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Gas and oil diplomacy in Eastern Mediterranean prelude to regional war

The Middle East has undergone major vicissitudes following the “Arab Spring” demonstrations. The Mideast is one of the most important regions in the world and the stability of which is mandatory to peace and stability in the world. Since 2011, the Middle East has entered a state of …

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Have Russia and America begun a tug-of-war in Syria?

Geostrategic Media Center The US-Russian rivalry in Syria has taken several steps since the war began, and it is entering a new phase, characterized by an unambiguous talk about Syria’s oil wealth, as an important card to chart a new political and military map for the country. As …

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The defining year was 1991: The demise of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

Marcus Papadopoulos Whilst there are no golden ages, it is abundantly clear that the world today is in a very unhealthy state. From Eastern Europe to North Africa to the Middle East, countries, in recent years, have been severely destabilised, resulting in carnage and the destruction of hundreds …

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Trump leans toward Qatar in the Saudi spat

Paul J. Saunders  Only by clearly and visibly identifying Qatar as a partner and friend can Washington hope eventually to ease the Saudis and others toward some form of reconciliation What do superpowers and teenagers have in common? Speaking as a Washington-based foreign policy analyst, and as a …

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Turkish foreign policy: From defensive to offensive

Shehab Al-Makahleh Turkey has sought to exploit the Qatar dispute with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to grab a historic opportunity in the region. The dreams of a strong, regional Turkey necessitates great financial capabilities that cannot be achieved in light of the decline of the …

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China builds military base in Afghanistan

Peter Korzun The Afghan province of Badakhshan borders China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It used to be part of an artery between the East and West known as the ancient Silk Road. Today, that road is being revived as an element of China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative, which has …

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Jordan’s foreign policy message from Davos

Shehab Al-Makahleh It is palpable that a nation’s foreign policy mirrors its political leaders’ perspectives and views. These are a product of internal and external factors that influence political orientations in relations with other countries and international organizations. Jordan, like other Mideast countries, has always been inclined to …

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Jordan’s geopolitical options

By Shehab Makahleh, Alex Vatanka The Kingdom of Jordan, a long-time U.S. ally in the Middle East, is looking to reorient its regional policies. This shift is not only significant for Washington to monitor but has already alarmed Saudi Arabia, the historic cornerstone of Jordanian foreign policy. With Jordan engaged …

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Turkish-Kurdish war or Daesh civil war?

Andrew Korybko   A superficial reading of “Operation Olive Branch” indicates that it’s a Turkish-Kurdish war, but the details of who’s fighting make it look a lot more like a Daesh civil war in its opening stages, and that’s exactly what both Ankara and the YPG originally intended. …

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