arrived in Seoul in May 2014 after being arrested at a protest outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo as demonstrators took to the streets to protest the army's take-over of power. "I visited South Korea in 2002," Fathi says on why he chose the East Asian nation after he was […]]]> 633604 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230412-revelations-galore-as-pentagon-document-leak-shakes-us-allies/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:02:32 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628709 A major leak of top secret Pentagon documents shook the US and its allies on Monday, with the files providing a rare private peek into Washington's global policies. One of the key factors making the documents so controversial is that they show the US has been spying on major allies such as South Korea, which is crucial for American interests amid the presence of a nuclear-armed North Korea run by an unpredictable dictator; Israel, which is central to US policies in the Middle East and Ukraine, which is in dire need of US military support amid the ongoing Russian war. How it all started Not in the depths of the dark web or on an obscure website, instead it all […]]]> 628709 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230328-can-an-arab-team-win-the-world-cup/ Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:21:18 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=625070 We all witnessed the great performance and deserved victory of the Moroccan team against the Brazilian team, which has won five World Cup trophies. The Moroccan win comes on the back of its excellent performance at the Qatar World Cup 2022 where it came fourth, making it the best performance of an Arab and African team in the history of the World Cup. The Moroccan national team has players of the highest caliber; many are active in the major European leagues, but no one expected them to have such a strong performance during the games and overcome some of the strongest football teams including Spain and Portugal. The first Arab victory over the Brazilian team Morocco's recent victory over Brazil […]]]> 625070 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230323-germany-sources-new-supplies-of-lng-from-the-middle-east-as-it-risks-running-out-of-gas/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:47:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624455 Germany plans to have as much as 70.7 million tons, per year, of LNG import capacity by 2030 as the country faces the risk out of gas, Argus reports. According to the report, Germany no longer receives Russian gas via Nord Stream, which was sabotaged in the autumn of 2022. The rush to have LNG import terminals as soon as possible will make Germany the fourth largest import capacity holder, behind the major Asian LNG buyers South Korea, China and Japan, according to Argus. READ: Germany moving ahead with Israel Arrow-3 Defence System purchase]]> 624455 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230308-saudi-arabia-south-korea-agree-to-boost-defence-cooperation/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 11:41:16 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=620497 Saudi Arabia and South Korea have agreed to boost cooperation in the field of defence, Anadolu news agency reported. This came during a meeting held between the Saudi Defence Minister, Prince Khaled Bin Salman, and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup, at the Korean Ministry of National Defence in the capital, Seoul, according to two official sources. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the military and defence fields and reviewed regional and international developments, according to a statement by the Saudi Ministry of Defence. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that this is the first visit of a Saudi defence minister to the Korean Ministry of Defence. According to the same source, the two sides also agreed to conduct systematic and practical discussions on bilateral cooperation in defence and the arms industry. […]]]> 620497 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230302-multilateralism-ideal-response-to-shifting-global-system-turkiye-fm/ Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:24:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=618977 Multilateralism should be the MIKTA nations' response to a shifting global system marked by "global complexities and multiple crises," Turkiye's Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said on Thursday, Anadolu News Agency reports. "We are living through the transformation of the international system, marked by global complexities and multiple crises. We all believe that effective multilateralism should be our response. Not isolationism or unilateralism," Cavusoglu said, addressing the 23rd MIKTA foreign ministers meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing G-20 gathering in India's capital, New Delhi. "I am happy that the common sense of MIKTA, a grouping of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkiye, and Australia, represents a successful practice in that regard," he said. READ: Russia discusses normalising ties between Turkiye, Syria Stressing […]]]> 618977 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230202-south-korea-to-build-nuclear-plant-in-turkiye/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:49:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=611617 South Korea has conveyed its preliminary proposal to Turkiye for constructing a major nuclear power plant in Turkiye, local Turkish media reports. According to the report, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) presented the proposal regarding the construction of four reactors capable of providing 1,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the northern province of Sinop. The project is forecast to be worth about 40 trillion won ($32.55 billion). READ: Turkiye slams Western countries for closing consulates over security reasons]]> 611617 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230131-turkiye-and-s-korea-sign-agreement-on-battle-tank/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 