What is Borrell’s goal in the Middle East?
According to IRNA on Friday, Joseph Borrell headed a diplomatic delegation from the European Union for a four-day trip to the Middle East. He arrived in Qatar at the first stop of the trip and discussed with senior officials the development of bilateral relations and developments in the region, including the situation in Afghanistan and the Iran nuclear deal.
He told a news conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in Doha that the European Union would open a representative office in the Qatari capital next year and hoped to increase further partnership and co-operation with the Qatari government.
He said Qatar was playing a strategic role in dealing with the new situation in Afghanistan and facilitating relations with Kabul, and expressed hope that the European Union could rely on Doha to send messages to the Taliban and change the behavior of the new Kabul government. The Qatari side also confirmed the remarks, expressing hope that Doha could use its “excessive influence” on the Taliban to persuade the group to improve its treatment of the people.
Borrell also cited the Iran nuclear deal as a matter of mutual interest, saying it would be resumed at a time that was acceptable to all. He added; Now is a key time for a nuclear deal with Iran, and we will continue to work for an immediate resumption of talks in Vienna.
“We know that the Iranians are ready to interact and resume talks, but this must be done as soon as possible,” said the EU foreign policy chief.
According to the announced schedule, Borrell is scheduled to continue his trip to the Middle East to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Tomorrow (Friday), he will attend the World Politics Conference in Abu Dhabi and meet with some of the participating officials on the sidelines.
Borrell will travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday to meet with the country’s foreign minister and secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council. According to the European External Action Service, Joseph Borrell and Faisal bin Farhan (Saudi Foreign Minister) are scheduled to hold a joint press conference on Sunday. Meeting with the Saudi Minister of Commerce and the resigned and fugitive Yemeni president is another of Burrell’s plans in Saudi Arabia.
Governments in the region that relied on US guarantees for their security now feel they have to take more responsibility for their security.
The EU foreign policy chief also traveled to Iraq two weeks ago to discuss with senior Iraqi officials issues related to bilateral relations and developments in the region, particularly the Afghan crisis. He described Iraq as an important player in the region that managed to bring together regional powers, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, at the Baghdad summit. “Iraq has a key role to play in promoting regional security and stability,” Borrell said, adding that the European Union supports such efforts to strengthen regional strategies and reduce tensions.
In a note posted on the EU website on Thursday night, the EU foreign policy chief described the Persian Gulf region as a dynamic region that is changing as the White House’s strategic policies towards the region change.
He said the EU could seize the opportunity to develop a new form of co-operation in the region.
According to Borrell, the views of the Gulf states on the role of the United States in the region have changed after the withdrawal of Afghanistan from the country and Biden’s decision to return to the UN Security Council. “Regional governments that relied on US guarantees for their security now feel they have to take more responsibility for their security. “The perception of US withdrawal from the region has led some countries to turn to other potential partners.”
He described the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and the Zionist regime as a result of the changing situation in the Middle East, but stated that the US withdrawal had opened the way for European countries to interact in the region. Meanwhile, according to the EU foreign policy chief, the Gulf countries are engaged in domestic reforms and the prospect of a diverse and green economy.
He spoke of the pristine opportunities for concluding trade and investment agreements, both by the Gulf countries in European companies and vice versa, adding that the main purpose of his visit was to explore how to strengthen cooperation with regional governments.
Borrell said he would discuss strengthening the EU’s relationship with regional governments in the coming days, keeping an eye on the Afghan crisis and how to engage with the country’s new leaders.
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