July, 2023

• 24 July

  The Illusion of Great-Power Competition

  

  Why Middle Powers—and Small Countries—Are Vital to U.S. Strategy It may be a confusing and unpredictable moment in global politics, but there is no shortage of frames and narratives that purport to explain or at least characterize the major developments. For many observers, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine …

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• 24 July

  The contested Arash/Durra gas field: An opportunity for Persian Gulf energy diplomacy

  

  The gas field dispute between Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia showcases a complex interplay of West Asian geopolitics and national pride, but it also offers Persian Gulf states a unique opportunity to resolve an important maritime conflict independent of external interference. The Persian Gulf is home to numerous joint gas …

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• 24 July

  Iran in the SCO: Gateway or gatekeeper to West Asia?

  

  With Iran’s SCO veto, no other West Asian country can join the eastern security and economic alliance without Tehran’s say-so. This is a remarkable position of leverage for the Iranians, who have overnight gained access to a $6 trillion marketplace and military cooperation with Asia’s biggest powers. After a long-awaited …

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• 24 July

  Fractured fraternity: The troubled relationship between MbS and MbZ

  

  Recent revelations have shattered the illusion of strong ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with the latter emerging as a clear rival to Riyadh’s outsized regional and international ambitions. Over the past two years, the once formidable relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has experienced a significant downturn. …

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• 24 July

  Self sabotage: Why is Russia excluding Iran in the South Caucasus?

  

  Russia’s exclusion of Iran from critical ‘tables’ in the South Caucasus has been detrimental for both states, allowing the NATO-aligned Israeli-Turkish-Azerbaijani axis to undermine their national security interests and snatch the regional advantage. The shift in the South Caucasus’ balance of power after the 10 November, 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire has …

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• 24 July

  Russo-Turkish Relations: The ‘Indivisible Security’ Principle Is No Longer Binding

  

  I recall vividly the latest NATO Summit that took place in Vilnius and was given a lot of coverage on the Russian TV. As a result of digesting daily news I can instantly visualise a huge gathering of Western politicians, military officials and diplomats. Within that sizable assemblage one could …

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• 24 July

  Weaponisation of Food Goes Into High Gear

  

  Way back in the 1970s, the far-seeing genius Henry Kissinger identified food (in addition to energy) as a major mechanism that could be used to subdue recalcitrant mankind: “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the …

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• 24 July

  Global Sanctions Dashboard: Sanctions alone won’t stop the Wagner Group

  

  Despite sanctions and efforts to curtail the Wagner Group’s illicit activity, the group has successfully evaded financial sanctions through a series of facilitators and front companies around the world. $5 billion: That’s how much the Wagner Group has made since 2017 mainly from mining, illicit gold trade, and forestry business …

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• 24 July

  The Process Of Securing A Contract In Syria, 1994 – OpEd

  

  I visited the capital city of Syria, Damascus, for the fifth time in 1994, alongside Jeff Green, the British General Manager of the American-Turkish joint venture company I was working for. There was a need for a new water-tube steam boiler by the Syrian public oil refineries. The United States …

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• 24 July

  From Rebellion To Anarchy: How Prigozhin’s Rebellion Exposed Russia’s Legal Decay – OpEd

  

  Opponents of the Kremlin, as well as independent political scientists, have rightfully emphasized the enduring ramifications of the Prigozhin’s rebellion, an event that has captivated attention in June 2023. While experts believe that its impact will be enduring, the failed uprising has already provided a revealing glimpse into the evolving …

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