Latest news with #AmosHochstein
News18
14-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Trump Confirms Patriot Air Defence Systems For Ukraine, Hints At Russia Sanctions
Last Updated: The move comes as US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein begins a new visit to Ukraine and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet with Trump in Washington. US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the United States would send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine and signalled that new sanctions on Russia could be forthcoming. The comments come amid a continued escalation of hostilities in Ukraine and ahead of key diplomatic engagements scheduled for Monday. 'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need," Trump said, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews as he returned from the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey. While he did not specify the number of missile systems, he confirmed, 'I haven't agreed on the number yet, but they're going to have some because they do need protection." According to AFP, the announcement marks a reversal from an earlier White House stance this month, which had suggested a pause in weapons deliveries to Kyiv. Trump emphasized that under the new arrangement, the European Union would bear the cost. 'We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military and they're going to pay us 100 percent for them," he said, adding, 'It'll be business for us." . @POTUS: 'I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said — and he'll talk so beautifully, then he'll bomb people at night. We don't like that." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2025 The move comes as US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein begins a new visit to Ukraine and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to meet with Trump in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier said the country was close to securing a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and their associated missiles. As per AFP, Trump once again expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening," he said, calling out Moscow's intensifying summer offensive and failure to agree to a ceasefire. When asked whether new sanctions on Russia would be announced, Trump told reporters, 'We're going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK?" reiterating that a major statement on Russia would be made Monday. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The National
01-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Former US envoy calls for activation of Egypt-Lebanon gas deal as Syria sanctions lift
Former US energy envoy Amos Hochstein has urged the US and Lebanon to "activate" a deal to transport gas from Egypt to Lebanon through a pipeline in Syria, after the US lifted sanctions on Damascus. Mr Hochstein on Monday night also called for electricity to be transferred from Jordan to Lebanon through Syria. "Deals are done and ready to go," Mr Hochstein, who was previously the US special presidential co-ordinator for global infrastructure and energy security, said in a post on X. He said making it a priority to fix the Syrian power grid "is the absolute best way" to help Syria and Lebanon. "Can't begin rebuilding without access to affordable/reliable power," he added. Mr Hochstein's post referred to a gas import agreement signed in June 2022 by Lebanon, Egypt and Syria to ship 650 million cubic metres of natural gas per year from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria, as part of US-backed efforts to ease Lebanon's electricity crisis. However, at the time, Egypt and Jordan privately voiced concerns that the project could breach US sanctions on Syria, including the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Lebanon's electricity sector has been crumbling for about three decades amid a lack of investment. It has been kept afloat by costly and short-term fixes that have failed to provide round-the-clock electricity, despite repeated promises by politicians. Lebanon's economic woes have also exacerbated the power crisis, as the country can no longer afford to operate most of its power plants. Mr Hochstein urged the countries involved to activate the deals after US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order lifting sanctions on Syria, allowing the country to rebuild after a prolonged civil war. Mr Trump's executive order takes effect on Tuesday. Mr Hochstein, who has held several government roles in Washington, has also spent time as a lobbyist and executive at a liquefied natural gas company. He is currently the managing partner of holding company TWG Global. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said on X that the move by the US to lift sanctions on Syria would allow for "long-awaited reconstruction and development". The removal of sanctions marks an economic reawakening and geopolitical repositioning for Syria, Arturo Bris, professor of Finance and director of the IMD World Competitiveness Centre, has said. Several regional airlines have resumed flights to Damascus, infrastructure deals have been announced and the country's debts are being cleared. In May, Syria signed a $7 billion deal with a Qatar -led business group aimed at doubling the country's power supply, in a series of moves to boost its postwar economy. The Syrian government signed an agreement with a consortium of companies led by Qatar 's UCC Holding to add 5,000 megawatts to the national grid. The country faces a severe power crisis. The lifting of US sanctions on Syria has reignited global investors' interest, with several major companies already establishing a foothold in the war-torn country's economy. In May, Dubai-based DP World signed an initial agreement worth $800 million to develop the port of Tartus. Billionaire Emirati entrepreneur Khalaf Al Habtoor said in June that he was exploring new investment opportunities in the country. Turkish companies, from banks to port operators and energy firms, are also lining up to grab their share of business opportunities arising from Syria's $500 billion reconstruction effort.
