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Myanmar Foreign Minister Attends Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security

Myanmar Foreign Minister Attends Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security

Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, U Tin Maung Swe, attended the 4th Minsk International High-Level Conference on Eurasian Security in Minsk, Belarus, from November 3 to 4, 2026. The conference, hosted by Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, gathered over 600 delegates from more than 50 countries, including ministers, diplomats, and researchers. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko delivered a speech emphasizing Eurasia as a platform for unity and a region with vast resources and diverse cultures, advocating for shared responsibility in Eurasian security. Myanmar's Foreign Minister highlighted the need for a security path prioritizing partnership and cooperation over confrontation, welcoming the drafting of the 'Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.' He also held bilateral meetings with officials from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Russia, and Belarus, discussing enhanced cooperation and Myanmar's potential full membership in the SCO.

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Ends After US-Russia Veto Standoff

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara Ends After US-Russia Veto Standoff

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has concluded its 35-year peacekeeping operations as of November 1, following the UN Security Council's failure to renew its mandate. This cessation occurred after a diplomatic impasse between the United States and Russia. The U.S. vetoed a Russian draft resolution that sought to extend MINURSO's mandate until October 2027, while Russia, in turn, vetoed a U.S.-backed draft resolution. The U.S. proposal reportedly favored Morocco's autonomy plan for the territory and aimed to rename the mission. MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front and to organize a referendum on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. The referendum, which would have allowed residents to choose between independence and integration with Morocco, never took place due to disagreements over voter eligibility. Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, has welcomed the miss...

International Crisis Group Warns of Escalation Risks in Western Sahara Following UN Mission Collapse

International Crisis Group Warns of Escalation Risks in Western Sahara Following UN Mission Collapse

Riccardo Fabiani, North Africa project director at the International Crisis Group, has expressed significant concern regarding the potential for military escalation in Western Sahara. This warning comes after the UN Security Council failed to renew the mandate of its Western Sahara mission (Minurso), which had been in place for 35 years. The mission, established in 1991, was intended to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and facilitate a referendum on the territory's future. However, the ceasefire collapsed in 2020, and the referendum never occurred. The recent failure to renew Minurso's mandate, due to vetoes from Russia and the US on each other's resolutions, has effectively ended the peace process. Fabiani highlights that without UN monitoring, the risk of a military incident in the buffer zone escalating into a larger conflict is significantly increased, potentially involving Morocco taking over the area and the Polisario Front launching attacks from Algerian territory.

UN's peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara enters liquidation phase after mandate expires

UN's peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara enters liquidation phase after mandate expires

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has entered a “liquidation phase” and is beginning to vacate positions and dispose of equipment following a U.S.-Russia standoff at the Security Council last week

UN Peacekeeping Chief Warns of Security Vacuum as Missions Exit Lebanon and Western Sahara

UN Peacekeeping Chief Warns of Security Vacuum as Missions Exit Lebanon and Western Sahara

The UN's peacekeeping chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has issued a warning regarding a potential security vacuum as 'Blue Helmets' withdraw from Lebanon and Western Sahara. The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) concluded its operations on October 31 after 35 years, due to the Security Council's failure to agree on renewing its mandate. Similarly, the peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which has patrolled the border with Israel since 1978, is scheduled to cease operations by the end of the year. Mr. Lacroix highlighted that the organization is losing some of its longest-standing military deployments without guarantees that the affected countries can maintain stability independently. He recently returned from Lebanon, where President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed concerns about a 'security vacuum' once peacekeepers depart, fearing that border incidents could escalate into clashes. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented options in June, but the Security Coun...

Germany's Foreign Minister Warns Against Escalation in Horn of Africa Amid Deteriorating Regional Relations

Germany's Foreign Minister Warns Against Escalation in Horn of Africa Amid Deteriorating Regional Relations

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has issued a warning against any escalation in the Horn of Africa, emphasizing the importance of stability in northern Ethiopia. This caution comes as Ethiopia's relationships with neighboring Eritrea and Sudan are deteriorating. According to a German Foreign Ministry readout dated October 4, 2026, Wadephul conveyed this message during a phone call with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos. The diplomatic tensions are unfolding amidst renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, reported movements of federal troops towards the Eritrean border, and Ethiopia's stated desire for sovereign access to the Red Sea. Both the African Union and the United States, along with the European Union, have called for de-escalation, while Russia has offered to facilitate direct talks between the involved parties. Ethiopia and Sudan have also experienced a sharp decline in their diplomatic ties, marked by the expulsion of diplomats and the closure of consulates by both nations.

