Latest news with #global security
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
World Defense Show 2026 sells 90% of exhibitor space
RIYADH: The World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh from Feb. 8 to 12 has sold 90 percent of its exhibition space, according to the organizers. Andrew Pearcey, CEO of the WDS, said: 'The overwhelming demand for exhibition space is a testament to the show's growing reputation as a must-attend event for those shaping the next era of defense and global security.' He said the presence of WDS officials at the recent International Defence Industry Fair provided 'an excellent opportunity to connect with key industry players and highlight the remarkable progress we've made in preparing for WDS 2026.' Pearcey was speaking at IDEF 2025 last week in Istanbul where the team met with key Turkish defense stakeholders. Expanded from its first and second editions, the WDS will feature several new sections, with an additional hall increasing floor space to 273,000 sq. meters, more than 58 percent larger than the first edition in 2022. Held under the theme 'The Future of Defense Integration,' the WDS will showcase the latest advancements across all five defense domains — air, land, sea, space, and security. The show is expected to feature exhibitor participation from 80 countries, including new participants Japan, Portugal, Uzbekistan and Finland. Turkiye is the third largest participating country, with Turkish exhibitors currently occupying 4,400 sq. meters of exhibition space. According to the organizers, Turkish participation is expected to grow exponentially. New programs in the upcoming edition will include a defense and security industry lab, and an exhibition of future technologies. A Saudi Arabia supply-chain zone will allow local small- and medium-sized enterprises to network with key global players. Several panel discussions will be held at the show including on technology, manufacturing and trade. Organized by Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries, the event is a key part of the Kingdom's ambition to localize 50 percent of its defense spending by 2030. Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries in Saudi Arabia, the first edition was held in 2022 on the outskirts of Riyadh. It attracted 600 exhibitors from 42 countries, 82 military and defense delegations, and 65,000 visitors from 85 countries.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Tehran's new war plan: Build an anti-NATO
What if the next global security pact wasn't forged in Brussels or Washington – but in Beijing, with Iran at the table? This is no longer a theoretical question. At the mid-July meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in China, Iran made it clear: Tehran now views the SCO not just as a regional forum, but as a potential counterweight to NATO. In doing so, it signaled a profound strategic pivot – away from an outdated Western-dominated system and toward an emerging Eurasian order. The summit highlighted the increasing resilience of multilateral Eurasian cooperation in the face of growing global turbulence. Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who also met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping – an encounter that underscored the strength of the Moscow-Beijing axis. On the sidelines, Lavrov held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, India, and notably, Iran. His talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi focused on diplomatic solutions to the nuclear issue and emphasized deepening strategic coordination. The Iranian side used the platform with purpose. Araghchi expressed his appreciation for the SCO's solidarity amid Israeli aggression and stressed that Iran views the organization not as symbolic, but as a practical mechanism for regional unity and global positioning. India's full participation also contradicted predictions in Western circles that geopolitical tensions would paralyze the SCO. Instead, New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to the platform. The implication is clear: unlike NATO, where unity depends on compliance with a central authority, the SCO has proven flexible enough to accommodate diverse interests while building consensus. For Russia, the SCO remains a cornerstone of its Eurasian strategy. Moscow serves as a balancing force – linking China with South and Central Asia, and now, with an assertive Iran. Russia's approach is pragmatic, multi-vector, and geared toward creating a new geopolitical equilibrium. The heart of the summit was Abbas Araghchi's speech – an assertive and legally grounded critique of Israeli and American actions. He cited Article 2, Section 4 of the UN Charter, denounced attacks on Iran's IAEA-monitored nuclear facilities, and invoked Resolution 487 of the UN Security Council. His message: Western aggression has no legal cover, and no amount of narrative control can change that. But beyond condemnation, Araghchi delivered a concrete roadmap to strengthen the SCO as a vehicle for collective security and sovereignty: A collective security body to respond to external aggression, sabotage, and terrorism A permanent coordination mechanism for documenting and countering subversive acts A Center for Sanctions Resistance, to shield member economies from unilateral Western measures A Shanghai Security Forum for defense and intelligence coordination Enhanced cultural and media cooperation to counter cognitive and information warfare These are not rhetorical gestures – they are blueprints for institutional transformation. Iran is operationalizing a new security doctrine built on multipolarity, mutual defense, and resistance to hybrid threats. While NATO is structured around a rigid hierarchy dominated by Washington, the SCO embodies a post-hegemonic vision: sovereignty, equality, and civilizational plurality. Its member states represent over 40% of the global population, possess vast industrial