Rifts in the Gulf

2 weeks ago 1

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(This nonfiction is portion of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu’s overseas affairs experts. To get the newsletter successful your inbox each Monday, subscribe here.)

We are surviving done devastating wars that look ne'er ending. Nearly 75,000 Palestinians person been killed successful Israel’s genocidal warfare connected Gaza. Around 3,000 radical have died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since early March this year. There is inactive nary meaningful breakthrough successful the months-long U.S.-Israel warfare connected Iran, which spilled implicit into neighbouring countries, amid a “ceasefire” that looked rather fragile from the beginning.

The Hindu’s latest editorial connected the issue, titled ‘Unwinnable war’, highlights the series of developments, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s many miscalculations, that got us here. “Unlike Mr. Trump, who has made respective self-contradictory statements since the warfare began, Iran has remained consistent successful its demands. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said past week that Iran would “protect” its rocket and atomic capabilities and proceed to workout power implicit the Strait of Hormuz,” it pointed out. Contending that “America is not winning this war”, it noted: “No magnitude of societal media threats oregon subject posturing is going to change that reality. Washington should recognise this and prosecute a woody with Iran based connected accommodating communal demands and reciprocal concessions if it wants to debar pushing the satellite system towards the precipice.”

Now, U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s connection to extremity the months-long war as “totally unacceptable”, even arsenic a cardinal Republican person urged him to see the “military option”. Mr. Trump received the Iranian connection connected Sunday (May 10, 2026) amid hopes that it could pb to a breakthrough to extremity the warfare with Iran that began connected February 28, blocking the cardinal oversea way for planetary lipid supplies. Only days ago, Mr. Trump paused “Project Freedom”, launched aimed astatine guiding stranded merchant ships done the Strait of Hormuz, claiming “great progress” was made in talks with Tehran.

India’s choices

Meanwhile, as we witness a precise messy reconfiguration of the world, arsenic if a humor athletics were on, the players and their teams are shifting rapidly and unpredictably. The widening gulf among countries successful West Asia poses respective challenges to the world. As the UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia signifier an progressively multipolar West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled concisely stop-over in Abu Dhabi, connected his mode to Europe. Where does India stand, and tin it spend to take a side? Watch the latest episode of Worldview, wherever our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar tells you each you request to know about the challenges facing India:

Labour smashed

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media aft gathering Labour Party members during a sojourn to AFC Wimbledon successful southbound London, Saturday May 9, 2026. (Maja Smiejkowska/PA via AP)

Our London Correspondent Sriram Lakshman is tracking the monolithic setback for the Labour Party successful the United Kingdom’s section elections. Friday was not a bully time for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer or his Labour Party, arsenic results for 136 councils to elite 5,000 councillors in England and Assembly elections successful Wales and Scotland started coming in. A defiant Mr. Starmer pushed backmost against calls from wrong his party, for him to measurement down, helium reports.

The beleaguered person is expected to attempt a reset connected Monday (May 11, 2026), arsenic helium faces a increasing threat to his enactment pursuing disastrous section and determination polls. In a speech, his bureau said helium volition admit that “incremental alteration won’t chopped it” with an progressively disgruntled public, promising “a bigger response” successful areas specified arsenic economical growth, person European ties, and energy.