Biden Officially Designates Qatar As Major Non-NATO Ally
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A senior U.S. official says Qatar has been "extremely, extremely helpful" to the United States in the Iran nuclear talks as President Biden officially designates Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. Qatar is added to Kuwait and Bahrain as allies, earning military benefits from the U.S. Meanwhile, Qatar's emir met with a Ukrainian envoy and has spoken three times lately with Ukraine's president.
Saudi Arabia and the United States worked together to free two young women held by the Houthis in Yemen, an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh was hit and set on fire by Houthi drones, and the U.S. seized two tankers full of sanctioned Iran oil and forced them to unload their cargo in Texas and in the Bahamas.
The Islamic State names a new leader, reported to be the brother of the old leader. The World Court at The Hague finds two more Hezbollah members guilty of assassinating former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. The convictions were in absentia and now three alleged assassins are on the run.
The nuclear talks in Vienna are suspended, the United Nations worries about troops moving in convoys on the streets of Libya's Tripoli, and there's news from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Arab League, and More.
U.S. President Joe Biden officially designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, strengthening the relations between the two countries. The designation made good a promise he made in January to the visiting Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The special status is granted to countries that have close involvement with the United States and strategic relationships with the U.S. military.
Being a major non-NATO ally allows Qatar to enter into agreements with the U.S. for training, get priority for delivery of excess defense equipment, act as a location for U.S. war reserve stockpiles, receive equipment for research and development, be allowed the country's firms to bid on contracts, and a host of other benefits.
The U.S. has had close relations with Qatar for years, collaborating on a number of issues, recently including evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan. Qatar is now the third Gulf country, with Kuwait and Bahrain, to receive the designation which President Biden in January told the emir was "long overdue."
Al Jazeera, US officially designates Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.
Reuters, Biden designates Qatar as major non-NATO ally of U.S.
The White House issued an official memo from the President to the Secretary of State for Qatar's designation, authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
The memorandum begins with "by authority invested in me as President" and ends with a direction to the Secretary of State: "You are authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register." The text of the memorandum.
The White House, Memorandum on the designation of the State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.
The U.S. State Department describes a major non-NATO ally designation as “a powerful symbol of the close relationship the United States shares...." The designation demonstrates "our deep respect for the friendship of the countries to which it is extended."
U.S. Department of State, Major non-NATO ally status.
Qatar's emir met with a Ukrainian envoy in Doha to discuss Russia's war after talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. The emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, met with Ukraine's Bektum Rostam, the emir's office said in a statement. The day before, the Qatar ruler had spoken by phone with President Zelensky, their third contact since the start of the Russian offensive.
Timeturk, Qatar's emir meets Ukrainian envoy to discuss Russian war.
Qatar is termed “extremely, extremely helpful” as it steps up its role in mediating between the United States and Iran. As Western powers have strived in Vienna for almost a year to negotiate a return to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, Qatar has delivered messages and sought to allay Iranian concerns. Officials in Qatar also have been working to facilitate direct talks between Washington and Tehran. A senior U.S. official said Qatar has been "extremely, extremely helpful" in trying to revive the nuclear agreement.
Financial Times, Qatar mediates between Iran and US in nuclear talks.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Qatar's gross domestic product to accelerate to 3.2% this year. The IMF cited the expansion of a liquefied natural gas expansion project in Qatar's North Field, saying it will support growth prospects and strengthen fiscal and external positions over the medium-term.
The Peninsula, IMF expects Qatar's economic growth to accelerate to 3.2% in 2022
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna were paused because of new Russian demands. European officials are concerned that the halt may bring an end to efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran.
Russia is demanding that sanctions imposed on it for its invasion of Ukraine exclude its dealing with Iran. The United States and other western powers are opposed to Russia's demands,
New York Times, Iran nuclear talks paused following Russian demands to ease sanctions.
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An oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Petroleum supplies were not affected and there were no deaths or injuries, but the attack caused a small fire. Saudi officials condemned the attack, saying it was an effort to destabilize security and threaten the world's energy supply. Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility, saying it fired three Samad-3 drones.
Arab News, Saudi energy ministry condemns oil refinery drone attack in Riyadh.
Reuters. Yemen’s Houthis claim drone attack on refinery in Saudi capital.
Saudi Arabia and the United States worked together to free two women, U.S. citizens, who had been held by the Houthis in Yemen. A U.S. State Department official said the women were rescued from an area of Yemen that was under Houthi control. The two American women were identified as 19- and 20-year olds, both born in Yemen.
They were reported flown from Sanaa to Aden, then to Saudi Arabia.
