Annapolis has lived up to lowered expectations of it being little more than a photo op. Of course, it was important who was in the photo. The presence of the Saudi Foreign Minister and Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister was something of a success for American Middle-East diplomacy and harks back to the careful regional coalition-building of President Bush’s father. 

Syria’s presence was particularly important given what many consider to be the real goal of the summit — isolating Iran. It hardly signals a major breech in the long strategic relationship between Damascus and Tehran, but it still would have caused considerable consternation in Tehran. It might even strengthen those in the regime that have become more openly critical of President Ahmedinejad’s unique approach to winning friends and influencing neighbours. 

So what can we expect on the Israeli-Palestinian front? More...

Next week’s meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US and assorted Arab countries in Annapolis, assuming it goes ahead, will be little more than a photo opportunity for three desperate governments. The Bush Administration is desperate to regain control of the regional agenda; Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government is desperate to prove it has an agenda; and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is desperate to prove he has a government.

The Bush Administration is hoping that Annapolis will help it forge a regional coalition to deal with the key strategic consequence of its Iraqi misadventure – the empowerment of Iran.  As Martin Indyk explained last month in Newsweek: More...

The World Bank’s latest report on African Development Indicators is refreshingly upbeat and makes for interesting reading.  None of this will be news to those who listened to a speech by Philip Green OAM, Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, at the Lowy Institute last September.  Philip’s insightful overview of the continent’s more encouraging economic prospects is available here.