17:08:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=611178 South Korea and Turkiye signed a deal for the engines to be used on Turkiye's domestic main battle tank (MBT) project, Altay, which was on hold after a deal with a German company collapsed, local Turkish media reports. According to the report, South Korean firm, SNT Heavy Industries, will supply Altay producer BMC with a 1,500-horsepower automatic transmission. The export deal includes $74.9 million of supply until 2027 and has an option for further sourcing priced at $141 million between 2028 and 2030, the report added. READ: Turkiye signs 10-year gas deal with Oman -Turkish Energy Minister]]> 611178 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230126-us-asks-israel-to-send-arms-to-ukraine/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 11:24:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=609545 The United States has asked Israel to send American arms stored in the country since 1973 to Ukraine as part of the war effort against Russia, US and Israeli officials have revealed. South Korea has received a similar request. Last week, the New York Times reported the officials as saying that US arms manufacturers are unable to keep up with the pace of Ukraine's battlefield operations. This has prompted the Pentagon to ask South Korea and Israel to send the unused stockpiles of US weapons. Israel had initially refused to send any military supplies to Ukraine in order not to anger Russia, explained the New York Times. READ: Israel government working on Bill to enable expulsion of Arab MKs According to […]]]> 609545 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230124-occupation-forces-detect-new-weapon-expected-to-appear-for-the-first-time-in-egypt-skies/ Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:39:44 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=609010 Egypt plans to manufacture the first warplane in its history in cooperation with South Korea. Egypt seeks to produce an armed version of Korea's T-50. Egypt is working on producing 100 training aircraft of this type, and even exporting them in the future. The Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) signed an agreement with the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to locally produce an advanced training aircraft in Egypt. AOI Chairman, Mokhtar Abdel-Latif, had announced that he had met with a high-ranking delegation from Seoul, which included Members of Parliament and senior officials from KAI and Hanwha Aerospace. They discussed the production of an aircraft that would meet the needs of the Egyptian Army, and will be exported to Arab and African […]]]> 609010 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230116-south-korea-and-the-uae-agree-30-billion-investment-deal/ Mon, 16 Jan 2023 17:25:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=606512 READ: Russia, South Korea sign $2.2bn deal to build Egypt's first nuclear plant]]> 606512 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221231-president-erdogan-turkiye-contributed-to-establishing-global-peace-tranquility-security-in-2022/ Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:52:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=603254 With its roles in the Black Sea grain initiative and the mediation in the Russia-Ukraine war, Turkiye contributed to establishing global peace, tranquility, and security in 2022, Turkiye's president said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. In his New Year's message, Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that Ankara made a very important contribution to the solution of the global food crisis by implementing the Istanbul grain export deal and securing its extension, which allows exports of food from key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. "We contributed to the establishment of global peace, tranquility, and security. We acted as a mediator in resolving conflicts, including the Ukraine crisis," Erdogan said. Extending New Year greetings, Erdogan wishes "every member of our nation as well […]]]> 603254 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221116-aramco-hydrogen-talks-with-japan-south-korea-are-advancing/ Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:33:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=594378 Saudi Aramco is moving forward in talks to supply blue hydrogen to Asia over the next five years, according to the company's chief technology officer, Bloomberg reports. According to the report, the main energy producer is the UAE which is also investing in blue hydrogen and looking at shipments to Asia. "We are in serious negotiations with a number of players," Ahmad Al-Khowaiter said in an interview at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. "South Korea and Japan are, I would say, the ones farthest along in discussions." The world's biggest oil company, Aramco, wants to become a major exporter of blue hydrogen which is seen as crucial for the transition to cleaner energy. OPINION: What will become of the […]]]> 594378 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221019-elnaz-rekabi-iran-climber-returns-from-seoul-tournament-amid-hijab-controversy/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 16:16:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=587576 An Iranian rock climber who competed in an international contest without a headscarf said she had done so unintentionally, after she was widely assumed to have expressed support for protests in Iran. Footage of Elnaz Rekabi, 33, had shown her scaling a wall without her head covered during the Asian competition in South Korea while representing Iran, which has been swept by protests ignited by Mahsa Amini's death in morality police custody. Citing an informed source, BBC Persian had earlier reported that friends had been unable to contact her, and there were fears for her safety. Iran's Embassy in South Korea, on Twitter, denied reports about her going missing after the competition, Reuters reports. In a statement posted on her […]]]> 587576 