Joyce Karam

The News Roundup - International MBS goes to Washington. Maduro says he'd talk.

📻 Great to be on @npr.org ‘s 1A
this morning to discuss MBS visit, Gaza, Ukraine-Russia, Trump’s options on Venezuela! Full episode here the1a.org/segments/tru...

There's been so much exaggeration of what the MBS visit is and isn't but on China specifically:
- Saudi ties are rooted
- Think Neom, oil, tech, education
- Expanding US ties is not decoupling from China
- MBS particularly forged closer relations with Beijing BEFORE becoming CP

Why MBS' lavish US visit is not Saudi realignment away from China For Riyadh, engagement with Beijing is not merely transactional — it is part of a multipolar strategy that enhances Saudi leverage, accelerates Vision 2030 ambitions and reduces its exposure to the un...

NEW: Ignore the lazy/lousy takes on #Saudi Arabia, here is why MBS lavish US visit is not a realignment away from China... www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

Why MBS' lavish US visit is not Saudi realignment away from China For Riyadh, engagement with Beijing is not merely transactional — it is part of a multipolar strategy that enhances Saudi leverage, accelerates Vision 2030 ambitions and reduces its exposure to the…

NEW China-Middle East newsletter: Why MBS' lavish US visit is not Saudi realignment away from China

For Riyadh, engagement with Beijing is part of a multipolar strategy that enhances Saudi leverage, @joycekaram.bsky.social & @roscarroll.bsky.social write.
www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

- No defense pact, no nuclear energy deal yet. Shows limitations of White House. Both require Congress

- Seeing some lazy takes on China. This is not a realignment.

Okay, let's unpack:
- If you are MBS, you cannot possibly wish for a better reception/visit. Full comeback for Saudi Crown Prince, after being shunned post-Khashoggi murder
- F-35s will take time but significant esp if similar to Israel's. Expect a DC political battle

Trump gives MBS red-carpet welcome, touts F-35 deal, $1T Saudi investment Trump is hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in a high-profile visit aimed at resetting US-Saudi ties and securing major defense, nuclear and investment deals.

UPDATE: #Trump hosts Saudi Arabia's MBS
• Horses, jets, trumpets
• Saudi to get F-35s ✈️ 'pretty similar' to Israel's
• Up to $1 trillion in investment
• Trump: MBS did "incredible" on human rights
• MBS: 'We want to be part of Abraham Accords' but.. www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Gen. Haykal will likely still visit at a later date but this cancelation brings to light the amount of tension between Trump admin and Beirut + pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, join Abraham Accords. Army is most stable, most reliable institution in the country.

US cancels Lebanon army chief visit amid frustration over Hezbollah: What to know Washington canceled a planned visit by Lebanon’s army commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, signaling growing US frustration over Lebanon’s delay in disarming Hezbollah.

NEW: US canceled visit of head of #Lebanon army, @al-monitor.bsky.social confirmed. Haykal was due to arrive today but tension with Congress, differences over Hezbollah botched the trip... www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Lessons from the past (UAE, Turkey), F-35 sales take time, are complicated but early win for Saudi as MBS makes first visit since 2018.

Some background:
- Saudi is requesting 48 F-35s
- Israel is only Middle Eastern country to have jets
- UAE was approved but then suspended in 2021
- Turkey lost membership to F-35 consortium in 2019

Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, first Arab country to acquire jets The deal could hurt Washington's ties with Israel and would not likely be approved by Congress unless conditioned on Saudi normalization of ties with Israel.

Here we go: Trump will sell Saudi Arabia F-35 jets, making it [if acquired] first Arab country to have the fighters www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Germany lifts Israel arms embargo: What changed in Berlin? With the ceasefire in place, even though violated at times, Berlin decided to lift the partial arms embargo it imposed on Israel.

UPDATE:
• Germany lifts Israel arms freeze
• Syria FM in China
• MBS ✈️ US, meets Trump tom.
• UNSC vote on Gaza today
• Egypt may cancel elex results
• Iraq official results expected today
• UAE order 65 Boeings www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Why Lebanon now leads the world in rising cancer rates A recent study found that Lebanon has the world’s fastest-rising cases of cancer and cancer-related deaths. Ali Mokdad, co-author of the study, says tobacco is the main culprit.

Heartbreaking to see cancer rates in #Lebanon at highest globally. Smoking, pollution, wars, port explosion and some in Europe using it as waste dump have inflicted heavy toll on Beirut: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

China was the only country to abstain at UNSC from vote removing Sharaa from terror list. Russia, others went along with US draft. But move shows Beijing reluctance in approaching Islamist leadership in Syria when its asks on TIP, foreign fighters have not been met.

Sharaa-Trump meeting a mixed bag for China The Syrian president's meeting with President Donald Trump underscored Damascus' formal shift toward Washington after decades of being allied with the Soviet Union and then Iran’s "Axis of Resistance"...

