Why is Saudi Arabia doubling down on its relations with the US?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged 'tremendous progress' in ongoing peace talks regarding Ukraine, emphasizing that further efforts are required to finalize a deal that will also necessitate Russia's agreement. This statement reflects a cautious optimism about the potential for diplomatic resolution in a conflict that has persisted for years.

European countries have proposed a radically different peace plan for Ukraine, diverging from the US-backed framework, emphasizing the need to respect Kyiv's sovereignty. This counter-proposal was presented during discussions in Switzerland, where US and Ukrainian negotiators were also present, leading to an updated peace framework from the White House.

The US Secretary of State has acknowledged a 'tremendous amount of progress' in peace negotiations between the US and Ukraine during recent talks in Geneva, although he noted that negotiators will require additional time to finalize a deal.

The G20 summit in Johannesburg concluded without a ceremonial handover to the United States, which boycotted the event, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions. The absence of U.S. representation marked a significant deviation from the traditional transition of leadership among G20 nations.

An Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut resulted in the death of Haytham Ali Tabtabai, a senior military official of Hezbollah, marking a significant escalation in hostilities between Israel and the militant group. This action occurred despite a US-brokered truce established a year prior, highlighting the fragile nature of peace in the region.

The UN climate chief announced that despite a fragile agreement reached at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the world is not winning the climate battle, highlighting ongoing divisions over fossil fuel policies and deforestation. The deal, which came after intense negotiations, failed to establish a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, reflecting significant opposition from oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia.

Europe has presented a counter proposal to the US-Russia draft peace plan for Ukraine, which consists of 28 points aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict. This move comes in response to concerns that the original plan favors Russian interests and requires significant territorial concessions from Ukraine.

The United States is reportedly advancing its regime change efforts in Venezuela, despite the country not producing fentanyl. This comes amid a backdrop of heightened military activity and U.S. naval presence in the region, raising tensions with President Nicolás Maduro's government.