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221018-iranian-athlete-missing-after-competing-without-headscarf/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 10:56:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=586953 READ: Belgium Foreign Minister cuts hair in Parliament in support of Iranian women]]> 586953 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221018-saudis-mbs-to-cancel-upcoming-visit-to-south-korea-say-sources/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 07:52:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=586902 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman might cancel his upcoming visit to South Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday. The agency quoted South Korean sources as saying that it was "difficult for Bin Salman to visit Korea this year," adding that a reschedule was "underway." Bin Salman last visited the South Korean capital of Seoul in June 2019, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. South Korean companies were recently reported to have had great aspirations to participate in the Saudi megacity NEOM; a $500 billion smart city being built on a 26,500 square kilometre site. Bin Salman will meet Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in the upcoming G20 summit being […]]]> 586902 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220920-61-of-young-egyptians-say-climate-concerns-are-a-deterrent-to-having-children/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:43:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=581293 A recent study by GlobeScan has revealed that 61 per cent of young people in Egypt say that climate concerns are a deterrent to them having children. In Turkey 54 per cent don't want to have children because of climate change implications. Egypt had the highest percentage of people citing climate change as a deterrent alongside other countries where the majority also agreed, including South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. In Indonesia only 18 per cent of people agree that it is a deterrent and in Kenya the figure is 23 per cent. The study also revealed that after surveying 29,293 participants from 31 countries, some 65 per cent of people say that climate change is a serious issue. This […]]]> 581293 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220828-russia-south-korea-sign-2-2bn-deal-to-build-egypts-first-nuclear-plant/ Sun, 28 Aug 2022 14:50:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=576202 South Korea has entered into an agreement worth $2.25 billion (3 trillion won) with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to provide buildings and components for Egypt's first nuclear plant. According to a statement released on Thursday by South Korea's energy ministry, the state-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co, won the contract and was selected as the sole bidder for the part of the project at Egypt's El-Daaba in December 2021. The nuclear plant's reactors will be constructed by Russia's Rosatom while the South Korean firm will build other facilities with the first unit scheduled for commercial operation in 2028. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol welcomed the deal on his Facebook page, describing it as an illustration of the country's "excellent […]]]> 576202 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220822-egypt-saudi-arabia-launch-bid-with-greece-to-host-fifa-world-cup-2030/ Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:55:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=574714 Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Greece are planning to submit a tripartite bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. According to Egypt's Akhbar Elyom earlier this month the country's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi held a meeting with his Saudi and Greek counterparts to finalise plans for the proposed bid. Sobhi also expressed the intention to build a large stadium in El Alamein to bolster Egypt's sporting infrastructure and meet the specifications of being a host nation. The Egyptian minister also revealed to local radio station Mega FM that "Egypt is working on applying to host the World Cup and other sports tournaments in the future". "The Egyptian state has the capabilities that qualify it to host the […]]]> 574714 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220820-us-makes-concessions-to-iran-in-exchange-for-nuclear-deal-return/ Sat, 20 Aug 2022 12:45:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=574400 The US has made several concessions to Iran in exchange for returning to the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran International revealed on Friday. Iran International reported officials confirming the concessions the US agreed to include the removal of sanctions on 17 banks, the immediate release of $7 billion worth of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea and allowing the sale of 50 million barrels of Iranian oil in 120 days. According to Iran International, the concessions include the annulment of multiple executive orders signed by former US President Donald Trump. If the US withdraws from the deal again, Iran International reported that foreign companies would be exempt from US sanctions as part of […]]]> 574400 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220817-south-korea-qatar-sign-visa-exemption-agreement/ Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:40:47 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=573727 South Korea and Qatar announced, on Wednesday, that their citizens will no longer require visas to visit each other's country, local media said, Anadolu News Agency reports. The announcement was made during a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister, Park Jin, and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Seoul, where both top diplomats signed the visa waiver agreement, Yonhap News Agency reported. Under the agreement, citizens of both countries will be able to stay in each other's country for 90 days without a visa. READ: Qatar launches 'Devotion to Gaza' campaign]]> 573727 