capacities, and share a collective desire to break the unipolar mold. Tehran's bet is clear: the SCO offers not just a geopolitical shelter, but a platform for advancing a new global logic – one rooted in strategic autonomy, not dependency. The sophistication and clarity of Araghchi's initiatives suggest that Tehran is preparing for the long game. Behind closed doors, the summit likely featured discussions – formal and informal – about deepening SCO institutionalism, perhaps even rethinking the organization's mandate. Araghchi made that vision explicit: 'The SCO is gradually strengthening its position on the world stage... It must adopt a more active, independent, and structured role.' That's diplomatic code for institutional realignment. The Western response was immediate. Within days of Iran's proposals, the EU imposed new sanctions on eight individuals and one Iranian organization – citing vague claims of 'serious human rights violations.' Israel, by contrast, faced no new penalties. It is geopolitical signaling. Tehran's push to turn the SCO into an action-oriented bloc is seen in Brussels and Washington as a direct threat to the current order. The more coherent and proactive the SCO becomes, the harsher the pressure will grow. But that pressure proves Iran's point. The rules-based order is no longer rules-based – it is power-based. For countries like Iran, the only path to sovereignty is through multilateral defiance and integration on their own terms. Iran is not improvising. It is positioning itself as a co-architect of a post-Western security order. Its vision for the SCO goes beyond survival – it is about shaping an international system where no single bloc can dominate through sanctions, information warfare, or coercive diplomacy. This strategy has implications far beyond Tehran. If the SCO embraces Iran's proposals and begins to institutionalize them, we could be witnessing the early formation of the 21st-century's first true alternative to NATO. The West may dismiss this as fantasy – but in Eurasia, the future is already being drafted. And this time, it's not happening in English.
France 24
7 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Israel, Ukraine announce 'dialogue' on countering Iran
Both see Iran, a close ally of Russia, as a malign actor on the world stage. Israel has long accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, an allegation it denies, while Ukraine is regularly attacked from Russia by Iranian-designed drones. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described Iran as an "existential threat" to global security during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar -- the most senior Israeli official to visit Ukraine since 2023. "Our countries face common security challenges. Today we have decided to launch a separate dialogue on the Iranian threat," Sybiga said. Saar said any effort to curb Tehran's access to weapons and technology contributed to the security of Europe and Ukraine. "I thank President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and the Ukrainian government for its position that Iran must not have nuclear weapons," he said. Ukraine has expressed frustration at Israel's neutral stance on the Russian invasion, but the two share common interests. Kyiv has long accused Tehran of supplying military hardware to Moscow. Last month, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran with the stated aim of destroying military and nuclear sites, an action that Kyiv supported. © 2025 AFP
Russia Today
14-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia-US talks to continue despite efforts to derail them
Russia will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the US despite recent tensions and efforts to disrupt bilateral ties, presidential envoy and the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, has said. Dmitriev has been a prominent participant in Moscow's contacts with Washington. He was part of the Russian delegation that held meetings with US officials during previous rounds of dialogue under the administration of President Donald Trump. In a Telegram post on Monday, Dmitriev insisted that 'constructive dialogue between Russia and the US is more effective than deliberately doomed attempts at pressure.' He argued that the approach of former US President Joe Biden's administration had failed and was 'proven ineffective.' Dmitriev also noted that talks between the two countries would continue regardless of 'titanic efforts' to undermine them. He did not elaborate which specific efforts he was referring to. The Russian official stressed that mutual respect, realism, and economic cooperation are 'the foundation of global security and a sustainable world.' Since returning to office, Trump has broken from his predecessor's policy of attempting to isolate Russia. He has re-established communications with Moscow and has held several phone calls with President Vladimir Putin. Recently, however, Trump has expressed growing frustration over stalled Ukraine negotiations and has hinted at a potential policy shift on Russia. Last week, Trump said he would make an 'important announcement' on Monday regarding US-Russia relations. He has also recently pledged additional support to Kiev, including Patriots – without clarifying whether he was speaking about air defense systems or ammunition for them. US Senator Lindsey Graham has said the upcoming announcement will be 'very aggressive' and may involve offensive arms deliveries or new sanctions. He has also stated that the US Senate is looking to pass a sanctions bill that would allow Washington to impose 500% tariffs on nations that continue to trade with Russia. The bill would give Trump a 'sledgehammer' to use against Moscow, the hawkish senator said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is 'carefully recording all the nuances' in Trump's statements and is awaiting the announcement to 'understand what President Trump meant.'
