International press: Trump gave Biden a gift, Hezbollah fears of escalation with Israel

On Monday, International press focused on the US sanctions on Ankara and their impact on the US-Turkish relationship, as well as fears of an Israeli military escalation against Hezbollah.

Trump's sanctions on Turkey are a gift to Joe Biden

The Emirati newspaper The National said: "US President Donald Trump gave a favor to his successor, Joe Biden, last week when he imposed sanctions on Turkey."

The new sanctions were in response to Turkey's purchase of Russian-made missile defense systems, and the US State Department banned US dealings with the Turkish Military Procurement Authority, his president, and three senior officials.

In the context of the wider Turkish economy, and depending on how long the sanctions will remain in effect, the sanctions could seriously harm the Turkish defense industry, which relies on US imports. The industry has matured a lot under the Justice and Development Party (AKP), from a budget of $ 5 billion in 2002 to $ 60 billion.

Not surprisingly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the sanctions as a blatant attack on a NATO ally. But there is no doubt that it is better for Biden that Trump impose it on them now, paving the way for the next administration to take over its duties without being on a direct collision course with Turkey.

Of course, the two sides are not about to change their lines, and the Biden White House is likely to call for greater respect for human rights and international law and the continued integrity of defense alliances such as NATO.

In the coming days, American analysts and some officials will denounce Erdogan's tyranny and may call for the removal of Turkey from NATO, and Turkish analysts will talk about the expulsion of the United States and its nuclear weapons from the Incirlik air base.

Turkey is critically important to NATO's defense strategy, and it needs the United States more than others in the face of regional isolation, and it needs the European Union as its economy faces increasing hardships.

The key to Biden's success with regard to Turkey will be his ability to work with European leaders to put more pressure on Ankara. This basis has already been laid. The US sanctions came a few days after the European Union concluded its summit with an agreement to impose sanctions on Turkish individuals and entities associated with exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, and European Union leaders said that they would seek coordination with the White House before deciding on tougher sanctions. Like the arms embargo, at their next summit in March.

This gathering, which will come two months after Biden’s appointment on January 20, may be the vanguard of Turkish-Western relations, and if Biden and Erdogan agree by then on a plan to lift sanctions, the European Union may again return to a softer approach to Turkey, but if Erdogan stays steadfast, things could take a darker turn.

Despite Trump's stated affinity with Erdogan, some analysts have argued that it was the US president's problematic diplomacy that led to these sanctions in the first place.

Hezbollah sees a threat in the last days of the President of the United States

The British Newspaper, Guardian said: "Leaders in the Lebanese Hezbollah are afraid that Donald Trump and Israel will act against Iran and Hezbollah before Joe Biden appointment."

Over the past four years, Hezbollah has fought a war in Syria, supporting Iraqi forces and interfering in the affairs of the Lebanese government while trying to avoid confrontation with Israel, however, its weary leaders fear that the last days of Donald Trump's presidency may be fraught with danger.

 Hezbollah members are watching their clocks and the sky, as Israeli planes have been flying in the air for more than a month, and over the past few weeks, the number of sorties has increased sharply, as have the security restrictions in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Leaders and senior members fear that Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israel intend to use the weeks leading up to Joe Biden's appointment to act decisively against Iran and Hezbollah before the new president takes a softer stance toward them.

Interviews with two middle-ranking members of Hezbollah and a mediator familiar with the thinking of the group's top leaders revealed an image of an organization determined not to be drawn into a clash with Israel. The three sources said that they believe that the next US administration will try to negotiate the nuclear agreement with Tehran, which was signed by Barack Obama and canceled by Trump and can now be renewed in another form.

A Hezbollah member said: "This means easing the sanctions, and this means that the pressure will end on us in the end. They are trying to harm Iran to harm us. It will not succeed because everyone has seen this plan since the summer, and we all have the means to overcome their pressure."

“We are in the midst of the most dangerous period of the past 30 years,” one of the VIPs described the coming weeks.

He added, "But will they try to do something big in Beirut in the coming weeks? It is possible and true that there are security alerts in the suburb and the south, this is all about protecting our leaders, we do not have anything specific, but there is something is looming."

Trump's incentives to sign peace agreements with Israel may be in jeopardy

The American New York Times said: "Congress can reject the diplomatic attractions to join the Abraham Agreements that were offered to Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, or to be canceled by the incoming Biden administration."

As for Sudan, agreeing to normalize relations with Israel was the price of removing it from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism.

A similar diplomatic agreement with Israel concluded Morocco's request to the United States to recognize its sovereignty over the Western Sahara region.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates who wanted to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States had to first sign the Abraham Agreements, but all of this could be blown away if Congress or the Biden administration refused.

This not only jeopardizes a series of regional rapprochement agreements, but also exacerbates the global view that the United States can no longer be trusted.

In a related context, officials familiar with the administration's efforts said that Oman and Tunisia may be the next two countries to join the normalization agreements with Israel, and that could be expanded to include countries in Asia and Africa even after Trump left office in January.

In this context, President and Executive Director of the International Crisis Group, Robert Malley, expected that "the incoming Biden administration will try to back down or dilute parts of normalization deals that challenge international standards, as in the case of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, or challenge long-term US policy such as a deal to sell aircraft." Ghost to the Emirates. "

T/S

ANHA