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220719-south-korea-to-send-police-officers-to-qatar-to-secure-world-cup/ Tue, 19 Jul 2022 10:58:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=567452 South Korea has decided to send military police officers to Qatar at the end of this month to pass on their expertise in the field of maintaining public order and guarding, a few months before the start of World Cup 2022. According to the local Yonhap news agency, the South Korean army said it will send five military police officers with experience in combating terrorism and maintaining public order to Qatar at the end of the month. It was reported that the officers would pass on their "law enforcement expertise, such as guarding, close combat skills, arrest techniques, and maintaining public order, to the Qatari Military Police until October." The news agency described the officers who will be sent to […]]]> 567452 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220629-460-rights-groups-call-on-macron-to-stop-french-energy-giant-paying-myanmar-250m/ Wed, 29 Jun 2022 12:51:54 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=564538 In an open letter to the French government 459 civil society organisations have urged President Emmanuel Macron to stop the French oil giant Total Energies paying millions of dollars to Myanmar's military-backed government. Total Energies has operated the Yadana gas project in Myanmar since the 1990s, which pays revenues to the state-run oil and gas company, Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). The military took control of MOGE in a coup in February 2021, seized $1.5 billion worth of gas revenues, and since then has killed over 2,000 pro-democracy supporters, according to the Blood Money Campaign, which aims to pressure companies that conduct business with Myanmar's military junta to stop their activities. Following concerted pressure from human rights groups, in […]]]> 564538 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220520-turkiye-welcomes-arrival-of-fourth-drillship/ Fri, 20 May 2022 14:48:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=557113 Turkiye's fourth drillship, bought last year from a South Korean shipyard, was set to join its three other drillships in less than a week, local Turkish media reports. According to the report, Turkiye's national oil and gas company, TPAO, the drillship, called "Cobalt Explorer" has now arrived, as the country is working to develop its extensive gas resources amid a growing need for the security of supply. TPAO shared via Twitter that "New member of Turkiye's energy fleet, our fourth drilling vessel is in Turkiye." Türk Enerji Filosunun yeni neferi, 4. sondaj gemimiz Türkiye'de. ? ??#TPAO #TürkiyeninEnerjisi pic.twitter.com/vsi5BsoHwy — Türkiye Petrolleri A.O. (@trpetrolleri) May 19, 2022 Turkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Fatih Dönmez, also confirmed the arrival of the drillship, […]]]> 557113 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220411-iran-says-to-get-assets-unfrozen-in-south-korea/ Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:22:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=547875 Iran confirmed, Monday, that it will receive part of its $7 billion assets unfrozen by South Korea by the end of this week, Anadolu News Agency reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told a news briefing in Tehran that the necessary framework for unblocking the assets has already been identified and agreed upon. He said a high-level delegation from a regional country will be visiting Tehran this week to finalise the mechanism for unblocking what he called "significant assets", without mentioning the country's name. Tehran has accused Seoul of freezing more than $7 billion in foreign exchange reserves under US pressure. The issue has led to frayed ties between the two countries, spilling into different areas. In January, Iran's Deputy […]]]> 547875 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220409-iran-to-release-3-americans-in-exchange-for-funds-in-south-korea/ Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:15:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=547700 An Iranian newspaper reported that Iranian funds frozen in South Korea would be released in exchange for three US citizens of Iranian origin. On Friday, Entekhab newspaper reported: "Three dual-citizen spies will be released in exchange for Iran regaining its frozen funds in Korea, amounting to $7 billion." The three individuals expected to be released are Siamak Namazi, Bagher Namazi and Morad Tahbaz. Relations between Iran and South Korea are tense due to $7 billion in Iranian funds being frozen in two Korean banks due to US sanctions re-imposed after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the historic nuclear deal with Iran in 2018. Iran's IRNA news agency quoted an "informed official" on Thursday, affirming that a considerable amount […]]]> 547700 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220405-israel-is-worlds-10th-largest-arms-exporter-report-says/ Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:56:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=546919 Israel has been the 10th largest international arms exporter over the past five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Measuring the arms trade from 2017 to 2021 in its latest report, the independent global security think tank in Sweden, reveals that Europe's market share has increased as a result of a rise in demand from Gulf states. Israel accounted for 2.4 per cent of international arms exports during that period, with the top recipients being India, Azerbaijan and Vietnam. The US is the world's biggest weapons exporter, accounting for 38.6 per cent of sales, followed by Russia 18.6 per cent, France 10.7 per cent, China 4.6 per cent and Germany 4.5 per cent. The next five are […]]]> 546919 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220401-from-korea-to-libya-on-the-future-of-ukraine-and-natos-never-ending-wars/ Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:12:26 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=546350 Much has been said and written about media