Middle East/North Africa
Turkey’s 2018 risk outlook
Turkey is likely to face unrest, foreign policy tensions, an unsettled economy, and terrorist threats in 2018. But that won’t stop Erdogan from cementing his authoritarian trajectory and expanding regional influence.
Is Russia’s Middle East endgame trouble for global energy markets?
Russia is playing an increasingly assertive role in the Middle East via its military operations in Syria and its partnership with Saudi Arabia
Why the US won’t lose Middle East allies over Trump’s Jerusalem move
US allies in the Middle East now see Iran as the primary threat, and might be willing to accept a lesser deal on Palestine in order to gain Israeli support.
‘Blue Gold’ will be Turkey’s key to the ‘Dry Crescent’
Turkey is pursuing an increasingly assertive foreign policy that’s being called ‘Neo-Ottomanism’. Water will be central to its growing influence.
Is an Israel-Hezbollah war inevitable?
As Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem raises tensions, the real threat may be elsewhere: the risk of military confrontation between Tel Aviv and Hezobllah has not been this high since 2006.
Strong partnerships, information sharing essential for Saudi’s new Cyber Security Authority
As Saudi Arabia implements Vision 2030, it must improve public-private partnerships and generate legal frameworks regarding data security and privacy.
Why “Military First” is the wrong approach in the G5 Sahel
In the past week the United States, France and Russia pledged to increase their financial and military support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which consists of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Mauritania, to fight terrorism and organized crime in the region. However, military efforts without a wider development strategy could just aggravate the security risks.
Special Report: How Iran is exporting the Hezbollah model to dominate the Middle East
The war against the Islamic State has expanded Iranian dominance through Baghdad and Damascus and advancing up to the Mediterranean Sea. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are the front line in this rising tide of Iranian military and economic power.
Egypt’s economic recovery will stall under state of emergency
On 12 October President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi declared yet another state of emergency – aimed at fighting terrorism. In the context of recent attacks, the policy’s effectiveness is in question.
Trump’s short-sighted stance on Iran leaves door open for China
Trump’s refusal to re-certify the JCPOA nuclear deal is likely to push Iran closer to China, which has become a major Iranian trading partner.
