Middle East/North Africa
Not just a proxy war: Yemen’s strategic importance
Yemen is a relatively small, poor, and remote country. However, recent airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition against the advancing Houthi rebels have highlighted the strategic importance of this country. When
How water is critical to a lasting Middle East peace
While agricultural output in Palestinian territories is a key driver of the domestic economy, uncertainties revolving around water supply and allocations by Israel continue to weaken economic prospects. With the recent
War in Yemen compromises China’s naval strategy
The conflict in Yemen reveals the strategic vulnerability of China’s People Liberation Army Navy. At the same time it provided a series of firsts, in terms of operational capability, during
Islamic State expands control of Arsal, Lebanon
Recent developments along the Lebanese north-eastern border region with Syria highlight the current expansion of the Islamic State to control the Arsal district and points to heightened instability in the
Yemen crisis increases oil price volatility
Instability over Houthi insurgency and Saudi air strikes in Yemen have caused increased oil price volatility. It is fair to say that instability will continue in Yemen for some time
Joint Arab military forces deepens the Saudi-Iran conflict
Arab leaders often concluded their annual Arab Summit meetings with verbal statements regarding the region’s issues, rather than taking any substantial measures. However, this year’s summit held on the 28th of
Lebanon hanging on despite increasing regional collapse
Lebanon is currently one of the few stable countries in the Middle East, but this stability remains fraught. Its fate is still influenced, although not dictated, by external powers and
Turkey’s monetary policy feud stokes financial risk
While Turkey – with its ceaselessly falling currency – is struggling with the same global forces as other emerging markets, an internal struggle between President Erdoğan, Central Bank Govenor Basci and deputy PM for
$10 billion Russia-Jordan nuclear deal promises dividends
Last week, Jordan signed a $10 billion dollar deal with Russia to build the country’s first nuclear power plant. For an energy-strapped nation as Jordan, the project is an important investment
Yemen violence highlights Islamic State spreading across the region
A recent spate of attacks by the Islamic State shows that IS is no longer content with relegating its fight to Iraq and Syria but has determined that an important part