bias and double standards in the West's response to the Russia-Ukraine war, when compared with other wars and military conflicts across the world, especially in the Middle East and the Global South. Less obvious is how such hypocrisy is a reflection of a much larger phenomenon which governs the West's relationship to war and conflict zones. On 19 March, Iraq commemorated the 19th anniversary of the US invasion which killed, according to modest estimates, over a million Iraqis. The consequences of that war were equally devastating as it destabilised the entire Middle East region, leading to various civil and proxy wars. The Arab world is reeling under that horrific experience to this […]]]> 546350 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220318-erdogan-opens-huge-suspension-bridge-linking-europe-and-asia/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:30:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=544195 President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey's Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power, Reuters reports. Connecting Turkey's European and Asian shores, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge was built by Turkish and South Korean firms with an investment of 2.5 billion Euros ($2.8 billion). It has the longest main span – the distance between the two towers – of any suspension bridge in the world. Such mega projects have been central to Erdogan's achievements since his AK Party first came to power in 2002, including a new Istanbul airport, rail and road tunnels beneath Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait and a bridge over it. […]]]> 544195 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220308-eu-calls-on-sudan-to-respect-right-to-peaceful-assembly/ Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:39:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=540465 The European Union has joined a number of countries who have called on Sudanese authorities to commit to defending media freedoms and respecting the right to peaceful assembly. The ambassadors and heads of missions of the European Union, Canada, Norway, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United States and the Netherlands issued the call yesterday in a joint statement "on freedom of expression and media freedoms in Sudan". The statement said: "Following the December 2018 uprising, Sudan took some important steps in improving human rights protection, however the military takeover of 25 October 2021 stalled, and in some cases, reversed that progress." "We are now witnessing sustained attempts to unduly limit freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Protestors […]]]> 540465 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220217-south-korea-iran-discuss-resuming-oil-trade-unfreezing-funds/ Thu, 17 Feb 2022 02:50:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=536580 South Korea and Iran have held working-level talks on resuming imports of Iranian crude oil and unfreezing Iranian funds held in the East Asian nation, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, Reuters reports. South Korea was previously one of Iran's leading Asian oil customers. The move coincides with negotiations resuming in Vienna to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. Tehran has repeatedly demanded the release of about $7 billion of its funds frozen in South Korean banks under US sanctions, saying Seoul was holding the money "hostage". "Our side expressed hope for the resolution of issues related to sanctions such as the transfer of frozen funds upon the agreement on the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan […]]]> 536580 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220206-saudi-acquires-5-stake-in-capcom-and-nexon-gaming-firms-worth-1bn/ Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:22:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=532959 In the kingdom's latest venture into the lucrative gaming industry, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has purchased a five per cent stake in the iconic Japanese games developer Capcom and just over five per cent of South Korean online games publisher Nexon for a total investment worth $1 billion according to Bloomberg. The purchase of Capcom is valued at an approximate $332 million at current share prices, while the acquisition of Nexon is reportedly worth $883 million. The purchases are described as "pure investment" moves and not a potential takeover, the report says. Capcom which started out as an arcade games manufacturer in the early '80s is perhaps best known for the Street Fighter and Resident Evil video game series, […]]]> 532959 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220202-egypt-signs-1-7bn-deal-to-buy-arms-from-south-korea/ Wed, 02 Feb 2022 13:51:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=531390 Egypt has signed a deal worth $1.7 billion to buy K9 howitzers from South Korea, the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) in Seoul announced on Tuesday. According to Defence News, the deal is South Korea's largest contract to export its K9 self-propelled howitzers and support vehicles. The news website cited a source as saying that about 200 K9 artillery systems will be supplied to the Egyptian military, along with scores of support vehicles, such as the K10 ammunition resupply vehicles. Under the deal, most of the equipment is scheduled to be produced locally at Factory 200, a state-run defence manufacturing facility just outside Cairo. An initial shipment, however, will be delivered by Hanwha Defence. The long-awaited deal goes back to […]]]> 531390 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220123-south-korea-says-iran-to-regain-un-vote-after-delinquent-dues-paid-with-frozen-funds/ Sun, 23 Jan 2022 13:35:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=528788 Iran is expected to regain its vote in the UN General Assembly after South Korea paid Tehran's delinquent dues to the world body with frozen Iranian funds in the country, South Korea said on Sunday, Reuters reported. Iran had regained its UN voting rights in June after a similar payment, but said this month it had lost them again because it could not transfer the funds to pay its dues as a result of US sanctions. Release of Iran's frozen funds requires the approval of the United States, which joined its European allies this week in saying only weeks remain to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Then-President Donald Trump took Washington out of the deal in 2018, re-imposing US sanctions. Iran […]]]> 528788 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220106-iran-says-us-sanctions-cannot-justify-seouls-freezing-of-assets/ Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:56:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=524848 Iran says South Korea is "obliged" to release its frozen assets, and that US sanctions cannot justify debt non-payment, Anadolu News Agency reports. