Tag "Syria"
US watches as Cuba and Russia strengthen economic ties
The last few weeks have seen marked escalations of business ties between Russia and Cuba. The US is watching this very closely. What can we expect, diplomatically and economically, as
G20 talks dominated by Paris attacks
Rather than focusing on impending economic issues, the Paris attacks overshadowed the G20 Summit this week as leaders discussed ways to counter the threat of domestic terrorism inspired by the
Oman’s path to Iran
Through economic ties and a careful, long-standing diplomatic posture, Oman has become a key player in the Middle East. Over the last weekend of October, an International trade exhibition was
How many migrants can Sweden stomach?
By now, the migrant/refugee crisis in Europe is hardly news, but the impact of ongoing waves of people is only starting to sink in. While political leaders of the EU
A strategic shift in the terrorist threat to France
The 13 November attacks in Paris are part of a wider shift in Islamic State’s global strategy. The tactics used and the nature of the targets underline a growing security
Challenges for Libya’s oil sector
Libya’s oil sector faces a host of challenges. The failure of the Tripoli-based GNC and Tobruk governments to reach a unity peace deal last month is pushing the country into
Obama’s diplomatic shift in Syria
On Friday, President Obama announced that the United States is to deploy around 50 Special Forces troops to Syria, after repeatedly ruling out US “boots on the ground” action in
Iran’s military and economic investment in Syria
Since the early 1980s, Iran has invested substantial political and economic capital into Syria. Tehran will continue to support the Assad regime, acting as a counter-point alongside Russia to the
Team Obama’s Low-Risk, High-reward Move in Syria
Contrary to critics, Obama’s decision to deploy Special Operations troops to Syria is neither a giant step forward into a quagmire, nor a meaningless symbolic gesture. In fact, as far
Three takeaways from the Hawija raid in Iraq
The raid against an Islamic State prison in Hawija marks a continuation of willingness to ground forces in dangerous operations against the militants. What does this mean for the US
