International
The Doha Agreement: The Pact that Handed Kabul to the Taliban and China
On the fourth anniversary of the Doha Agreement (2020), signed between the United States government and the Afghan Taliban, the pact continues to be viewed as one of Washington’s major mistakes in Afghanistan, resulting in the empowerment of the armed movement and the loss of influence in a territory now being reclaimed by China.
Earlier this month, when United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres convened a meeting in Doha with international representatives and the de facto Taliban government, the fundamentalists refused to participate, setting conditions and demonstrating their control over the negotiations.
“If this (the agreement and the outcome of Doha) is fine, then what were the last twenty years of war for? The United States intentionally handed Afghanistan over to an extremist group despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the national army and the sacrifices of the Afghan people,” questioned analyst Abdul Haleem Nasiri.
Void of Interests
The gap continues to widen between Western interests and Afghanistan, as the Doha Agreement not only hastened the downfall of the democratic government but also opened the door to a ‘de-Westernization’ of Central Asia.
For neighboring countries like China, with a 92-kilometer border with Afghanistan, communication with the new order in Kabul is essential for security and maintaining a connection with Central and Southern Asia.
“China has never rejected Afghanistan as a neighboring country and needs to have a close relationship as they did during the twenty years of the previous government,” said political expert Abdul Jabbar Akbari to EFE, adding that the growing relationship between Beijing and Kabul “could create a headache for US policies in Central Asia.”
China’s Reconquest
Since the return to power of the Taliban in August 2021, China has made several diplomatic gestures, and on January 31, its president, Xi Jinping, received credentials from Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi, who was until recently the group’s deputy spokesperson.
China thus became the first country to officially accredit an Afghan ambassador, despite the Taliban not having recognition from the international community.
“That China accepted the Taliban ambassador is both paradoxical and transactional, to safeguard its interest in Afghanistan’s mines and lithium and to keep the Taliban happy as potential future allies,” explained analyst Abdul Haleem Nasiri to EFE.
China is also “being cautious,” warns the analyst, referring to Beijing’s possible doubts that the Taliban have some discreet alliance with the US, so it would have to “handle both sides carefully,” Nasiri added.
Qian Feng, an academic researcher at the National Strategic Institute of Tsinghua University and the Taihe Institute, explained to EFE that for Beijing, the priority is “security” and that the Taliban take “decisive measures against all terrorist forces” and “ensure the viability of China’s projects.”
“Afghanistan cannot once again become a refuge and breeding ground for terrorism,” he asserted.
Beijing Bets on Stability
China, critical of the United States’ role, emphasizes its opposition to foreign intervention in Afghanistan and, according to Qian, seeks to develop “strong” relations based on cooperation that, in the medium term, lead to negotiations to establish diplomatic relations.
China is betting on economic prosperity and political stability to prevent “turbulence” and ensure a favorable external environment for trade, the expert considers.
“It must be said that since this Taliban government took power, violence has decreased, security has improved, and efforts have been made to combat the illegal cultivation, production, and trade of drugs. They are also improving in terms of building an open political structure and protecting minorities, at least compared to their previous mandate,” the academic affirmed.
Beijing also seeks to protect its investment projects in Central Asia and prevent the spread of regional terrorism following the withdrawal of US troops.
Analysts have also highlighted China’s interest in Afghanistan’s natural resources, including oil, lithium deposits, or rare earths – vital elements for the development and production of technologies like electric vehicle batteries – whose value is estimated at nearly a trillion dollars.
International
Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
Mexico and Guatemala agreed Tuesday on a 2027 Binational Plan built around five areas of cooperation, along with a schedule of meetings and initiatives aimed at making progress by the end of 2026 on security, border infrastructure, human mobility, development and technical and social cooperation.
The agreement was announced by the foreign ministers of both countries following a meeting in Mexico City.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said the plan will establish the “direction and priorities” of bilateral relations for next year. His Guatemalan counterpart, Carlos Ramiro Martínez, said the meeting allowed both governments to make decisions, schedule activities and revitalize bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
Security and border infrastructure
In the area of security, the two governments have nearly completed negotiations on a new memorandum of understanding for the Mexico-Guatemala High-Level Security Group (Ganseg), which was reactivated in 2025.