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri, made these remarks on Thursday during a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Choi Jong-kun, on the sidelines of the ongoing nuclear deal talks in Vienna, according to state-run media citing the Foreign Ministry in Tehran. Bagheri, who is heading Iran's 40-member delegation in the Vienna talks, told the senior South Korean diplomat that they are obliged to release the blocked money,, "irrespective of the outcome" of ongoing nuclear deal talks. Relations between the two countries have frayed in recent years, with Tehran accusing Seoul of freezing more than $7 billion […]]]> 524848 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211201-egypt-in-negotiations-with-south-korea-to-produce-battle-tank/ Wed, 01 Dec 2021 12:04:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=516629 Egypt has announced that it is in negotiations with South Korea to co-produce the K2 Black Panther battle tank. #BREAKING: On the sidelines of #EDEX2021, Egypt announces negotiations with South Korea to co-produce the K2 Black Panther main battle tank with the transfer of manufacturing technology. pic.twitter.com/5TktlM9EnA — Mahmoud Gamal (@mahmouedgamal44) November 29, 2021 The two countries met on the sidelines of the EDEX 2021 in Cairo, a defence exposition where senior military personnel meet to browse the latest military equipment available with roughly 300,000 attendants. Rights groups have consistently criticised arms sales to Egypt over continued concerns about Cairo's human rights record, especially as they have been used by security forces against protesters. The negotiations come one month after […]]]> 516629 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210924-uae-seeks-high-level-atomic-energy-cooperation-with-south-korea/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:37:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=496680 The United Arab Emirates has opened bilateral talks with South Korea in a bid to boost atomic energy cooperation, the UAE foreign ministry said today. According to the National, Park Il, the Director-General of South Korea's Nuclear Affairs Ministry, met with the CEO of the UAE's Barakah One Company, Nasser Al-Nasseri, in Dubai yesterday. They plan to hold higher level talks as a result. South Korea won a $20 billion contract in 2009 to construct four nuclear reactors in Barakah, in the UAE. Last month, the UAE and South Korean trade ministers agreed to resume negotiations on a multilateral trade agreement. READ: Second reactor launched at UAE nuclear power plant ]]> 496680 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210902-after-afghanistan-us-allies-must-feel-a-sense-of-abandonment/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:13:00 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=492105 Do any of America's allies still trust its commitment to them? After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, they must feel a sense of abandonment by the US. Critics point out that what happened in Afghanistan was decided by Washington without even consulting its allies. The former Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani had first-hand experience of this when the then US President Donald Trump negotiated with the Taliban last year without him. According to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who joined the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the American pull out was "dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours." He described it as an "abandonment." He also questioned the West's wisdom in leaving Afghanistan altogether, calling […]]]> 492105 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210820-saudi-to-host-asian-champions-league-final/ Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:53:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=489853 Saudi Arabia will host the final of this year's Asian Champions League on 23 November, Reuters reported the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirming today. No venue city has been announced, but the quarter-final and semi-final matches involving teams from the west of Asia – due to be held on 16 and 19 October respectively – will also be played in the Gulf state. Two clubs from Saudi Arabia remain involved in the competition, with former champions Al Hilal due to play Iran's Esteghlal in the last 16 while Al Nassr will face off against Tractor, also from Iran. Both teams are based in Riyadh. The AFC has had to alter the format of the competition because of COVID-19 travel restrictions in place […]]]> 489853 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210715-us-allows-iran-to-use-frozen-funds-to-pay-debts/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:39:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=483264 The US announced on Wednesday that it would allow Iran to use frozen funds to pay off its debts to South Korea and Japan. The move comes in light of the ongoing talks to save the 2015 international nuclear agreement, which has lifted long-imposed US sanctions on Tehran. Under the US sanctions, foreign companies that deal with Iranian bank accounts could face legal penalties from US authorities. However, the US State Department earlier confirmed that the Japanese and South Korean companies