Slovenia faces immediate coalition negotiations after an election produced no clear victor in a contest that could reshape both domestic priorities and the country's foreign policy direction. With nearly all ballots tallied from Sunday's vote, Prime Minister Robert Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement (GS) and the right-leaning Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of populist former premier Janez Jansa finished in a virtual tie. Neither party, as things stand, will reach the 46-seat threshold required for a majority in the 90-seat…

Bernd Debusmann Jr & Anthony ZurcherMonday March 23, 2026 Trump said that both the US and Iran were looking to make a deal, although Tehran has denied talks took place In a sudden shift in tone amid Operation Epic Fury, US President Donald Trump has held out the prospect of “good” and “productive” talks with Iran — language that stands out as his most conciliatory since the campaign began, even as it raises fresh doubts about what, if anything, is actually being negotiated. Before dawn on Monday, and only hours before US…

Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran is seeking talks with the United States but added that the country’s leaders are “all dead,” a remark that left unclear who he was referring to or what prompted the comment. Trump did not provide details to substantiate the assertion. It was not immediately clear whether he meant specific figures within Iran’s political or security establishment or was speaking hyperbolically. No official response from Tehran was immediately available, and there was no public indication…

Djibouti (AX) — The presidents of Djibouti and Somalia and the prime minister of Ethiopia met Wednesday in Djibouti City for a high-level trilateral summit, underscoring a push for tighter regional security coordination, deeper economic integration and united diplomacy across the Horn of Africa. Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks at his private residence in Haramuus during an iftar dinner. Officials said the leaders reviewed…

Russia says ‘productive’ Florida talks with U.S. envoys as oil sanctions ease; Ukraine reports teen killed in strike Florida — A top envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin said he took part in a “productive meeting” with U.S. negotiators in Florida, in what he described as the first talks between Moscow and Washington since the start of the Iran war. The engagement comes days after the United States lifted some sanctions on Russian oil imposed after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a move framed as an effort to ease…

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone call Tuesday with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, to discuss bilateral relations and the latest security developments in Sudan, according to Ankara’s communications directorate. In a statement posted on X, Turkey’s Directorate of Communications said the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Sudan as well as broader issues shaping ties between the countries. The readout did not specify the duration of the…

Egypt, Turkey step up African security coordination in Cairo talks on Libya, Horn of Africa and Sahel CAIRO — Egypt and Turkey held new diplomatic consultations in Cairo on Wednesday focused on instability in Libya, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, deepening their coordination on regional security and political mediation amid mounting pressures across several African theaters. The meetings, organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, marked the third round of…

DJIBOUTI — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday for talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, a visit framed by rising tensions across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East and coming as the United States warns of heightened security risks in the region. Villa Somalia said the trip reflects the longstanding ties between the two neighbors and a shared vision for regional cooperation, solidarity and stability. The two leaders are expected to hold discussions aimed at reinforcing…

U.S. SOCAFRICA chief meets Jubbaland leader in Kismayo to deepen fight against al-Shabab KISMAYO, Somalia — The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa met Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe in Kismayo on Monday to discuss ongoing military operations against al-Shabab and expanded security cooperation in southern Somalia, officials said. Maj. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr.’s visit comes amid intensified counterterrorism efforts in the Jubbaland region, where Somali forces, backed by international partners,…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed Somalia and broader Horn of Africa security in a phone call Thursday, with Cairo reiterating its firm opposition to any recognition of North Western State of Somalia and signaling plans to deploy troops to Somalia as part of a reconfigured African Union mission, according to statements from both governments. Both sides said the conversation focused on preserving stability in the Horn at a moment of rising regional volatility. Abdelatty…