The Russian Approach to the Global and Regional Challenges: Consolidating Moscow’s Power in the New World Order

by Mohamed Ibrahim The 1997 National Security Concept of Russia identified Russia as an “influential European and Asian power” and recommended that Russia maintain an equal distance in relations with global European and Asian economic and political actors, while the 2000 Foreign Policy Concept referred to the Russian Federation as its “superpower.” Responsibility for maintaining Read more

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Jamal Khashoggi: Casualty of the Trump administration’s disregard for democracy and civil rights in the Middle East?

by David Mednicoff* The international crisis over whether top Saudi Arabian leadership murdered U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a striking example of the consequences of Donald Trump’s blanket disregard for democratic politics and human rights in other countries. This departure from decades of American foreign policy rhetoric remains comparatively undiscussed. However, in the Middle East, Read more

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The future of Syria in the light of similar events in SWANA

by Ahmed Souaiaia Since the start of the protest movement popularly known as the Arab Spring in 2011, all countries in Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) have been impacted and the level of change in each of these countries depended on domestic, regional and global factors. However, there is one variable that established itself Read more

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Leaked files implicates UK’s operatives in Yemen

by Kit Klarenberg * Yemen’s civil war, considered the world’s gravest humanitarian crisis, appears to be nearing its end due to a China-brokered detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, who support opposing sides in the bitter conflict. Early signs suggest that the rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh may not only end hostilities in Yemen, but Read more

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Algeria’s intractable neutrality in the context of global polarization

by Hossam Hamza Algeria’s constant insistence on embedding the principles of non-alignment and positive neutrality in its foreign policy expresses its realization of the intractability of understanding the pattern of its dealing with the dynamics of polarization at the level of the international system. It is intended to achieve the aspirations of the party making Read more

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Deciphering Russian Foreign Policy and Its Changes Under President Vladimir Putin’s Administration: Directional and Adjustment Changes

by Samaher al-Khatib * The Russian special military operation in Donbass constituted a new stage in the history of the modern world, characterized by new concepts, and with the arrival of this special operation to the date of signing the accession of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia to the Russian Federation, which preceded the accession Read more

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The Limits and the Potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

A meeting among leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, during any other year in the past, would not make the news. This year’s meeting, however, should matters. Yet, it was hardly covered in Western media. There are important reasons for why the world should pay attention to this 21-year-old intergovernmental organization (IGO). Read more

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Prospects and context of the economic bloc proposal including Turkey, Iran and Iraq

During the Iraqi-Turkish Business Forum for Investment and Contracting, which took place in Istanbul on November 19, Iraq, represented by its Ministry of Trade, Muhammad Hanoun, called for building an economic bloc that includes Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. A very intriguing proposal, but does it make sense? First, let’s consider some of divisive and integrative Read more

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How the Chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan is reconfiguring Relations and Networks in Southwest Asia and North Africa

  The wars in Syria, Libya, and Yemen reshaped relations between regional powers in Southwest Asian and North Africa. The rise of the erratic prince to power in Saudi Arabia created even more uncertainty, instability, and violence. None of that seem to be enduring, though. Just months ago, Turkey and Egypt were at odds over Read more

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