NEW: China's mixed bag from Sharaa-Trump meeting
• Beijing lukewarm toward Sharaa
• Only abstention at UN
• Syria sanctions relief helps 🇨🇳
• Foreign fighters, TIP big issue for China, not resolved in meeting www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/29/18 05:44:30 AM (559917870) Flags: 1150981 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: 1F755C6D-AFFB-4541-8599-FDC11EF05647 Message: Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/30/18 04:41:49 AM (560000509) Flags: 1085445 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: E46497CA-E1F7-4836-AFF2-019A5EDE8AF9 Message: i delayed my trip a day. so im still around. tell burke they should make sure they ask ford about her medications , what type and for how long. . my guess is that katz won't let her answer Sender: Time: 09/30/18 04:49:01 AM (560000941) Flags: 1060865 Is Read: Yes Is Invitation: No GUID: 97454E15-953A-490B-A0C2-38D17ECA1541 HOUSE OVERSIGHT 027436 Message: Roger Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/30/18 05:23:07 AM (560002987) Flags: 1150981 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: C824FCC2-13CF-4192-AD8F-DE22B94E3ED5 Message: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/8-medications-that-may-cause-memory-loss Sender: Time: 09/30/18 05:29:44 AM (560003384) Flags: 1060865 Is Read: Yes Is Invitation: No GUID: 08AACCED-20FB-4CD5-AB60-0F2D519E3503 Message: Is this a hint Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/30/18 05:36:49 AM (560003809) Flags: 1085445 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: B83D7125-7359-42BF-9612-72F8CE3A3CCF Message: duh Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/30/18 05:50:08 AM (560004608) Flags: 1150981 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: 60E73416-0013-4BD4-91DF-2E97344992A4 Message: ttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/321089419 False memories in social anxiety diso _ _ _ _ _ _ rder Sender: e:jeeitunes@gmail.com Time: 09/30/18 06:08:30 AM (560005710) Flags: 1085445 Is Read: No Is Invitation: No GUID: D6C0F382-87BC-4B71-AD7D-1518D4BA8A08 Message: she couldn't recall if the lie detector was given the same day as her mothers funeral or the next day.? MEDS Sender: Time: 09/30/18 06:12:55 AM () Flags: 1060865 Is Read: Yes Is Invitation: No Message: Oh I get it now

Jeffrey Epstein advised Steve Bannon that the lawyers representing Brett Kavanaugh in his confirmation hearing should accuse Christine Blasey Ford of being on medications that cause false memories or memory loss.

Trump admin is prodding Saudi Arabia to take steps toward normalization with Israel. Both defense pact and normalization are long shots at this stage due to Senate approval requirement (pact) and carnage in Gaza/ Netanyahu Gov. (normalization).

Saudi defense chief visits White House ahead of MBS trip: What to know Saudi Arabia is seeking to purchase dozens of F-35 fighter jets, but the Trump administration may hold off to leverage the kingdom to normalize ties with Israel, a top ambition of its Middle East poli...

NEW: Saudi-US meetings before MBS' visit
• KBS met Rubio, Hegseth, Witkoff
• Jared Kushner visited Saudi
• Bessent met Rumayyan
• Saudi seeking defense pact, F-35 ✈️. MBS in White House on Tuesday:
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Syrian President Sharaa arrives at White House in historic first Sharaa met with Trump as the administration weighs easing sanctions and expanding cooperation on Syria.

UPDATE: Sharaa - Trump meeting

• ~2 hours
• Syria releases photos of Sharaa in Oval Office. A first.
• Attendees: Shibani, Olabi, Vance, Barrack, Hegseth, Gen. Caine
• Caesar sanctions waiver: 180 days
• Turkey’s Fidan at White House at same time www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Trump making full circle on Syria, betting that Sharaa will deliver on Iran, intel sharing and Israel. Key benchmarks to watch from visit:
- Sanctions repeal
- Security arrangement that includes Israel
- anti-ISIS coordination
- Reconstruction bids
- US troops presence

Trump to meet Sharaa at White House, capping major turnaround for Syria By Steve Holland and Timour AzhariWASHINGTON/RIYADH (Reuters) -Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday caps a stunning year for the rebel-turn...

UPDATE: Sharaa to meet Trump 11 am ET, 7 pm Damascus
• First Syrian Prez in White House
• First ex-designated terrorist
• Second Jihadist in after Taliban
• First Syria-US Prez Bilat since 2000
• Closed to press
• Turkey's Fidan also in Washington www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

- US bureaucratic measures
None of above is met yet. Sharaa arrives in Washington this weekend, meeting Trump Monday.

In theory there is a strong security argument for both Syria and Israel to want US troops presence near Damascus, BUT:
- This will require set of agreements prior and readiness from new Syrian establishment
- It also requires cohesive security situation inside Syria
- Israeli military knowledge

Plan to bring Syria into US-led coalition brings risks, opportunities for Sharaa Damascus' entry into the US-led coalition would formalize expanded intelligence sharing on the Islamic State's remnants, but joint training and partnered raids remain distant prospects. A US military ...

NEW: Asked about airbase south of Syria's capital, US military official denied to @jmszuba.bsky.social there are any current plans to deploy American troops near Damascus just yet. Details: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Both Duwaji and Mamdani come from highly educated, affluent families. Hers is a well known Damascene family in culture and art. Stereotyping them with ugly Islamophobia was shameful during campaign.

Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's wife and New York’s first lady of Syrian descent New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign but her Syrian heritage has shaped her views and upbringing.

NEW: Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's spouse of Syrian descent & now NYC's new first lady. @beatricefarhat.bsky.social writes www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🔥NEW @al-monitor.bsky.social event: Join us on Thursday to discuss Sharaa's visit to Washington, the first for a Syrian President.
• From Damascus: Danny Makki
• From Paris: Amberin Zaman
• From Washington: Elizabeth Hagedorn and yours truly
Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Back from family leave after 3 months of whirlwind developments in Middle East.

Sharaa to Washington then MBS, Israel still bombing on 3 fronts, and US-GCC long ladder of deals. Turkey expanding reach while Sudan war still under covered.

Hope everyone been well!

Turkey, Iraq sign oil-for-water deal: What to know The landmark deal between Ankara and Baghdad sets out a finance mechanism to direct Iraqi oil proceeds into Turkish-built water infrastructure.

👋🏽 UPDATE: Middle East
• Turkey: Hamas agreed to transfer power in Gaza
• Israeli strikes in Lebanon
• Turkey, Iraq sign oil for water deal
• Famine, fighting in Sudan
• Iran rejects cooperation with US
• Microsoft to investment $15B in UAE
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...