could receive payments from US-targeted Iranian bank accounts to pay for the products exported before the administration of former President Donald Trump re-tightened sanctions in 2019. "To be clear: The waiver does not allow for the transfer of any […]]]> 483264 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210509-israel-and-south-korea-to-sign-free-trade-pact/ Sun, 09 May 2021 13:41:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=469519 Israel will sign a free trade agreement with South Korea this week, marking the first such arrangement with an Asian market, Israel's economy ministry said on Sunday, Reuters reports. The deal is meant to bolster bilateral trade by cutting out customs duties and offering safety nets on investments. Bilateral trade reached about $2.4 billion in 2020, about two thirds of it goods and services imported into Israel, the ministry said. The deal will be signed this week in Seoul during a visit by Israel's foreign affairs and economy ministers. More than 95 per cent of Israeli exports to South Korea will be customs-free, the ministry said. Israel is working on similar deals with China, Vietnam and India, it added. READ: […]]]> 469519 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210410-iran-releases-south-korea-tanker-seized-in-january/ Sat, 10 Apr 2021 10:19:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=465445 Iranian authorities released on Friday the South Korean oil tanker seized in January amid a dispute over Iran's $7 billion frozen in Korean banks. The funds were frozen due to sanctions imposed on the Middle Eastern country concerning its nuclear programme, international news agencies reported. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi ship and its multinational crew of 20 sailors in January. South Korea's Foreign Ministry has since confirmed in a statement: "The ship departed safely today (9 April)." After seizing the ship, Teheran accused the vessel of "repeated infringement of maritime environmental laws," but after it was released, Iran said the ship's history was free of any violations. A spokesperson for Tehran's Foreign Ministry disclosed that the […]]]> 465445 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210407-uae-launches-commercial-operations-of-first-arab-nuclear-plant/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:41:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=465210 The UAE's first nuclear power plant has started its commercial operations, the gulf state's officials announced yesterday. "The start of commercial operations at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is a historic milestone for the UAE that significantly enhances the sustainability of our entire power sector," Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, said on Twitter, describing the move as an "Arab historic milestone". The start of commercial operations at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is a historic milestone for the UAE that significantly enhances the sustainability of our entire power sector. We are grateful to those who made this possible and thank them for their diligence and hard work. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) April 6, 2021 In […]]]> 465210 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210202-iran-says-crew-of-detained-south-korean-vessel-can-leave/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:02:47 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=453641 Iran has agreed to allow the crew members of a South Korean ship it seized for alleged environmental pollution to leave the country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday, reports Reuters. "Following a request by the South Korean government…, the crew of the Korean ship, which was detained on charges of causing environmental pollution in the Persian Gulf, have received permission to leave the country in a humanitarian move by Iran," Khatibzadeh told state media. The legal case against the vessel and its captain continues, he said. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by telephone with his South Korean counterpart Choi Jong-Kun on the release of the crew of 19 and the issue of releasing $7 billion in […]]]> 453641 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210129-iran-mp-says-unfreezing-funds-may-help-release-of-south-korean-ship/ Fri, 29 Jan 2021 20:26:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=451389 A move by South Korea towards releasing $7 billion in frozen Iranian funds may help spur Iran's judiciary to resolve the seizure of a Korean ship being held for alleged environmental pollution, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Friday, Reuters reported. Earlier this month South Korea's vice foreign minister held talks in Tehran on the release of the South Korean-flagged MT Hankuk Chemi, which was seized on Jan. 4 by Iran's Revolutionary Guards near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. "Although the Korean ship's seizure was only due to environmental pollution…, Korean action in expediting the return of Iran's blocked funds may affect the judiciary's decision in resolving the ship's seizure," lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnour was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. READ: […]]]> 451389 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210115-south-korea-seeks-qatars-help-for-release-of-oil-tanker-seized-by-iran/ Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:40:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=448857 South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun called on Qatar during his visit on Wednesday to help his country resolve the issue of Iran's detention of the Korean oil tanker and its crew. The Yonhap News Agency quoted the ministry as saying that Jong Kun met with senior Qatari officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, and agreed with them to continue close bilateral cooperation in the fields of construction, energy and health, as well as on the international and United Nations levels. The South Korean official asked Doha for maximum support to end Iran's seizure […]]]> 448857