Recent Posts

Pakistan: The Coup That Was Not a Coup

The army’s crackdown may appear to have been effective in undermining Imran Khan and dismantling his political party, but the long-term consequences could be serious. Too much time has been spent on ugly political manoeuvres, whereas the focus needs to be on the economy. A failure to address Pakistan’s economic …

Read More »

What’s driving France and Saudi Arabia’s deepening ties?

Analysis: Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France further aids his reputational rehabilitation on the international stage, with economic, defence, and geopolitical interests bringing Paris and Riyadh closer together. On 16 June, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. This …

Read More »

Why Iraq’s largest ever budget has invited controversy

In-depth: In the absence of coherent policies, long-term planning, and the Iraqi elite’s poor track record in the realm of public spending, the new record-breaking $153 billion budget has raised concerns. On 16 June 2023, after a months-long impasse and four consecutive days of voting, Iraq’s Parliamentary Financial Committee submitted …

Read More »