DIPLOMACY The Arab-Chinese Summit held in Riyadh in December 2022, represents a massive leap in the development of Arab-Chinese relations and carries important significant economic and political implications. It arrived at a time when US-Saudi ties are at their lowest points, and the tension between Washington and Beijing is on the rise. The Middle Eastern countries, are currently diversifying their relations by strengthening their ties with China, Russia, India, and other nations. This Chinese-Saudi-Gulf Arab summit establishes a legal framework for relations between China and the Arab world, which promotes the growth of such ties on all fronts—economic, political, security, and cultural. From $36 billion to $330 billion in 2021. BILATERAL TRADE During Xi’s Visit to Riyadh, both countries signed investment deals worth $34 billion. Their bilateral trade has already crossed $80 billion. The summit also discussed promising investment opportunities with China in the presence of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The Projects include: The development hub of the Suez Canal and the new administrative capital in Egypt. The NEOM project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. SECURITY/ENERGY Chinese companies are building ports and free trade zones in the region, including Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Cooperation between China and Arab countries has also grown to include digital technology, renewable energy, tourism, and aviation. Most of the GCC countries use Chinese Huawei technology in their communications networks. Since 2017, China has become the largest importer of crude oil worldwide, and the Middle East is likely to account for 70% of China’s energy needs by 2030. Cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy was another key topic at the summit. In November 2022, Qatar Energy signed a 27-year deal to supply China’s Sinopec with liquefied natural gas (LNG), the longest agreement in the history of LNG industry in the world....

State of denial and delusional notions can at times obscure the ability to critical analysis. One of the obvious consequences thereof is often misplaced megalomania and skewed strategies. The much more fatal consequence ensuing from this is the reputational cost to individuals and nations. A case in point is Pakistan’s Afghan policy and its debilitating impact, effecting belief that the country successfully helped in first driving the Soviet Russian forces out of Afghanistan and then partnered with the US and Allies in the war on terror — a mission that the US terminated prematurely in late August 2021. It resulted in the return of former hosts of al-Qaeda i.e. Taliban who now apparently host Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K), Daesh, Ahrarul Hind, al-Qaeda inter alia. Top TTP leadership for sure is nestled in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan — ably supported also by fighters of Hafiz Gul Bahadur (former North Waziristan warlord). At what cost did Pakistan achieve the distinction of having been instrumental in defeating Russia and then “terrorists” whom the US signed into power again through the Doha process? The advocates of successful Afghan policy rarely introspected that Pakistan’s placement in the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June 2018 stemmed from an old security-centric flawed policy devoid of considerations for the global response. The policy had centred on and inclined to the support for militant groups in and outside Pakistan and was tied to the Kashmir cause which meant “diplomatic, moral and political” backing of the freedom fighters. But the policymakers failed to comprehend India’s growing international relevance in the new millennium, particularly after the hijacking to Kandahar of the Indian airlines flight IC 814 in December 1999 by militants who ended up in Pakistan after their release from Indian jails. They kept ignoring the grave consequences of...

China’s phenomenal socio-economic growth continues unabated. Even the COVID-19 Pandemic could not dent obstruct this trajectory. Hostility by the US-led West has also failed in stemming the Chinese progress. Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan’s Former Ambassador to China, traces this rise to the Chinese leadership’s quest for pride and rejuvenation of the society as an un-ignorable member of the global community https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T23602Ij0XM&t=7s

Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, is on his three-day maiden visit to Austria, which concluded on 3rd Jan 2022. He held several meetings on regional and global issues of mutual interest with Austria’s Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg. It was the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years. On January 2, 2022, in an interview with Austria’s ZIB2 podcast, a popular magazine of ORF television, Jaishankar, was questioned over using non-diplomatic language towards Pakistan. “Before you said, you are a diplomat but several weeks ago, you called Pakistan, your neighbour, the epicentre of terrorism. This doesn’t sound very diplomatic, does it?” the interviewer asked. https://matrixmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IWvpGws1dClRhI04-Trim.mp4 Jaishankar gave a fiery response by stating, “I did it again today without using the word Pakistan…because you are a diplomat, doesn’t mean you are untruthful. I could use much harsher words than epicentre, so believe me, considering what has been happening to us, I think epicentre is a very diplomatic word.” The Mumbai terror attack in 2008 and the Indian Parliament attack in 2001 were both planned and carried out by terrorists from Pakistan, according to S Jaishankar, who also outlined how they attempt to infiltrate Indian territory every day. When the anchor continued by emphasizing that Pakistan is not a nation that fosters terrorism, Jaishankar replied, “If you control your sovereign space which I believe they do. If terrorist operations are operating in broad daylight with recruitment and financing, then can you really tell me that Pakistani state doesn’t know whats going on? Especially when they are being trained in military-level, combat tactics.” Furthermore, he criticized the European countries for not condemning Pakistan. “When we speak about judgments and principles, why don’t I hear sharp Europe condemnation of these practices that have been going on for decades”, he added....

China has grabbed the opportunity and made its inroads into the African market, as its trade with Africa touched a record high last year of $261 billion while the US trade with Africa was recorded as low as $64 billion. Sensing the growing penetration of China’s influence in Africa, US, has pledged $55bn for the coming three years, for the modernization of technology in Africa. Furthermore, US invited 49 African countries to convene for a US-African leaders’ summit in Washington from 13-15 December, 2022.   The two global powers and business competitors, USA and China, are racing against each other  to win Africa to their side as the continent offers opportunities alongside many risks that caused a drop in US trade with it.  While China grabbed the opportunities and made its inroads into the African market during last couple of decades. Chinese trade with Africa touched a record high last year of $261 billion while the US trade with Africa recorded as low as $64 billion. For the first time, a continent and not a country is being approached by the US with programs and plans to address their grievances and offer them a greater role on global level by seeking a seat for them in G20 and work with them in promoting democratic norms in the African continent where two other global powers, China and Russia, are already enjoying considerable influence. Sensing the growing penetration of this influence in Africa and a worrying possibility of a Chinese naval base on Africa’s Atlantic coast, the USA had invited 49 African countries to convene for a US-African leaders summit in Washington from 13-15 December, 2022. This was the second time when the African leaders had gathered in the US after their initial  visit during Barak Obama’s reign in 2014. With Donald Trump’s ascendance to power, the US followed a new policy that favored ‘America’s first”, which  gave the African continent  no significant important role.  Once ignored by the US, the disappointed (disgruntled) Africans...