RASD TV Operates as Sahrawi State-Owned Public Service Broadcaster from Algerian Refugee Camps

RASD TV Operates as Sahrawi State-Owned Public Service Broadcaster from Algerian Refugee Camps

RASD TV functions as a state-owned public-service television broadcaster for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, operating from Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf Province, Algeria. Established in February 2004, the channel's launch was gradual, with regular broadcasting commencing on May 20, 2009. It serves audiences connected to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Western Sahara conflict. RASD TV operates in a unique media environment, combining terrestrial broadcasting aimed at Western Sahara and the refugee camps with satellite distribution to reach broader audiences across Africa, Europe, and parts of the Middle East. Its programming focuses on public information, political communication, cultural representation, and the preservation of Sahrawi historical narratives, including daily newscasts, interviews, historical documentaries, and cultural programs. Content is primarily in Hassaniya Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic, with some programming in Spanish to reach wider audiences.

Iran and Russia Accelerate Small Modular Reactor Development Amidst IAEA Scrutiny

Iran and Russia Accelerate Small Modular Reactor Development Amidst IAEA Scrutiny

Iran and Russia are finalizing a protocol to accelerate the joint construction of small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to boost Iran's low-power nuclear energy infrastructure to meet rising domestic electricity demands. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), confirmed the bilateral agreement. Russia previously assisted Iran in building the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, and construction for its second stage is underway. In late September 2025, Iran and Russia signed an agreement for four power units worth $25 billion for the new Hormoz NPP and a memorandum of understanding on SMR cooperation. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power, sponsored by the IAEA, reaffirmed Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy use, criticizing the IAEA for allegedly succumbing to political pressure from the U.S. and Israel regarding Iran's nuclear program.

China confirms discussions are underway on a historic Xi-Trump-Putin meeting

China confirms discussions are underway on a historic Xi-Trump-Putin meeting

Beijing has confirmed for the first time that it is discussing a historic meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin

EU Urges CTBT Ratification Amid Rising Nuclear Test Risks and Russian Withdrawal

EU Urges CTBT Ratification Amid Rising Nuclear Test Risks and Russian Withdrawal

The European Union (EU) has issued a general statement at the UN General Assembly's 1st Committee, emphasizing the critical need for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to enter into force. The EU highlighted that the risk of a return to nuclear weapons testing has never been greater, citing North Korea's six nuclear tests and Russia's revocation of its CTBT ratification. The EU calls on Russia to reverse this decision and respect the Treaty's objectives. Despite being signed by 188 states and ratified by 179, the CTBT has not yet entered into force, preventing the use of crucial on-site inspections for verification. The EU urges the nine remaining Annex II States to sign and ratify the CTBT without delay.

NATO's Eastern Border Experiences Widespread GPS Jamming, Raising Hybrid Warfare Concerns

NATO's Eastern Border Experiences Widespread GPS Jamming, Raising Hybrid Warfare Concerns

On November 3, 2026, nearly the entire eastern flank of NATO, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, experienced significant GPS jamming and satellite navigation interference. Aircraft data compiled by AirNav Radar and published by ItaMilRadar on November 4, 2026, showed widespread disruptions, with the heaviest interference forming a continuous band from the southern Baltic Sea through Lithuania, eastern Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, extending to the western Black Sea. Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany have characterized this interference as deliberate hybrid warfare. Researchers have identified jamming and spoofing sources at two coastal sites in Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and another near St. Petersburg, though no specific operators have been publicly identified or claimed responsibility. This incident follows a pattern of satellite navigation disruptions, with eight European countries having filed a complaint with the United Nations in 2025 regarding similar interference.

Greater Eurasian Partnership Report Highlights Need for New Security Architecture Amid Global Transformation

Greater Eurasian Partnership Report Highlights Need for New Security Architecture Amid Global Transformation

A conceptual analytical report titled 'Greater Eurasian Partnership: shared responsibility for a secure future' indicates that the world is undergoing systemic transformations, rendering traditional geopolitical and economic models unstable. The report, from the International Expert Council, emphasizes the increasing uncertainty and tension globally, particularly for Central Eurasian states. These states face complex challenges and are seeking new strategies for security and development. The report advocates for a new security architecture in Eurasia built on polycentricity, allowing all participants to maintain sovereign development. It highlights the need to consolidate general principles for the Eurasian space, promoting non-conflict and pragmatic cooperation. The Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) is presented as a flexible system integrating existing institutions to form a coherent architecture, with Central Eurasia identified as its core due to its unique cultural, ethnic, and economic intersections.