live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
Azerbaijan and the Maldives have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in trade, tourism, and international diplomacy, following high-level talks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
The discussions focused on deepening ties in trade, investment, tourism, and humanitarian affairs. Both ministers reflected on the Maldivian President’s visit to Azerbaijan for COP29 last year, praising the high-level meetings held during the summit as a key step in enhancing relations.
Bayramov and Shahid also emphasised the importance of regular political consultations and highlighted the outcomes of a recent Azerbaijani government mission to the Maldives, which reviewed further areas of collaboration.
Tourism featured prominently in the talks, with both sides noting the successful launch of direct flights between the two countries. These new routes have significantly improved connectivity and opened up fresh opportunities for cultural exchange and economic engagement.
The ministers also discussed coordination in international platforms such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support within these bodies.
The meeting concluded with a shared intent to build on current momentum and strengthen the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the Maldives.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul seeks Belarusian machinery and support to develop domestic manufacturing.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deepen economic and industrial ties.
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces struck the site on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine could provide a model for neighbouring countries seeking to strengthen their sovereignty, the director of development at an organisation supporting Ukraine’s armed forces has told AnewZ.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment