Rise of the new peacemakers, Pg9.

Key Highlights:

• Recent Pak-Afghan ceasefire talks were held in Doha, mediated by the Middle East, with Turkish intelligence present.
• Middle Eastern states like Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are playing crucial roles in conflict resolution, including between Moscow and Kyiv.
• The UN's role in peace processes is declining, with new players like Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China becoming involved in conflict resolution.
• China has launched the International Organisation for Mediation in Hong Kong, offering an alternative to Western-led platforms.

Detailed Insights:

• Turkey has strategically positioned itself as a mediator, brokering initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Initiative after the Russia-Ukraine war of 2022.
• Qatar leverages its wealth to support groups like Hamas and the Taliban, while also brokering humanitarian exchanges in conflicts like Ukraine.
• Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, uses peace diplomacy to enhance its global prestige, hosting summits on Ukraine and meetings between the US and Russia.
• The UAE pursues quiet mediation, facilitating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• China's involvement in mediation, exemplified by the Saudi-Iran detente of 2023, reflects its ambition to reshape global governance.
• India has a tradition of peacemaking, from its role in the Korean War to regional efforts in Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• Successful mediation requires credible influence with all parties, necessitating active engagement with conflicts and renewed ties with diverse political forces.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mediation: Intervention in a dispute to promote compromise, reconciliation, or settlement between parties.
• Global Governance: The framework of rules, institutions, and practices that guide and restrain state behavior in the international system.
• Conflict Resolution: The process of resolving disputes or conflicts through peaceful means, such as negotiation, mediation, or arbitration.