Middle East/North Africa
EDA: At risk of collapse Libya leans on oil industry
EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES ANALYSIS: As rival militias continue their fight for power in Tripoli and across the country, Libya hopes the security of its vital oil industry can provide some semblance of
EDA: Egypt exposed to price shocks in subsidy overhaul
EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES ANALYSIS: Egypt’s attempts to reform highly subsidized oil and grain markets reveal key trade vulnerabilities. Egypt’s dependency on imported oil and cereals (despite its own production) leaves it exposed
EDA: Trade diversification key to Tunisia’s development
EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES ANALYSIS: Despite considerable progress with political transition, maintenance of heavy dependence on the EU won’t let Tunisia’s economy flourish. Being the birthplace of the ‘Arab Spring’, Tunisia was the
Is Israel distancing itself from Western allies?
The Swedish government’s decision to officially recognize the state of Palestine is indicative of growing international unrest towards Israel. Several Israeli government decision have alienated several of Israel’s allies and
Russia is further isolated by supporting Syria’s regime
Russia is still holding up the Assad regime economically, politically, and militarily. However, the rapidly unfolding situation in Syria’s civil war may put Putin’s strongest Middle East alliance in jeopardy.
Expect increase in US activity in Middle East
There will be a surge in the United States’ Middle East foreign policy between now and the presidential election in 2016. Expect a greater military role in Syria, improved ties
Three likely outcomes of the Iran nuclear talks
The likely outcomes of the Iran nuclear deal, the impacts on economic prospects for Iran, and how international investors are likely to position themselves in the coming months. With the
Turkey has much to lose in Kobani
With the Islamic State’s insurgency in Kobani still raging economic fallout in Turkey has already begun. The Turkish state is making significant unforced errors, with damaging long-term consequences for its
Islamic State takes advantage of cash economies in Iraq and Syria
Backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in locally generated funding, the Islamic State has reaped the benefits of cash-driven economies in Iraq and Syria. The US-led military campaign must
New terror threat from the Khorasan Group?
While international attention has focused on the atrocities of the Islamic State (IS) and the response of the US-led alliance against IS, the Pentagon recently introduced a new group called “Khorasan.” Here is a
