What is the ruling of the Sharia on the actions of a husband who sees his wife only twice a year, lives in another country, and refuses to bring her to him despite having the financial means, and has a relationship with another woman whom he claims is a friend and helps him with travel documents? Is it permissible for him to marry without his wife's knowledge, and what should she do?

It is not permissible for a Muslim to establish a relationship with a foreign woman outside the framework of marriage. This is an act of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance) that Allah has forbidden in His noble verse: (This day [all] good foods have been made lawful for you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] the chaste women from among the believers and the chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers.) (Al-Ma'idah/5). A husband must treat his wife with kindness and not abandon her. If he has another wife, it is not permissible for him to stay with one and leave the other; rather, he must be just between them in allocation or give each one the same amount of time he spends with the other. Try to reach an understanding with him and involve some family members or relatives to help resolve this issue.