Middle East News
The Saudi-led Red Sea Alliance Aims to Isolate Iran and Protect Israel
In a growing international power struggle over regional influence in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia appears to be consolidating its control of the Red Sea by establishing a security alliance as part of a strategy to protect Israel and contain Iran.
The West’s Double Standards on Repatriating Former ISIS-Member Citizens and their Families
Despite the UN’s insistence that governments develop a plan for the return of thousands of children born to their ISIS-member nationals who are now living in dire conditions in refugee camps in war-torn Syria, only a few Western countries have accepted the return of these minors.
Syrian Reconstruction and Sino-Lebanese Ties
Lebanon hopes to profit from the reconstruction in Syria and the country that it’s most seeking to work with in the process is China. Yet what remains to be seen is how willing the Chinese are to accept high-level risks when it comes to making large-scale investments in Syria that could benefit Lebanon.
I Care about the Fate of Christians in Lebanon and the Levant
My colleague Ambassador Ed Gabriel (ret.), President and CEO of the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), recently gave a presentation about Christians in the Middle East, and it pushed me to consider the genesis of my own involvement in Middle East affairs.
Egypt Reportedly Withdraws from Arab NATO
Egypt has allegedly withdrawn from the U.S.-led Middle East Strategic Alliance. While Cairo’s recent move remains unofficial, it could have ramifications for the future development of the security bloc.
Netanyahu’s Re-Election Kills Prospects for Palestinian Statehood
Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election and promises to enforce Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank push hopes for a Palestinian state even further into the remote future.
Iran and the Saudi Nuclear and Missile Programs
Iran views Saudi Arabia’s budding nuclear and missile programs as an emerging strategic threat to be faced by constructing corresponding capabilities of its own—once they reach a critical stage of development.
Why Donald Trump is Really Keeping US Troops in Syria
Trump’s main reason for keeping U.S. forces in Syria is not about Iran. It’s about stopping Iraqi oil from getting to Damascus.
Financial Warfare in the Gulf
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE waged financial warfare against the State of Qatar in 2017 after the GCC crisis erupted, according to officials in Doha. Now the Qataris are attempting to settle scores in London and New York courts, where they are seeking billions.
