Salman Rafi Sheikh

While the Biden administration has decided to “review” the sale of arms and F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabi and the UAE, the proposed “review” is hardly an indication of a change in US policy towards its traditional allies in the Gulf. A change in US policy towards the Gulf cannot happen merely on the basis of halting arms sales; it can happen only when core US interests in the region...

While the Transatlantic alliance continues to exist and even wield some military power, last four years have seen it becoming increasingly irrelevant in terms of its ability to shape bi-lateral relations between the US & Russia, EU & Russia and EU & the US. Its ability to influence the outcomes of different conflict zones, including Afghanistan...

The Russia brokered negotiated end of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has laid the basis for a major geo-political transformation of the South Caucasus. While Russia’s role in bringing the military conflict to an end and holding the ceasefire did put it in-charge of the South Caucasus, subsequent developments show how Russia has expanded its role and consolidated its position...