The Middle East
Iran
Recurrence of uprisings in Iran highlights missing factor in Western policy
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been a uniquely difficult area for American and European foreign policy since the Islamist dictatorship was established in...
Finance
The Pandora Papers: Exposing Iran’s clandestine financial system
As the international community continues to coordinate a response to the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, longstanding debates surrounding sanction efficacy and compliance have...
Morocco
EU says no to Western Sahara separatists; non-recognition policy remains unchanged
With top officials and heads of state gathering in Brussels for the opening of Thursday's EU-African Union Summit, the European Union released a key...
Libya
Who actually owns Libyan oil?
In the past the long-term export of petroleum products allowed Libyans to maintain a high standard of living for several decades, outpacing most African...
Azerbaijan
Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power breaks ground on first and largest wind project in Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and ACWA Power held a groundbreaking ceremony on January 14 for the 240 MW wind power plant with an...
Africa
TotalEnergies joins Masdar and Siemens Energy to develop green hydrogen
Dubai-based renewable energy major Masdar announced on January 19 that TotalEnergies is adding its expertise in the energy sector to a Masdar-led initiative focused...
Cyprus
Impact of high energy prices on industry in the East Med region
Europe is still roiling under the impact of high energy prices that do not seem to be going away any time soon. Dutch hub...
Archive
Support for frontline staff and volunteers is key to overcoming Europe’s fresh COVID onslaught
In many ways, Europe is far better placed to withstand its second pandemic winter. Though cases are surging across the continent and the new...
Archive
Oil climbs as OPEC+ may delay further supply recovery if there is a slump in demand
Oil prices climbed on December 3 after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and oil producing allies led by Russia, a grouping...
Archive
Masdar inks deal to develop Armenias largest solar power plant
UAE’s Masdar has signed an agreement with the Government of Armenia to develop a 200-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The Ayg-1 project will...
Archive
UAE, Kazakhstan to explore opportunities in the energy sector
Samruk-Kazyna, the sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan, said on December 1 it has signed a long-term strategic agreement with Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company,...
Libya
Instability in Libya is set to exacerbate Europe’s migrant crisis
At least four dinghies reached the shore at Dungeness in Kent on Sunday, carrying dozens of people desperate to reach Britain before worsening winter...
Analysis
The Second Karabakh War, one year later
One year after the end of the Second Karabakh War, the landscape in the South Caucasus has changed: both politically and physically. Against all...
Archive
Why it’s important to save the independent Kyiv Post
When I returned to Ukraine to work for the Kyiv Post, I had a vague plan to stay for three years. Two years of combing...
Archive
Uzbekistan plans to double energy production to 30 GW by 2030
Uzbekistan will announce three new international tenders, for the construction of over 400 kilometers of overhead power lines, and two other new tenders for...
Archive
Fearing recovery setback, OPEC+ sticks to plans to raise oil output gradually
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies led by Russia, a group so called OPEC+, dismissed demands from the United States...
Archive
Interview with Abdullah Muteb Alrasheed, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the Czech Republic
Abdullah Muteb Alrasheed is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Czech Republic. Alrasheed studied at several prominent universities, including political...
Analysis
New political patterns in the South Caucasus
Developments in the South Caucasus continue to race ahead of Europe’s understanding of them. By the time an event has been noticed, recognized, digested,...
Archive
A dash of UK Hubris: Containing China
Hubris is a fickle emotion. Too much of it can be deadly, while too little of it can be crushing. A country with a...
Archive
Egypt, Cyprus and Greece ink deal to construct electricity interconnector
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el–Sisi met in Athens, Greece, on October 19 where they...
Archive
Covid recovery, supply chain woes ratchet up oil prices
Oil prices hit multi-year highs this week as Covid recovery and coal, electricity and natural gas shortages are fueling demand for crude.“It has a...
Afghanistan
In US foreign policy, realists are finally on the rise
During the autumn of 2020, the United States lost one of its most brilliant, incisive, yet unheralded thinkers in Sherle R. Schwenninger.One of Schwenninger’s...
Albania
Greece again agrees to expand US defense cooperation
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias traveled to Washington October 13-14 to participate in a scheduled session of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, where he met...
Archive
Satisfied OPEC+ keeps oil supply status quo
At the OPEC+ meeting, which came against a backdrop with Brent trading just under $80 per barrel, oil ministers decided on October 4 to...
Analysis
The West needs to unite to fight for human rights
Human rights seem nonexistent in today’s world. That’s because the world’s democracies are not fighting for it.
While the world’s dictatorships always seem to have...
Afghanistan
Why the Taliban’s promise to stop the opium trade rings hollow
One of the first announcements the Taliban made after seizing power in Afghanistan in August was that they were going to “ban the production and sale...
