Tag: Middle East
The Fall Of Assad: Five Hot Takes
The dramatic fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad marks a watershed moment in the tumultuous history of the Middle East. Mr. Assad’s regime, sustained for years by the external lifelines of Russia and Iran, finally crumbled under the weight of its contradictions and the enduring pressures of civil war. For the United States, his fall underscores critical lessons about our foreign policy failures and raises urgent questions about the road ahead…
Trump’s Return Signals New Opportunities for Middle East Ties
As Donald Trump heads back to the White House, leaders across the Middle East anticipate the revival of a pragmatic partnership centered on economic growth, security, and regional stability. Trump’s first term resonated with Gulf leaders and beyond, emphasizing results over ideology—a stark contrast to the Biden administration. His tenure’s signature accomplishments, including the Abraham Accords, a robust stance on Iran, and business-driven diplomacy, are seen as a roadmap for renewed progress in the region…
The Unfulfilled Promise Of Biden’s Foreign Policy
President Biden entered office with a wealth of foreign policy experience and the promise to restore American leadership on the global stage. Yet, as his term nears its end, his administration’s handling of international crises raises questions about the effectiveness of his approach…
Turning U.S. Attention from Middle East to China and Asia
The current dynamics in the Middle East are creating an opportune time for U.S. leadership to strategically shift priorities on the global stage, especially as the U.S. is not entangled in any war…
Higher Oil Prices Come At The Right Time for the Middle East…
Oil recently touched above $70 and continues to hover above $60 today. The uptick is a welcome breath of fresh air into the Middle East (financial) ecosystem. The new cash inflow is and will continue to allow the regional states to underwrite new financing in their banking sectors and evade the 2009-esque fallout as banks today effectively bridge finance regional corporates to 2022 (…or potentially 2023)…
Middle East Sovereign Debt Levels Are Rising, But So What?
Middle East sovereign debt levels are rising, but so what? The question of whether the debt levels are sustainable is hard to answer…
Africa and the Middle East: Proxy wars or economic partnerships
Many observers go as far criticising many Arab states for building asymmetrical relationships, where African states are acting on behalf of Arab states simply for large sums of cash. There is some truth in that thinking. But the reality is that policy-makers in African countries have to make their own policy decisions and govern their own borders…
