Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Saudis and Qataris reach possible breakthrough to end GCC flap: Officials
Kuwait said Monday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to reopen its airspace and land and sea borders to Qatar in an apparent breakthrough toward resolving the diplomatic fight between wealthy Gulf Arab monarchies that has vastly complicated the Trump administration's diplomacy. Published January 4, 2021
Andy Biggs’ bill seeks to strip Pakistan of special U.S. ally status
GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona is pushing a bill to strip Pakistan of its status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Published January 4, 2021
Hunter Biden business dealings spark fear Joe Biden won’t take ‘tough policy toward China’
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a "cold war" between communist China and the United States, with Beijing scrambling at levels previously unseen to try to undermine America's status as the world's leading superpower. Published December 26, 2020
Britain and European Union reach post-Brexit trade agreement
Britain and the European Union reached a last-minute trade agreement Thursday, paving the way for an end to more than four years of turmoil that has surrounded United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU -- a departure slated to be finalized at year's end. Published December 24, 2020
U.S., China ‘cold war’ poses immediate test for Joe Biden
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a "cold war" between communist China and the United States, with Beijing scrambling at levels previously unseen to try to undermine America's status as the world's leading superpower. Published December 22, 2020
Russia, China team up for air patrols over Western Pacific
Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint patrol mission over the Western Pacific on Tuesday in what is considered a show of close military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. Published December 22, 2020
Pompeo slams Lavrov, blames Russia for sowing ‘chaos’ in Mediterranean
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Russia of seeking to "sow chaos, conflict and division" in the Mediterranean region in a bid to advance Moscow's geopolitical interests to the detriment of the entire region. Published December 15, 2020
Trump’s North Korea envoy says Pyongyang ‘squandered’ chance for historic nuclear deal
The Trump administration's top North Korea envoy expressed regret Thursday that Pyongyang "squandered" the opportunity to reach a historic denuclearization deal with President Trump. Published December 10, 2020
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya vows protests until Alexander Lukashenko forced out of office
Belarus's pro-democracy movement will not subside until the longtime authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, is driven from office, the woman who says she beat him in the country's recent presidential vote vowed this week. Published December 9, 2020
Alexander Lukashenko clings to power in Belarus
Months of demonstrations calling for the ouster of longtime authoritarian strongman Alexander Lukashenko had raised hopes for a democratic uprising in Belarus, a country of roughly 10 million people located in the tense geopolitical battleground between Russia and the West. Published December 9, 2020
Envoy Stephen Biegun going to South Korea for last trip on behalf of Trump administration
The top U.S. diplomat for North Korea policy is headed to South Korea this week for what's likely to be a final visit on behalf of the Trump administration, amid growing uncertainty for the incoming Biden administration over the way ahead for denuclearization talks that have been stalled for over a year. Published December 7, 2020
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus opposition leader: Alexander ‘Lukashenko must go’
The leader of the Belarus' opposition said Monday that the pro-democracy movement in her nation will not subside until the former Soviet republic's longtime authoritarian strongman, Alexander Lukashenko, steps down from the presidency. Published December 7, 2020
Thousands die in secret North Korea COVID camps: Report
South Korea cast fresh doubt over the weekend on North Korea's assertions that it has not recorded a single COVID-19, while reports swirled of tens of thousands dying in secret quarantine camps run by the ruling regime in Pyongyang. Published December 6, 2020
Saudis warn Biden to call them before rushing to restore Iran deal
Saudi Arabia's top diplomat suggested that presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden will face pushback from Riyadh and other Arab powers if he neglects to consult them about resuming the Iran nuclear deal. Published December 6, 2020
North Korean hackers hunting for COVID-19 vaccine secrets: Reports
North Korea is running an elaborate cyberespionage operation aimed at hacking companies developing COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, including the U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, according to sources involved in investigating the hacking attempts. Published December 3, 2020
N. Korea defector: Biden should sanction China, Russia
One of the highest level defectors ever to flee North Korea's repressive regime said Wednesday that Trump-era economic pressure has weakened the North Korean economy and the next U.S. administration should double-down with so-called "secondary sanctions" to block Chinese and Russian support for the regime. Published December 2, 2020
Europe charts path for U.S. to rejoin Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran
European allies are preparing to pounce on presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden's arrival at the White House next month as an opportunity to breathe life back into the all-but-dead Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran. Published December 1, 2020
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh killing alters Biden Iran relations path
Iran has vowed to retaliate for the assassination last week of one of its top nuclear scientists, but intelligence sources are questioning the notion that the incident will dramatically undermine presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden's plans for a major detente with Tehran next year. Published November 30, 2020
Kim Jong-un given COVID-19 vaccine that was developed in China: Report
Kim Jong-un and other high-level members of the North Korean leader's ruling regime have been given a COVID-19 vaccine by the Chinese government, according to a report citing Japanese intelligence. Published November 30, 2020
China ‘developing nation’ status exploits benefits on trade, carbon emissions
China's status as a "developing" nation in the eyes of multinational institutions and agreements gives Beijing a range of benefits, including less strict carbon emission standards and softer foreign trade rules, despite its emergence as an economic and military superpower challenging U.S. dominance in Asia and beyond. Published November 29, 2020