Afghanistan
Why the fall of Afghanistan sllows Iran to expand its influence
Since 2020, the United States has been working to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. The Americans' announcement emboldened the Taliban, who recently took control...
Analysis
Lebanon’s public debt default
The nature and causes of sovereign debt differ from one country to another. Yet, the popular or engineered narrative of debt usually conceals its...
Afghanistan
With the AUKUS pact, the US has opted to snub some of its European partners
In the nearly nine months since he took office, it has become apparent that the US and European Union will not immediately experience a...
Afghanistan
Will Central Asia serve as Europe’s bridge to Afghanistan?
Just over one month on from the fall of Kabul, Europe is still grasping for answers to the question of how to engage in...
Archive
Uzbekistan announces financial proposals for 100MW wind farm in Karakalpakstan
Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry announced on September 16 the financial proposals of the investors/bidders in their contest to become the independent power producer to develop...
Afghanistan
What are Turkey’s ambitions in Afghanistan after the US’ withdrawal?
After the United States finished its withdrawal from the two-decade war in Afghanistan on August 31, regional powers remain at work trying to understand...
Afghanistan
The West must apply the lessons of Afghanistan and Tunisia to Libya
Twenty years have now passed since 9/11. Since then, differing ideas of the importance of democracy in Middle Eastern policy have dominated the foreign...
Africa
Conflict is spreading across the African continent
Many African countries are run by dictatorships, but their grasp on power is increasingly unstable. Mali has seen at least 2 changes of power...
Afghanistan
On 9/11, it’s time for a reckoning and reflection of decades of failed US national security policy
A reckoning with America’s failed national security policy is long overdue.Our calamitous misadventures in the Middle East and the global financial collapse of 2008...
Archive
TotalEnergies inks major energy deals in Iraq
TotalEnergies, the Iraqi Ministries for oil and electricity, and the country's National Investment Commission have signed, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa...
Afghanistan
What next after 20 years of war in Afghanistan? Anatol Lieven on the U.S.’ legacy and the Taliban’s rise
On August 30, 2021, a C-17 transport plane took off from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, signaling the end of America’s longest war....
Afghanistan
Enough of the Durban depravity
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the so-called “World Conference Against Racism”, otherwise known as Durban I. The 2001 conference was to be...
Archive
OPEC+ keeps output increase to 400,000 bpd despite US calls for more supply
Oil prices increased on September 3 after slow recovery for US Gulf Coast exports from hurricane Ida earlier this week and the decision by...
Afghanistan
Europe willingly forfeited a leadership role in Afghanistan
If Winston Churchill were alive today, I imagine he might have said something like “Never in the history of human conflict have so few...
Afghanistan
Afghanistan 2021: An extremist ‘stammtisch’
Everybody has a favorite bar or coffee house. A place you can go to seek solace or connect with old friends. In some cases,...
Analysis
Under Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s LGBTQ community fears the worst
The recent election of Ebrahim Raisi as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran has sent shockwaves through the country's LGBTQ community, with many...
Analysis
Are Turkish investors falling for Hamas’ games?
Recent reports have revealed the extent of investments and assets controlled by Hamas, the Palestinian terror group, within Turkey.
Hamas has long maintained a strong...
Afghanistan
Economic progress and political reforms give post-Soviet space reason to celebrate
On August 30th, Kazakhstan celebrated one of the country’s most important holidays—Constitution Day, which commemorates the adoption of the 1995 constitution which confirmed the...
Archive
Uzbekistan inaugurates first utility-scale 100MW solar power plant
Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry announced on August 27 the inauguration ceremony for the country’s first utility-scale solar plant - and the first successfully-financed independent power...
Afghanistan
How Erdogan will “manage” the Afghan refugee crisis
Images of Afghan refugees scrambling to escape Kabul following the Taliban’s seizure of power will haunt the international community for decades. According to the...
Analysis
An EU diplomatic ‘bâdgir’ in Vienna: The Iran nuclear deal 2.0
When things get hot, you look to cool them down. Persian culture is too familiar with heat with scorching Middle East temperatures. One of...
Analysis
The EU’s plans for stabilizing Libya via democratic elections alone are set to fail
The European Union has for years invested its diplomatic efforts, as well as millions of Euros, into bringing a sense of security to Libya,...
Archive
Oil prices fall on signals Fed will start tapering stimulus measures
Oil prices fell to three-month lows this week due to the signal from the Federal Reserve that it will start tapering stimulus measures and...
Afghanistan
The EU is nothing but a feckless spectator in the unfolding Afghan crisis
The surprising speed by which the Taliban seized control, with relative ease, of the whole of Afghanistan is a major geopolitical debacle for the...
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