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Iran-South Africa ties
Iran’s foreign minister has departed Tehran for Pretoria to attend the 15th meeting of the joint economic commission of the Islamic Republic and South Africa.The commission is scheduled to be convened on Thursday in its first gathering since the outbreak of the Covid Pandemic. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says he will also hold meetings with his South African counterpart and the country’s president. His trip comes ahead of the Iranian head of state’s visit to South Africa later this month. President Ebrahim Raeisi will travel to South Africa at the invitation of his counterpart to take part in a BRICS summit there. South Africa currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the group that consists of major emerging economies. The bloc will hold a summit of its heads of state in Johannesburg in late August. Iran applied for BRICS’ membership last year.
Israel political crisis
The months-long political turmoil in Israel is now taking its toll on the regime’s military, as a large number of army reservists refuse to serve in protest at the hard-right cabinet’s contentious judicial overhaul. The regime made the disclosure on Wednesday, admitting that the issue has harmed its readiness for war in some areas. A military spokesperson says the situation in the air forces is a particular source of concern as a significant number of pilot instructors refuse to turn up for duty. The disputed judicial reform package has triggered one of the biggest protest movements in Israel since it was unveiled in January by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. The Knesset passed the first key component of the reform package last month, which limits the powers of the judiciary system on some government decisions. Opponents say the legislation would lead to a more authoritarian regime in Tel Aviv.
Russia-West tensions
Russia says it will reinforce its western border to counter increasing threats posed by the US-led NATO military alliance. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the remarks as the governing board of the ministry has held a meeting to discuss measures to respond to threats posed by Finland’s accession to NATO. Shoigu said Russia expected significant deployment of NATO forces and weaponry in the Nordic country. He called Finland’s accession to the Western military alliance and the future entry of Sweden a serious destabilizing factor. Meanwhile another NATO-member Poland has announced plans to send additional 2,000 troops to its border with Russia’s ally Belarus. Shoigu said Poland has been used by the US as the main instrument of anti-Russia politics.
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