Al Araibya, US, Saudi free two US citizens from Houthi captivity in Yemen: State Department.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) named a United Arab Emirates central bank official to be its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding expert. Waleed Alhosani is currently adviser to the UAE central bank's governor and also an adviser to a UAE national committee on money-laundering. He will join the GCC's secretariat general, based in Riyadh.
The National, UAE Central Bank adviser appointed as anti-money laundering expert at GCC secretariat.
The U.S. seized two tankers suspected of shipping Iranian oil. The tankers were part of an elaborate scheme to bypass sanctions that included forged documents and repainting a ship's deck to avoid detection and hide the illegal shipments. The oil cargo of the Greek-managed vessels was estimated at more than $38 million. The oil was discharged in Texas and in the Bahamas at the direction of U.S. law enforcement.
Associated Press, US seized Iran oil cargo as Biden considers easing sanctions.
OPEC's secretary general and Iraq's oil minister said OPEC+ wants to achieve a balance in oil supply and demand. Attending an industry conference in Houston, Texas, OPEC's Mohammad Barkindo and Iraq's Ihsan Abdul Jabbar spoke of the oil market during the Ukraine war and said OPEC+ continues to work for market stability.
Reuters, Iraq oil minister, OPEC's Barkindo say OPEC+ keen to balance oil market.
The Islamic State named a new leader, reported to be the brother of the first ‘caliph’ Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and confirmed the death of its late chief, who blew himself up in a U.S. attack in Syria in February. IS identified the new leader as Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi and said he was "caliph," without giving further details. Security officials in Iraq said he is the brother of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group’s first so-called caliph. The death of Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi, successor to al-Baghdadi, was acknowledged without mentioning the attack or how or when or where he died.
BBC, IS confirms leader Qurayshi's death and names successor.
Reuters, Exclusive: New Islamic State leader is brother of slain caliph Baghdadi - sources.
A World Court tribunal convicted two more Hezbollah members for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Appeals judges at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon at The Hague unanimously reversed earlier acquittals and found Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Hassan Oneissi guilty. In 2020, a lower court convicted a former Hezbollah member, Salim Jamil Ayyash, of the bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others at Beirut's seaport. All three have now been tried in absentia, and they remain at large.
Asharq Al-Awsat, STL convicts another 2 Hezbollah members in Rafik Hariri's murder.
Lebanon will start sending aid to 150,000 families as unemployment levels rise in the country. Social affairs minister Hector Hajjar said aid to eligible families will start next week and include payments of $ 25 a month, with $20 more for each child, up to six children per family.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanon: Government to start disbursing social aid next week.
The Arab League’s secretary-general said there’s no consensus for the return of Syria as the next summit was announced for November 1 in Algeria. Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the question of Syria's readmission wasn't discussed at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, and that he has yet to see a consensus.
Syria was suspended from the league more than 10 years ago.
Middle East Eye, Arab League rules out Syria's return until 'consensus exists.'
The U.S. Senate supported the $2.2 billion sale of C-130 Hercules aircraft to Egypt. Republican senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tried to stop the sale, but the Senate voted 81-18 not to block the deal over human rights concerns.
Reuters, U.S. Senate backs $2.2 billion military sale to Egypt.
The United Nations is concerned about military mobilization in Libya's Tripoli. Tripoli is the home of the government of interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who refuses to resign after Libya's parliament in Tobruk named a new prime minister. Now large convoys carrying armed groups have been seen in Tripoli as tensions increase. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it is closely following troop movements and called on all parties to "refrain from any action that could lead to armed clashes."
Xinhua, UN voices concern over military mobilization in Libya's Tripoli.
Gold mining is seen as a help to Sudan's collapsing economy amid reports gold is being smuggled to Russia. Sudan's military rulers denied the smuggling charges and met with gold miners who said they could supply the central bank with gold.
Voice of America, Sudan looks to gold to boost economy, denies Russian smuggling.
MORE: Egypt, Sudan call on Ethiopia to actively engage in serious GERD talks to reach legally binding deal, Ahram... Iraq oil ministry calls for arrest of fugitive MP over 'extortion' allegations, Asharq Al-Awsat... Ukrainians stranded by war while on holiday in Egypt head home, Reuters... Moody's: Islamic finance to continue growing in 2022 as economic recovery accelerates., Bernama... Kuwait National Petroleum Co. opens new LNG line, Reuters.
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NPR, Russia is trying to recruit Syrians to fight in Ukraine, U.S. says.
The United Arab Emirates single-handedly reduced oil prices by 13% on one day this week. The Emirates demonstrated the power Gulf oil producers can wield on the market, and the action was a wake-up call to the United States to pay attention to its longtime allies.
Reuters, Analysis: You still need us, UAE tells U.S. as it flexes Gulf oil muscles.