Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
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 …
January, 2018
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25 January
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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12 January
The Militarization Of The Red Sea
By Shehab al-Makahleh and Giorgio Cafiero The Red Sea has historically connected traders from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Today the strategically valuable body of water is vital to Sino-European trade. In recent years, several countries have established military footholds along the saltwater inlet’s African shore. …
April, 2017
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17 April
Six Years on War in Syria: What Are the Real Reasons?
By Shehab al-Makahleh • March 16 marks the 6th anniversary of a war that has been described as the worst the world has seen in 50 years, and one that resulted in the death of more than 350,000 and the displacement of more than 12 million. Syria, the Cradle …
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17 April
Erdogan’s ‘Yes’ is a Political Loss
By Shehab Al-Makahleh • As Turks cast their votes in historic referendum on constitutional changes, both domestic and foreign public, media and analysts are weighing pros and cons of either outcome. According to latest exit polls Turkish voters have handed President Erdogan sweeping new powers. The ‘Yes’ campaign won 1.25 …
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8 April
Kurdish State in the offing in Syria and Iraq
By Shehab Al Makahleh • The USA and the Kurds had on March 18 a meeting which focused on creating an independent Kurdish State in Syria and Iraq to be named “The Great Kurdistan” after the liberation of Raqqa City, the stronghold of Daesh. Kurdish sources said that the …
March, 2017
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22 March
Does Turkey Want to Build a New Syrian Army?
Last month Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again suggested that a new national Syrian army should be created, adding that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) could form part of such an army. Turkey has influence over at least 2,000 FSA fighters in northwest Syria, which it uses as an allied proxy …
December, 2016
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1 December
New Turkey: Erdogan’s Neo-Ottoman Geopolitics and Kurdish Question
The geopolitical and geostrategic interests and balance in Turkey, due to its current Islamist Government lead by the authoritarian President Erdogan, have changed the country in last 15 years to an unrecognizable degree. In my personal opinion it’s hard to continue to define Turkey as an ally to …
November, 2016
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11 November
The U.S./Turkey Plan For “Seizing, Holding, And Occupying” Syrian Territory In Raqqa
As the U.S. Presidential selection circus draws to a close, the United States and Turkey have announced a new plan to defeat ISIS, the same terrorist organization both countries have created, funded, armed, and facilitated, in Syria. The plan revolves around the conquering, occupation, and governing of sovereign …
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