OPINION

Photo: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Biden speak during a photo shoot in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 2022. Credit: Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court via Reuters

Mending US-Saudi Relationship is Critical to Their Mutual Geostrategic Interest

Viewpoint by Alon Ben-Meir

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU). He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

NEW YORK (IDN) — The US’ misperception of its bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia on a number of fronts has contributed dramatically to the present heightened tension between them. It is critical that at this juncture the two countries recalibrate their relationship and renew their geostrategic partnership.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 08 November 2022

Photo: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Sr Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Source: Asian Affairs (London)

Current Political Landscapes in Britain & Sri Lanka: Parallels and Contrasts

This article was issued by Asian Affairs (London).

Viewpoint by Neville de Silva*

LONDON (IDN) — They may be thousands of kilometres apart, but there is a common thread that binds Britain’s first-ever prime minister of Indian origin and of the Hindu faith and Sri Lanka’s Buddhist president installed in office less than three months ago.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 06 November 2022

Photo: The P5 countries (France, China, United States, United Kingdom, Russia) met in Paris on December 2-3, 2021 to discuss their contributions to the 10th NPT Review Conference. Credit: Permanent representation of France to the Conference on Disarmament.

Avoiding Arms Racing and the Possibility of Nuclear Catastrophe

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is the Executive Director of the Arms Control Association (ACA). The following text was published in the organization’s monthly journal, Arms Control Today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Over the long, dangerous course of the nuclear age, the easing of tensions and resolution of crises between the nuclear-armed states have relied not only on good luck and self-restraint, but on effective, leader-to-leader dialogue.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 04 November 2022

Ralph Nader’s Urgent Appeal: Vote for Democrats

Viewpoint by Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon

SAN FRANCISCO, USA (IDN) — When Ralph Nader appeared on “Democracy Now!” on October 25, a key moment came as he responded to the final question from host Amy Goodman: “You have campaigned as an independent and a Green throughout your political life. You ran for president four times. Why now throw in your lot with the Democrats?”

: UN Bureau; OPINION; 03 November 2022

Dismissal of “Population Alarmism” is Rooted in Pronatalist Ideology

Viewpoint by Nandita Bajaj*

ST PAUL, Minnesota (IDN) — As the global population fast approaches 8 billion, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem wants us to avoid what she calls “population alarmism.” A fearless advocate for reproductive rights, Dr Kanem, has rightfully noted that reproductive coercion, whether in an effort to limit births or to promote them, is an egregious violation of individual rights.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 03 November 2022

Image: Residential area, Saltova, Ukraine - ZagAlex/Shutterstock

What's Next in the Ukraine War?

Viewpoint by Herbert Wulf

This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission.

BONN (IDN) — In order to find an answer to the difficult question about the future of Ukraine, it is worth analysing the two extreme and polarised positions currently propagated in Western Europe. On the one hand, there are those who want to provide Ukraine with more and unrestricted support, especially military aid. And on the other hand, there are those who argue that further arms deliveries to Ukraine only prolong the war.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 03 November 2022

Photo: Putin addressing a plenary meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club [a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum] on October 27, 2022. Source: Pravda.com.ua

Is President Putin Offering an Olive Branch to the West?

Viewpoint by Somar Wijayadasa*

NEW YORK (IDN) — The 19th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Forum, titled “Peace after Hegemony: Justice and Security for all” was held in Moscow from October 24-27.

The meeting was attended by 111 international policy experts, politicians, diplomats and economists from 41 countries, including from France, Germany, and the United States.

: Somar Wijayadasa; OPINION; 02 November 2022

Photo: H.H. Param Pujya Swami Adrishya Kadsiddeshwar Ji of Kaneri Math (right) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India.

Panch Mahabhoot, Climate Change and UN SDGs

Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S.

The writer is an ex-diplomat and Special Adviser for Asia & Africa of ALCAP, the Latin American Parliamentary Association of Audio-Visual Communication. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDN InDepth News.

NEW DELHI (IDN) — Bad news first. The world is almost on the edge of an irreversible climate breakdown notes the UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2022.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 02 November 2022

Photo: People who have endured the ordeal of torture have an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation. Credit: Unsplash/Nathan Wright

Time To Think Again About Abolishing Torture

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Right now, 47 years ago to the day in the autumn of 1975, the corridors of the UN in New York were abuzz with a small army of Amnesty International staff members lobbying countries to agree on a Declaration Against Torture.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 01 November 2022

Photo: Israeli Police official in Lod also known as Lydda, a city 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv and 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Jerusalem in the Central District of Israel. Picture was taken on 11 May 2021. CC BY-SA 3.0

The Absurdity of the Israel-Hamas Relationship

Viewpoint by Alon Ben-Meir

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU). He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

NEW YORK (IDN) — Given that Israel and Hamas collaborate both publicly and tacitly on multiple fronts, one would think they would finally realize that they are stuck and neither can escape the other. It’s time for both to come to terms with their inescapable reality and seek a long-term solution to their conflict.