INTRODUCTION At a time when there is widespread anxiety around the world about the fate of democracy but not enough debate on the future of autocracy, Turkey presents an interesting case for scholars and policy-makers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spent two decades in power taking steps to build his …
Read More »Syrian refugees in Turkey living in fear amid Assad-Erdogan overtures
An incident in the central Anatolian city of Kayseri last week sparked a wave of anti-Syrian attacks across Turkey, just as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s normalisation efforts with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reach a pivotal point. The events were triggered by the arrest of a Syrian national accused of sexually …
Read More »Let us come together to build a strong, prosperous region
Iran’s new president urges dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity in the region, guided by the teachings of Islam and mutual respect in this exclusive editorial At the start of my tenure as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, voted in by the people of Iran, I wish to address our …
Read More »France’s Muslims watch the rise of the far right with unease
In-depth: Macron’s election gamble may have blocked the far right from power for now, but France’s Muslims are fearful of its growing influence. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) came out on top in Sunday’s snap run-off in the French legislative elections, beating the far-right National Rally (RN) in third …
Read More »Sahel confederation: Sustaining its challenge of the regional order, By Jibrin Ibrahim
“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” Niger’s ruling General Abdourahamane Tiani told the cheering crowd that attended the Niamey summit. Trust them, it was not just another formal meeting but a street party, which saw the leaders walking through massive rallies and street procession,s as they received …
Read More »China, UAE hold air force drills in Xinjiang as defense relations grow
The joint air force training exercise, dubbed Falcon Shield, began on Wednesday in the northwest Xinjiang province of China and will continue until late July. China and the United Arab Emirates are holding military training exercises this week in Xinjiang, as Emirati-Chinese defense ties see a boost despite US concerns. …
Read More »Israeli delegation back to Egypt as Sullivan warns ‘miles to go’ on deal
Shin Bet director Ronen Bar headed to Cairo for security talks after the Mossad chief returned from talks on a hostage-release and cease-fire in Doha. An Israeli team is slated to travel Thursday evening to Cairo for security talks and other discussions related to Gaza following the return of an …
Read More »What You Need to Know About Iran’s Election and New President
In a clear challenge to regime hardliners, Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and cardiac surgeon, won Iran’s snap presidential election on July 5. The elections were called after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19. The runoff had been considered a tight race, but Pezeshkian won decisively …
Read More »Amid a Changing Global Order, NATO Looks East
The alliance is deepening its relationships with key Indo-Pacific partners to pull together a more global, like-minded coalition. As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, the Euro-Atlantic security alliance continues to deepen its engagement with Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, collectively known as the IP4. NATO has …
Read More »Who Thinks Donald Trump Is Racist?
Former president Donald Trump often finds himself on the defensive against accusations of racism. He regularly denies the charges, distorting his record and resorting to his “Black friends” defense, while attempting to throw the allegations back at liberals. However, he never explains why he is the favorite son of the …
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