A “safe zone” Turkey and the US are creating in Syria is an attempt by Ankara to stop Kurds from forming their own territory. HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas said Turkey’s operation against Islamic State militants across the border was a cover to target PKK Kurdish rebels. Source BBC
Iraq and Turkey must reach a deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) first in order to export oil from the Kirkuk fields in northern Iraq via Turkey. Source: Oil Price
The United States has confirmed plans to more double the number of troops based in Norway, a move Russia has already criticised as “clearly unfriendly”. Source: The Local
The Swiss government has decided to hold off on signing up to a landmark United Nations treaty that would ban nuclear weapons. Source: The Local
