Bruno Finel

Syria and Jordan took a major step toward deepening bilateral cooperation on Tuesday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formally establish and activate the Higher Coordination Council, a strategic body aimed at advancing joint interests in energy, water, and regional development.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s recent remarks labeling Israel’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza as “totally insufficient” reflect not only a lack of geopolitical clarity but also a troubling pattern of one-sided rhetoric from Paris.

In a dramatic shift that would have been unthinkable just a year ago, Syria’s new president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, is quietly laying the groundwork for a potential diplomatic thaw with Israel, a historic adversary.

In a potentially historic development, senior figures from Israel and the Syrian interim government have reportedly engaged in direct discussions in Azerbaijan, according to an Israeli source cited by CNN and initially reported by Channel 12.

On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy during an interview on TF1 television, labeling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies in Gaza as “shameful.”

Diplomatic efforts are gaining momentum in a bold attempt to end the bloody conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. 

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has extended his warmest congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his election as the new Pope and head of the Catholic Church.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Moscow on Thursday to attend Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, marking 80 years since the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany. 

The South Caucasus is emerging as a strategic hub for Gulf and Israeli investment, with Georgia and Azerbaijan leveraging their geographical positioning and open economies to attract billions in capital. 

France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced that the French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, remains in Paris since mid-April, indicating a continued diplomatic impasse between the two nations. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and the state of bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Kremlin.

Eurosceptic George Simion appeared on course for victory in the first round of Romania's presidential election re-run on Sunday, partial results showed, after a ballot seen as a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.