International Policy

As a direct neighbour to China, Myanmar plays a strategic role in the “Belt and Road Initiative”. In order to make this work in Myanmar’s highly fractured society, government needs to be more transparent, and parliamentarians and civil society need a greater say in the planning.

The attention of the entire Middle East and Gulf region is focussed on Iran. Only in Lebanon there appears to be a lack of interest in the conflict. 

Russia’s policy in the Middle East is geared strictly to the country’s interests: to fulfil its role as a major power, stabilise the region and minimise every risk as much as possible. This offers opportunities 

Donald Trump is caught in a deadlock of his own making. He does not want to find himself responsible for a new war in the Middle East right in the middle of an election campaign. At the same time, he wants to look like a tough guy who never backtracks. This is what is making the situation so unpredictable.  

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is supporting and encouraging Trump’s confrontational stance towards Iran. However, a military escalation would be extremely dangerous for Israel.

The escalating nuclear conflict between Iran and the United States is making life harder for Irans population. In particular, the emergence of a middle class is under threat.

The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs has appealed to the US and Iran to avoid escalation in the Persian Gulf region. The EU must continue to do everything within its power to save the nuclear deal.

The next EU-China summit will take place on 9 April. The head of our EU office, Eva van de Rakt, spoke to MEP Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA) about his expectations for the forthcoming talks and negotiations. 

The inclusion of a gender perspective in the Colombia's peace agreement: past, present, and future.