Recent Posts

The coming US and Middle East energy collision

The Biden administration’s goals in climate policy, renewable energy infrastructure investment both domestically and globally (the Build Back Better World, or B3W, initiative), and its Middle East policy may be on the verge of a collision. While the administration would like to dial back its engagement in the Middle East …

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Mr. President, keep the military advisers in Afghanistan

Even the most ardent supporters of President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan recognize the inherent tension in his policy. Biden promised Afghanistan’s top leaders in a recent meeting at the White House that he would maintain U.S. material support to the country. But ensuring a …

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Syria, Iran Discuss Coordination to Confront Economic Terrorism

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal al-Mekdad on Thursday received an Iranian Foreign Ministry delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister Reza Najafi. The two sides discussed laying the foundations for cooperation in different domains, particularly fighting terrorism targeting them, with emphasis on its economic form represented by unilateral coercive …

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Russia Wants to Separate Political Settlement from Reconstruction

Remarks by Russian officials following the Astana-16 meeting revealed that Russia continues to insist that Bashar al-Assad remains in power and that political settlement should be a topic separate from the reconstruction. In fact, while the West maintains its position of refusing to finance reconstruction before a UN-sponsored political settlement, …

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Turkey’s Gambit in Afghanistan

Turkey has undertaken to protect Kabul’s airport. It is a risky job, but also one which promises some substantial strategic rewards. The Taliban do not shy away from assertive statements, nor do they hesitate to commit war crimes. So, this week’s statement by the group castigating Turkey’s offer to remain …

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