Americas

In just five months, Syria’s Banyas port has been transformed into a new outlet for Iraqi energy. In April 2026, Baghdad began moving fuel oil through Syria for export from the Mediterranean. By September, it was using the same route in reverse — importing gasoline through Baniyas and …

By Asia Al-Atrous Two developments surrounding last week’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping passed with relatively little attention amid the spectacle of the state visit. The first was the decision by Washington and Beijing to extend their fragile trade truce for another …

 Dr. Mohammad Hassan Kahat When the last American soldier leaves Iraqi territory, the complex questions that made the US military presence both a security necessity and a political taboo do not leave with him. Washington’s announcement on September 30 that its withdrawal is complete ends a long military …

By Dan Steinbock  Following October 7, 2023, the Hamas-led offensive has been portrayed as “Israel’s 9/11,” which came out of the blue. That’s not supported by facts. The Netanyahu cabinet knew about the attack, in advance. In his fiery speech to the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister …

Neither courting Washington, diversifying security partnerships nor maintaining discreet channels with Tehran can fully shield the Gulf from the consequences of war. As the conflict with Iran continues, the six Gulf Cooperation Council states—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—find themselves facing an increasingly …

At first glance, Israel’s current political scene may look like the familiar turbulence that precedes a Knesset election. As voting day approaches on October 27, political rhetoric intensifies, parties sharpen their attacks, and campaigns increasingly appeal to some of the most sensitive instincts among voters. Fear, security, national …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh The U.S.–Iran confrontation has entered a phase in which military power alone is no longer sufficient to determine the course—or the end—of the war. After months of strikes, economic pressure, and disruption to shipping in the Gulf, the conflict is increasingly revolving around a different …

By James Eliott When Jordan’s King Abdullah II takes the podium at the United Nations General Assembly, his address is rarely a routine exercise in diplomatic positioning. It is better understood as an attempt to reorder the international conversation around the Middle East—to move the debate beyond the …

By Dr. Shehab Al Makahleh The most consequential question surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington is not whether Donald Trump and Xi can announce another trade arrangement. It is whether the two leaders can prevent two separate geopolitical crises—one unfolding in the Middle East and the …