Op-ed

Maha Abbas For all states, water has always been a sacred commodity. It is more than an ordinary natural resource; it serves as a strategic asset. In many parts of the world, it acts as a medium of political influence. In the most extreme case, it can become …

In 2016, Ankara announced the launch of its Turkish Fighter (TF-X), a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter plane, rechristened as the KAAN project, which is part of a wider initiative intended to reduce Turkey’s dependence on foreign imports for its defense industry. At the start of the …

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s journey toward European Union integration and Western economic alignment remained fragmented and incomplete. Although the post-2014 Maidan Revolution prompted a push for reform, efforts to harmonize with EU standards delivered only modest progress. Ukraine’s investment climate remained marred by structural inefficiencies …

On May 13, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will cease sanctions against Syria “to give them a chance at greatness.” As part of that statement, Trump chortled to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman: “Oh, what I do for the crown prince.” But will any such …

The escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has galvanized unprecedented diplomatic rebukes from European and British leaders, signalling a potential turning point in international responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Simon Harris, and the UK’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have emerged as vocal critics …

The signing of the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty in 1994 between Jordan and Israel marked a historic moment that appeared to promise stability in a turbulent region. The treaty, which made Jordan the second Arab country to establish official ties with Israel, resolved border and water disputes and …

The 2015 Iran nuclear negotiations ultimately resulted in the fragile Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). While the deal initially raised hopes for sanctions relief, normalized relations between Iran and the West, and resolving the nuclear disputes, it proved short-lived and failed to meet objectives. Structural weaknesses, persistent …

On May 13, 2025, in a surprise announcement during his first post-inauguration Gulf tour, President Donald Trump declared that he will be “ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.” The venue — the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh — …

In the world of politics, there is always that seductive lie: “Security comes from the barrel of a gun.” It’s a lie that Benjamin Netanyahu has peddled for years under the guise of “defending Israel’s existence.” But perhaps the turning point in this game is today—when Netanyahu, Israel’s …