What is behind the talks on the sidelines of the WEF in Riyadh?
The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, hosted a special session of the World Economic Forum on April 28 and 29. The theme of this year’s event was “Global Cooperation, Growth and Energy for Development”. However, it was not the economic component of the event that attracted the attention of observers. Negotiations on the situation in the Gaza Strip were held on the sidelines of the forum…
Another US failure in the Middle East: the Cairo talks
In early April 2024, Cairo hosted another round of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip. However, observers note a lack of meaningful progress between the parties. The point is that the determined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to make concessions on the release of Palestinian hostages before the ceasefire, seeing such a scenario as a defeat for Tel Aviv at the hands of Hamas. The Palestinians, on the other hand, have a diametrically opposed view. Despite the hopes of the mediators, represented by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, that there would be space between the positions of the opposing sides, no consensus has been reached…
Oman calls for peace
On 19 March, Badr Al-Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, gave an interview to CNN in which he commented on the situation in Gaza and the Israeli ground operation in Rafah. The Omani called on the international community to de-escalate the conflict and call for an immediate ceasefire. Al-Busaidi said that the crisis in the Red Sea, the activation of pro-Iranian proxies in the region…
UAE's pursuit of artificial intelligence poses political challenges
In January 2024, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), with a mandate to develop policies and strategies for AI research and related investments. National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been appointed chairman of the AIATC, while Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed has been appointed vice-chairman…
Another impasse in Western-Afghanistan relations
The UN Security Council held its regular meeting on Afghanistan on 6 March. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, made a report and provided an update on political, humanitarian and human rights developments in the country since 1 December 2023. It is recalled that UNAMA’s mandate expires on 17 March this year. This fact has prompted the UN Security Council…
A new pretender to the throne of the UAE
Almost a year ago, on 29 March 2023, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Since then, the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) main principality has sought to increase his influence in the political arena and strengthen his standing among local citizens. Sheikh Khaled’s efforts are primarily aimed at becoming the first in a chain of contenders to succeed the Emirati throne after his father, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan…
Palestinian-Israeli conflict divides the ranks of Gulf countries
The unexpected Hamas attack on Israel in early October 2023 put many Arab states in a difficult situation. It should be recalled that a number of states signed the Abrahamic agreements on pacification with the Israelis in 2020, while the remaining states maintained a tough course towards the Jewish state. Thus, this process is most visible within the Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab States (GCC). The Arabian monarchies are divided. Kuwait, Oman and Qatar accused the Israeli authorities of aggression and violence. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)…
New Emir, new Kuwait!
The new Emir of Kuwait, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was sworn in on 20 December 2023, following the death of his older brother Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on 16 December. Sheikh Nawaf was the sixteenth Emir and ruled for just three years from his accession to the throne in September 2020. The late monarch took the throne at the venerable age of 84. At that time, he was already suffering from serious heart disease and internal organ damage. Perhaps for this reason, Sheikh Nawaf’s reign was characterised by relative calm. The past emir was focused solely on avoiding…
The Red Sea Crisis Continues to Deepen
With Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching attacks on cargo ships heading to Israel amid the escalating Arab-Israeli conflict, the world’s largest carriers are feeling the impact of the blockade of one of the world’s most popular logistics shipping routes. Here we are talking about increased freight prices by more than 20 percentage points, increased route insurance costs, as well as the risk of transport collapse due to updated ship arrival dates. All this together leads to a significant increase in the price of initial goods, numerous supply interruptions and…
Situation in Tunisia
Tunisia has recently experienced some escalation of the internal political crisis caused by the activities of President K. Saied aimed at strengthening his authoritarian regime and the accumulation in this regard of contradictions between the presidential administration and the country’s military leaders, which traditionally enjoys strong authority among the country’s population. As a fundamental step towards strengthening his political positions, K. Saied amended the country’s Constitution that would expand his powers and allow the president to limit the authority of other…
The Cost of American Friendship
The Pakistani leadership’s decision to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan has revealed the United States’ disdain for those it called partners more than two years ago. On October 3, Pakistani authorities announced their decision to sent Afghan refugees home, including those who immigrated here in the 1980s, lived in the country for some decades of their lives and have already integrated into Pakistani life with nothing in Afghanistan. October 31 was set as the deadline for voluntary departure from Pakistan. Those who do not leave the country…
ISIL* instead of Al-Qaeda* as a global franchise of international terrorism
Despite the decline in the number of references in the world press to the two most “publicised” brands – Al-Qaeda (AQ*) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL*) – the topic remains a relevant security concern in various regions of the world. Understanding the actual processes involved in the use of terrorist methods in regions with Muslim populations requires an understanding of the nature and drivers of the groups associated with ISIL* and AQ*. Since 2014, reports on the activities of Al-Qaeda* have largely given way to publications on the activities of another…