Panorama: Biden-Putin summit does not pay much attention to Syria, Turkey opposes Libyan consensus

Last week's Arab newspapers reported on the results of the US-Russian Geneva summit, in addition to the NATO summit, and the Turkish intervention in Libya.

Small understandings in Syria pave the way for containing Iran

The beginning is with the American and Russian presidents' summit. In this context, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper said: “The summit of Presidents Biden-Putin resulted in “small understandings” in Syria, as part of steps that pave the way for discussing the “containment” of the Iranian presence later.

A western diplomate expressed to the " Al-Sharq Al-Awaset, his believe that in face of the "red lines" that both presidents sought to put in the disputed files, there are efforts, in other files such as the Iranian nuclear files, Syria and fighting terrorism.

He expected that the Geneva summit would green lights the continuing the Russian-American dialogue in Vienna, which was halted last July, to discuss several files: First, keeping on military arrangements east of the Euphrates to “prevent conflict” and fight extremists in eastern Syria and the Badia, and Moscow push Damascus, Washington encourages the Syrian Democratic Forces to engage in dialogue. Second, persuading Damascus to answer the questions of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons under a Russian-American agreement in 2013, in exchange for the government’s restoration of its “privileges” in the organization. Third, providing a ground for extending the international resolution on “cross-border” aid, which expires on the 11th of next month.

The Biden administration had given this matter a priority, and raised its ambitions to open three crossings, and "Russia's acceptance of extending the current opening of the (Bab al-Hawa crossing) will be a sign of continued cooperation," according to the diplomat. But a senior US official said after the summit that Washington had not received a commitment from Putin about continuing or expanding UN aid operations across the border into Syria.

Despite the agreement on the return of ambassadors at the Geneva summit, did Biden-Putin differences deepen?

In the same regard, Okaz newspaper said: "Following a historic summit, the first of its kind in Geneva, US President Joe Biden described Russian President Vladimir's criticism of human rights in America as 'ridiculous'." While Putin disclosed in a separate press conference on Wednesday, some aspects of the meeting, revealing that he agreed with Biden on the return of their ambassadors.

He said: I discussed with my American counterpart trade relations and cooperation in the Arctic and other issues. He added that there was nothing that could be discussed regarding Ukraine's joining to NATO. He considered that there was a great responsibility on the shoulders of Russia and the United States to promote strategic stability in the world, announcing that they had agreed to start consultations at the level of the two countries on cyber-attacks.

He added that Russia and the United States are on dispute on several issues, but the two sides confirmed their intention to search for common positions, and the Russian President stressed that the largest number of cyber-attacks in the world came from the United States. He added that cyber security is of critical importance to us and the United States, noting that his country is exposed to cyber-attacks originating from the United States.

Regarding the Turkish delegation’s visit to Libya, Al-Arab newspaper said: “The Turkish position on the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, opposes the fragile consensus route in the country, which would impede reaching a holistic national reconciliation that turns the page on years of wars in the country.

The Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's statements, came on the sidelines of his visit to Tripoli, to deepen the tension between Haftar and Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabaiba and to split ranks within the government and the Presidential Council.

The Turkish delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, included Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, Chief of General Staff Yasar Guler, Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan, and Head of the Communications Department of the Presidency of the Republic Fahrettin Altun.

Akar stressed "the need not to forget the mass graves of Haftar's militia and hundreds of people who lost their lives or limbs as a result of explosives in Libya."

"The world must not forget these actions, and everyone must remember the harm and suffering caused by the putschist Haftar," he added.

Akar's statements reflect Turkish indifference towards establishing peace and stability in Libya, considering that Haftar is still an important figure in the Libyan equation, and the government's incitement against him will disrupt the path of consensus in the country.

The Turkish Defense Minister took advantage of the military parade organized by the Libyan army on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of Operation Dignity to justify the continued presence of Turkish forces in the country and to show Haftar as a party not ready for peace.

"Everyone watched the last military parade held by the putschist Haftar's group," he said.

The relationship between Haftar and Dabaiba is witnessing an escalating tension that has increased in severity in the past period, which raises the fears of the Libyans of undermining the path of consensus and returning to war again.

The tension between the two men became public after the security forces at the Benina Airport in the eastern city of Benghazi prevented the delegation of the Government of National Unity from disembarking because the authorities in the east prevented the security delegation accompanying the members of the government.

However, observers ruled out that this was the essence of the dispute, considering that what happened was the result of other disputes between Haftar and Dabaiba over the sharing of power and wealth.

Tension deepened after the military parade in Benghazi, and Dabaiba and the President of the Presidential Council, Muhammad al-Minfi, refused to attend, despite Haftar's invitations to them and the rest of the government and the Presidential Council.

Akar's statements put the Libyan government in embarrassment before the Libyan public opinion, especially the tribes and regions, who reject the continuation of the Turkish military presence in the country.

 He reiterated his country's refusal to withdraw from Libya, saying, "Turkey is a homeland for the Libyans, and Libya is a homeland for the Turks."

The Turkish delegation, which visited Tripoli on Friday and Saturday, raised the level of provocations to the Libyan authority, which confirms that the Turks are deliberately embarrassing and suggesting that they are in control of Tripoli, in a move aimed at conveying a message that their control of the Libyan capital did not end with the departure of the Government of National Accord headed by Fayez Al-Sarraj.

The absence of a Libyan official in the reception of the Turkish Minister of Defense sparked angry reactions in the country, especially with the frequency of information about the deliberateness of the Turkish officers who received him to remove the Libyan guards and hold a closed meeting with them.

And the “Africa Gate” news website quoted a source close to the Libyan Presidential Council as saying that the dispute was reflected in the meetings that took place separately and tense even within the Presidential Council itself, where its president, Muhammad al-Manfi, met with members of the Turkish delegation individually, while Abdullah al-Lafi and Musa al-Koni met him separately and Abdel Hamid Dabaiba and his ministers as well.

The source, who preferred not to be named, attributed the dispute to the intentional actions of the Turkish ministerial delegation, which arrived in Tripoli without prior permission and coordination, to carry out humiliating behavior, including the disgraceful behavior of Defense Minister Hulusi Akar during his arrival at Maitika Airport.

“Atlantic Summit” warns of the Chinese threat to the international system

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper also touched on the NATO summit and said: "As at the G7 summit in Cornwall, England, last weekend, Chinese "challenges" and Russian "growing threats" topped the discussions of the NATO leaders summit in Brussels.

In the final statement of their summit, the leaders said that "China's stated ambitions and its continued behavior pose challenges to the foundations of the rules-based international system, and in areas of importance to the security of the alliance," expressing concern about Beijing's "repressive policies."

The leaders also expressed their concern about "the strengthening of Russia's military arsenal and its provocative activities, especially in the vicinity of NATO borders." They warned that "as long as Russia does not show that it respects international law and fulfills its international obligations and responsibilities, the situation cannot return to normal."

(A)

ANHA