Trump preparing to withdraw 4,000 troops from Afghanistan
President Trump is reportedly planning to withdraw 4,000 troops from Afghanistan as part of a pledge he made this summer to end American involvement in conflict in the area.
Peace Talks
Trump visits troops in Afghanistan, reveals US-Taliban talks
President Donald Trump paid a surprise Thanksgiving visit to Afghanistan, where he announced the U.S. and Taliban have been engaged in ongoing peace talks and said he believes the Taliban want a cease-fire.
Taliban Envoys Visit Iran, Russia Following Collapse Of U.S. Talks
A four-member Taliban delegation has traveled to Tehran for talks with high-ranking Iranian officials — the second such trip by the militants to a foreign country just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that peace talks with the United States had collapsed.
John Bolton’s departure could resurrect Trump’s Taliban talks
President’s Trump’s split with former national security adviser John Bolton could foreshadow an effort to revive the Taliban peace talks that delivered the final blow to the pair’s strained relationship.
Trump cancels secret Camp David peace talks with Taliban after deadly bombing in Kabul
President Trump said he canceled secret peace talks with the Taliban after the group was credited for a car bomb that killed two NATO and American service members in Kabul last week.
Moscow Close To Finalizing Deal To Lease Syria’s Tartus Port For 49 Years
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met senior Russian officials for talks in Damascus on April 20, with both countries’ state media saying a deal was close to lease out Syria’s Tartus port to Russia.
EU wants new round of peace talks for Israel, Palestinians
The European Union is calling for a renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in the wake of Israel’s election last week.
U.S. envoy: United States, Taliban reach draft agreement in peace talks
The United States and the Taliban have reached a draft agreement on counter-terrorism assurances and troop withdrawal in a step toward ending the 17-year-long war, U.S. presidential envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday.
Israel denies new Russian offer to host Netanyahu-Abbas peace talks
An Israeli official on Monday denied that Russia had offered, during the prime minister’s visit to Moscow last week, to host a summit meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Erdogan to push Mideast plan
White House adviser Jared Kushner continued a whirlwind overseas trip Wednesday aimed at rallying U.S. allies to support his still-unannounced Mideast peace plan.
N. Korean leader calls for more talks with South in new year
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday calling for more peace talks between the leaders in the new year following their active engagement in 2018, South Korea’s presidential office said.
Defense, State chiefs call for 30-day cease-fire and peace talks for Yemen war
Secretary of State Jim Mattis has called for a 30-day cease-fire in Yemen’s civil war and the start of peace talks, within a month’s time.
US Envoy Hopes for Peace Deal With Taliban in 2019
The US special envoy to Afghanistan hopes to cement a peace deal with Taliban insurgents by April 2019, local media reported on Sunday.
US signals impatience with Saudi-led war in Yemen by ending aerial refueling support
The U.S. is pulling back some support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, as it presses for a ceasefire and peace talks by the end of the month. In statement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis portrayed the decision to stop U.S. refueling of Saudi warplanes attacking Houthi rebels in Yemen as a Saudi initiative.
Trump said to question Netanyahu commitment to peace, threaten to get ‘tough’
US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to ‘be tough’ on Israel in peace negotiations, mirroring the administration’s combative stance toward the Palestinian Authority, according to an Israeli report Monday.
Trump prepared to pressure Netanyahu with peace plan
US President Donald Trump and his peace team say they are prepared to apply pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their effort to jump-start peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
US freezes all PLO bank accounts in country
The US has decided to freeze all bank accounts belonging to the (Palestine Liberation Organization) PLO in the country as the White House ramps up pressure on the Palestinians to enter into peace talks with Israel, according to a report in Al Jazeera on Sunday evening.
Trump broadens pressure on PA, closing its DC offices
The Trump administration ordered the closure of Palestine Liberation Organization offices in Washington on Monday, broadening its pressure campaign on Ramallah to return to peace talks with Israel.
US, Israel officials downplay Trump’s warning of ‘price’ over Jerusalem moves
US and Israeli officials on Wednesday downplayed a remark made by US President Donald Trump a day earlier in which the American leader said Israel would pay ‘a higher price’ in peace talks with the Palestinians to compensate for Washington’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate its embassy to the city.
Trump: Israel will pay ‘higher price’ in peace talks after embassy move
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday night Israel will pay ‘a higher price’ in peace talks with the Palestinians due to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s capital.