Economics

William Gates The eruption of large-scale military conflict involving Iran is not just another Middle East flashpoint — it may well be the trigger for the most disruptive oil shock the world has seen in years. The combination of geopolitical risk, supply-chain chokepoints and market psychology has already …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh Power abhors ambiguity, but it feeds on vacuum. The moment the rumor mill dares to imagine a Middle East without Ali Khamenei, the calculus of force shifts from deterrence to temptation. Whether dead, dying, or diminished, the symbol matters more than the body. Crowns are …

Ajay Kumar Mishra and Shraddha Rishi* At the Davos World Economic Forum, Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, shared his thoughts on the hegemonic and subservient world order. When integration turns into a source of subordination, one cannot “live within the lie” of mutual benefit in the …

Cory Smith In an era marked by systemic turbulence, the most valuable strategic asset is no longer mere military might or economic heft—it is reliability. Across the globe, conflicts proliferate, geopolitical rivalries intensify, and international institutions are increasingly immobilized by gridlock, polarization, and eroding public trust. In such …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh In the annals of American engagement in the Middle East, few partnerships have assumed as profound a strategic significance as that between Washington and Amman today. The trajectory of US-Jordanian relations, culminating over the past year, reflects not mere transactional diplomacy but a deliberate convergence …

Alon Ben-Meir Back in the 1950s, the United States, even a whisper of sympathy for Russia or the Soviet Union was unthinkable and seen as almost traitorous. The eventual rise of McCarthyism was all about rooting out what were presumed to be “un-American activities”, i.e., anything that could …

Sandra Bullocci The second round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded in Geneva on Tuesday under the rhetoric of “guiding principles,” as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi phrased it. A U.S. official confirmed that “progress was made,” yet cautioned that “a lot of details …

Robert Boston In Geneva this week, the United States and Iran returned to a familiar table—though not to familiar ground. Indirect nuclear negotiations began Tuesday under Omani mediation, bringing together U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. President Donald Trump signaled he …

David Egnatios For decades, Europe preached the gospel of open markets while quietly watching its industrial base erode. Factories shuttered, supply chains drifted eastward, and strategic sectors became dependent on external powers. Now, the European Commission is preparing to change the script. On February 26, Brussels will unveil …