The National
01-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Former US envoy urges for activation of Egypt-Lebanon gas deal as Syria sanctions lift
Former US energy envoy Amos Hochstein has urged the US and Lebanon to "activate" a deal to transport gas from Egypt to Lebanon through a pipeline in Syria, after the US lifted sanctions on Damascus. Mr Hochstein on Monday night also called for electricity to be transferred from Jordan to Lebanon through Syria. "Deals are done and ready to go," Mr Hochstein, who was previously the US special presidential co-ordinator for global infrastructure and energy security, said in a post on X. He said making it a priority to fix the Syrian power grid "is the absolute best way" to help Syria and Lebanon. "Can't begin rebuilding without access to affordable/reliable power," he added. Mr Hochstein's post referred to a gas import agreement signed in June 2022 by Lebanon, Egypt and Syria to ship 650 million cubic metres of natural gas per year from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria, as part of US-backed efforts to ease Lebanon's electricity crisis. However, at the time, Egypt and Jordan privately voiced concerns that the project could breach US sanctions on Syria, including the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Lebanon's electricity sector has been crumbling for about three decades amid a lack of investment. It has been kept afloat by costly and short-term fixes that have failed to provide round-the-clock electricity, despite repeated promises by politicians. Lebanon's economic woes have also exacerbated the power crisis, as the country can no longer afford to operate most of its power plants. Mr Hochstein urged the countries involved to activate the deals after US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order lifting sanctions on Syria, allowing the country to rebuild after a prolonged civil war. Mr Trump's executive order takes effect on Tuesday. Mr Hochstein, who has held several government roles in Washington, has also spent time as a lobbyist and executive at a liquefied natural gas company. He is currently the managing partner of holding company TWG Global. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said on X that the move by the US to lift sanctions on Syria would allow for "long-awaited reconstruction and development". The removal of sanctions marks an economic reawakening and geopolitical repositioning for Syria, Arturo Bris, professor of Finance and director of the IMD World Competitiveness Centre, has said. Several regional airlines have resumed flights to Damascus, infrastructure deals have been announced and the country's debts are being cleared. In May, Syria signed a $7 billion deal with a Qatar -led business group aimed at doubling the country's power supply, in a series of moves to boost its postwar economy. The Syrian government signed an agreement with a consortium of companies led by Qatar 's UCC Holding to add 5,000 megawatts to the national grid. The country faces a severe power crisis. The lifting of US sanctions on Syria has reignited global investors' interest, with several major companies already establishing a foothold in the war-torn country's economy. In May, Dubai-based DP World signed an initial agreement worth $800 million to develop the port of Tartus. Billionaire Emirati entrepreneur Khalaf Al Habtoor said in June that he was exploring new investment opportunities in the country. Turkish companies, from banks to port operators and energy firms, are also lining up to grab their share of business opportunities arising from Syria's $500 billion reconstruction effort.
CNBC
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Iran's nuclear program and Fordo facility probably need to go at this point, says Amos Hochstein
Amos Hochstein, TWG Global managing partner and former Biden senior advisor, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest on the Iran-Israel conflict, impact on energy and oil prices, what the endgame for both sides will look like, and more.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hochstein to Asharq Al-Awsat: Land Border Demarcation between Lebanon, Israel ‘is Within Reach'
The former US special envoy, Amos Hochstein, said the maritime border agreement struck between Lebanon and Israel in 2022 and the ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hezbollah at the end of last year show that a land border demarcation 'is within reach.' 'We can get to a deal but there has to be political willingness,' he said. 'The agreement of the maritime boundary was unique because we'd been trying to work on it for over 10 years,' Hochstein told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'I understood that a simple diplomatic push for a line was not going to work. It had to be a more complicated and comprehensive agreement. And there was a real threat that people didn't realize that if we didn't reach an agreement we would have ended up in a conflict - in a hot conflict - or war over resources.' He said there is a possibility to reach a Lebanese-Israeli land border agreement because there's a 'provision that mandated the beginning of talks on the land boundary.' 'I believe with concerted effort they can be done quickly,' he said, adding: 'It is within reach.' Hochstein described communication with Hezbollah as 'complicated,' saying 'I never had only one interlocutor with Hezbollah .... and the first step is to do shuttle diplomacy between Lebanon, Lebanon and Lebanon, and then you had to go to Israel and do shuttle diplomacy between the different factions' there. 'The reality of today and the reality of 2022 are different. Hezbollah had a lock on the political system in Lebanon in the way it doesn't today.' North of Litani The 2024 ceasefire agreement requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and for the Lebanese army to take full operational control of the south Litani region, all the way up to the border. It requires Hezbollah to demilitarize and move further north of the Litani region, he said. 'I don't want to get into the details of other violations,' he said, but stated that the ceasefire works if both conditions are met. Lebanon's opportunity 'Lebanon can rewrite its future ... but it has to be a fundamental change,' he said. 'There is so much potential in Lebanon and if you can bring back opportunity and jobs - and through economic and legal reforms in the country - I think that the future is very bright,' Hochstein told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'Hezbollah is not trying to control the politics and remember that Hezbollah is just an arm of Iran' which 'should not be imposing its political will in Lebanon, Israel should not be imposing its military will in Lebanon, Syria should not. No one should. This a moment for Lebanon to make decisions for itself,' he added.
