Category: Global

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek on Monday (31 Aug), with the two leaders discussing bilateral relations, economic cooperation and international affairs. Xi said Russia-China relations would continue to deepen, stating that “the foundation of our bilateral relations will only…

Israel and Greece have signed a defence agreement worth approximately €3 billion (£2.6bn) to establish a multi-layered air defence system for Greece. The agreement was signed in Tel Aviv by Amir Baram, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and Yannis Boras, head of Greece’s Procurement Directorate. Israel described it as the largest defence export…

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are gathering in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the 2026 summit, which marks the bloc’s 25th anniversary. The annual meeting brings together representatives from the organisation’s 10 member states to discuss security, economic cooperation and wider international issues. During the 31 August–1 September summit, discussions are expected to focus on…

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged Member States to modernise United Nations peace operations, warning that today’s conflicts are becoming more complex, prolonged and technologically advanced.  Addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (26 Aug), he said the international security environment has changed dramatically, requiring peace operations to become more agile, politically focused and better…

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has visited Russia for discussions with Russian intelligence officials, marking the first known trip by a serving US intelligence chief to Moscow since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. US President Donald Trump said the visit was part of efforts to help end the war in Ukraine, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry…

The Vatican and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue following talks in Moscow between Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Discussions focused on the Ukraine conflict, humanitarian cooperation, bilateral relations and the Catholic community in Russia. Archbishop Gallagher reiterated the Vatican’s position that the conflict cannot…

Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that major powers must recognise the changing global balance of influence, arguing that recent conflicts have demonstrated the limits of superpower power projection. In an interview with the Financial Times, Guterres said: “It’s time for superpowers to understand the limits of their power”, citing the war in Ukraine…

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have signed a Treaty on Eternal Friendship as Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ilham Aliyev expanded cooperation in trade, investment, energy and transport during the Azerbaijani leader’s state visit to Tashkent. The two countries set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, while highlighting new projects across key sectors.…

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have renewed their call for legally binding international rules governing lethal autonomous weapons, warning that rapid advances in artificial intelligence are increasing the urgency for global action. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger urged states to begin formal negotiations…

Saudi Arabia and France have reaffirmed their strategic partnership following the state visit of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The leaders chaired the first French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, agreeing to deepen cooperation across defence, artificial intelligence, energy, investment and culture,…