The countries expect to sign the agreement in the coming months to strengthen coordination and their ability to respond to shared security threats.
Regarding their nearly 1,000-kilometer shared border, Mexico and Guatemala agreed to advance infrastructure improvements at border crossings and continue work on a joint cargo clearance program between Ciudad Hidalgo and Tecún Umán, two border areas separated by the Suchiate River.
The measures are intended to facilitate bilateral trade while making cross-border exchanges safer and more efficient.
The two governments will also continue defining a route toward a railway connection between their countries through Line K of Mexico’s Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), with the aim of strengthening economic and community ties.
Migration and development
On human mobility, Mexico and Guatemala will maintain coordination to ensure safe, orderly and dignified returns, while strengthening protection for people in transit.
The bilateral agenda also includes a second phase of the Sembrando Vida program in Guatemala, which is expected to benefit 10,000 people across 15 departments.
Both countries will also advance initiatives under Juntos para el Bienestar, as well as six technical, scientific and energy cooperation projects approved by the Joint Commission.
The agreements seek to strengthen bilateral ties and establish concrete priorities for cooperation between Mexico and Guatemala during 2027.
International
France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced Tuesday, August 18, 2026, that France will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to what Paris described as an attack on two French representatives in Iran last month.
“Two French diplomats were scandalously and deliberately assaulted on July 19. I had announced that this intolerable act would have consequences. It has now happened. Two Iranian diplomats in France will be expelled in the coming days,” Barrot said in a message posted on X.
The two Iranian diplomats have been declared persona non grata and will be required to leave France within the coming days, according to the French foreign minister.
About a month ago, Barrot said that two members of the French diplomatic staff had been detained by Iranian security forces for several hours. One of them was also subjected to harassment, he said.
The French government described the incident as an “extremely serious act of intimidation” that violated diplomatic immunity.
The two French embassy staff members were working on programs supporting Iranian civil society, particularly initiatives involving artists and researchers.
Iran has denied France’s allegations regarding the incident. The diplomatic dispute comes amid already strained relations between Paris and Tehran.
International
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
More than 70 million people remained under heat alerts Monday as an intense heat wave continued across the southern United States, particularly Florida and states along the Mexican border, where temperatures and heat indexes could reach as high as 46 degrees Celsius, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Several cities recorded or tied temperature records over the weekend and into Monday, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida; Laredo, Borger and Austin’s airport in Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina; and Memphis, Tennessee.
The NWS warned that the heat wave will continue affecting the southern and southeastern United States, with maximum temperatures expected to remain near 38°C to 40°C for several days. The heat index, which combines temperature and humidity to estimate how hot conditions feel, could reach 46°C.
The extreme heat is also spreading into the Southwest, where temperatures began rising again between Monday and Tuesday. Forecast highs in the region range from about 38°C to 43°C.
Heat alerts remain in effect across Nevada, Arizona and California, including areas in southern Arizona and California near the Mexican border, as authorities warn of the risks posed by prolonged extreme temperatures.
The NWS urged residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, ensure access to air conditioning or cooling centers, and check on vulnerable friends, neighbors and family members.
The United States is experiencing a summer marked by above-average temperatures and repeated heat waves. One of the most intense episodes occurred during the July 4 weekend, when extreme heat was blamed for roughly 30 deaths.
July was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States since measurements began, with the average temperature across the contiguous country approaching 25°C, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The combination of extreme heat and drought conditions has also fueled wildfires. Nearly 3 million hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, making it the largest area affected by wildfires in a decade.
Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
Trump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
Brazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
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France to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Representative Confirms
Trump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
Heat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
Brazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
Mexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027
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International16 hours agoFrance to Expel Two Iranian Diplomats Over Alleged Attack on French Officials
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International3 days agoActress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Representative Confirms
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International2 days agoTrump warns Iran over nuclear ambitions as U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline passes
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International2 days agoHeat wave puts more than 70 million Americans under alerts as temperatures near 46°C
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International2 days agoBrazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off election campaigns amid focus on crime
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International16 hours agoMexico and Guatemala Agree on Five-Point Binational Plan for 2027