Trump has opened a new
diplomatic space with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Gulf
States to de-escalate the Iran conflict—while the U.K., EU, and NATO are
absent and increasingly irrelevant.
Susan Kokinda
Susan
Kokinda argues President Trump has opened a new diplomatic space to
de-escalate the Iran conflict by working through a regional roster—Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Gulf States, and back channels into
Iran—while the U.K., EU, and NATO are absent and increasingly
irrelevant. Citing reporting that ministers met in Riyadh and that
Egypt, Turkey, and Oman carried messages, she says this “Board of Peace”
architecture is isolating Iran and weakening its proxies, pointing to
Lebanon’s move against Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority’s
condemnation of Iran, and Hamas considering disarmament. Kokinda links
Europe’s exclusion to self-inflicted energy weakness from Green and
anti-Russia policies, noting rushed LNG moves and a delayed Russian oil
ban vote. She concludes Ukraine’s outlook darkens as Europe and Britain
lack leverage, highlighting Zelenskyy’s scramble for support in London
and Washington.
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