Geopolitics

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Prince Mohamed ben Salman met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for two hours June 18 in what could be a turning point in the ties between the two countries. Bilateral and regional issues, particularly Syria and oil prices, were discussed in …

There is an ongoing debate in the US administration to determine if Iraq and Syria are indeed heading to total, unavoidable, and possibly permanent, fragmentation. Some officials cling to the prospects of preserving Iraqi unity while they grade the Syrian situation as yet “undecided”. However, realities on the …

It is not clear yet how prudent were the public statements coming from Amman to indicate that Jordan is determined to confront ISIL beyond its borders. King Abdullah pointed to his country’s willingness to support Arab Sunni tribes in east Syria and west Iraq to fight ISIL. “The …

Events on the ground in Iraq, Syria and Yemen are gradually pushing Saudi-Iranian relations towards further escalation. Iran’s Brigadier General Qolamreza Jalali, Commander of Iran’s Passive Defense Organization (one of the domestic security agencies) said June 27 that Saudi threats to the Islamic Republic are increasing and finding …

German foreign policy is guided by an outdated philosophy of taking the lead from the United States, when it needs to be articulated by new leaders who stand against NATO muscle flexing and opt for improving relations with Russia, left-leaning website Scharf Links reported.  The media outlet claims …

Is the American century over? Despite a growing economy, world-class university system, innovative society, and the best military in the world it seems the US may lose its global leadership. Air Force Col. Robert S. Spalding and his co-author Dr. Adam B. Lowther, a Research Professor at the Air …

The new US-Russian Cold War could be far more dangerous than the preceding 40-year conflict, Stephen F. Cohen stresses, noting that Obama’s policy of isolating Russia has facilitated the development of a multi-polar world order.  While the Minsk II agreement is falling apart at the seams, neglected by both the …

A comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program may be announced on Wednesday, an Iranian journalist said on the sidelines of the ongoing talks in Vienna. “On Friday the journalists covering the talks expected an announcement about the successful resolution of the parley to come on Monday,”Behrooz Shojaee told Sputnik Persian.”Monday came, but nothing …

US hawks want Washington to shape its Russian policy around mounting military and economic pressure along with tough rhetoric thrown in. President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie H. Gelb calls this a “dangerous and losing strategy.”  Anti-Russian sanctions and NATO’s military buildup “merely invite Russian …