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Nabil Mohsen is an Intern at the Middle East Institute’s Oman Library. He is a determined learner who enjoys his studies in politics and is interested in Islamic history, architecture, and ceramics.
Georgia the interconnector — but where’s Washington?
For the sake of safeguarding transatlantic — and thus also American — security interests in the South Caucasus, it is becoming increasingly imperative that the United States better anchor itself economically, politically, and militarily in the eastern Black Sea region, especially strategically placed Georgia.
Understanding the growing Indo-Israeli strategic cyber partnership
India and Israel have embarked on a mission to enhance their bilateral strategic cyber partnership. Private-sector collaboration and investment have laid the foundation for this partnership, which has now expanded to government-level agreements and frameworks.
إخفاقا الخليج المزدوجان: الابتكار وتوظيف المواطنين في القطاع الخاص
خرجت دول الخليج من الجائحة العالمية برياح اقتصادية مواتية. لكن الأحداث البارزة مثل استضافة قطر لكأس العالم لكرة القدم وإكسبو الدولي في الإمارات العربية المتحدة استمرت في إخفاء نقطتي ضعف خفيتين ولكنهما مهمتين عانت منها هذه الدول لعقود. لماذا تفتقر اقتصادات الخليج إلى الابتكار؟ ولماذا تكافح من أجل خلق فرص عمل في القطاع الخاص للمواطنين؟
Saudi Arabia can alleviate US concerns over its civilian nuclear energy program. Here’s how.
Saudi leaders have stepped up their plans for developing peaceful nuclear energy, inviting technical bids to the planned construction of two 1.4 gigawatt-electric nuclear reactors and restating the kingdom’s intention to use domestic uranium resources for producing low-enriched uranium as nuclear fuel.
Addressing challenges to tolerance and religious diversity in Iraq
Iraq has long had a troubled history with its ethno-religious minorities, one full of oppression and violence. This was true under the Ba’athist regime and continued after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, reaching a nadir with the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group. Although Iraq is now enjoying its most stable period in the past two decades, it is also a case study of the pernicious effects of structural violence, especially toward the more marginalized and vulnerable segments of society.
The current complex situation in the global oil market seriously tests the abilities of OPEC+ to play the role of a regulator, forcing Saudi Arabia to assume the main burden of responsibility for keeping oil prices from declining further and for shoring up the cartel ranks.
The U.S. and EU Should Coordinate their Saudi and Israeli-Palestinian Efforts
American and European eyes are set on Riyadh. Both the Biden administration and the European External Action Service are currently trying to advance policy moves that involve Saudi Arabia and that – if successful – will reshape the Middle East. Alas, when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, these European and American efforts are quite different, and even seem contradictory.
Gender parity in the Middle East is still many decades away, but it will largely determine the future of economic, social, cultural, and political development in the region.
The US and France must push back on Iran to break Lebanon’s political gridlock
Jean-Yves Le Drian, French President Emmanuel Macron’s envoy to Lebanon, made a preliminary diplomatic visit to Beirut last week. Le Drian’s appointment marks a potential though uncertain opening to consolidate international support for Lebanon to facilitate an end to the political gridlock and leadership vacuum. A short but timely boost in robust diplomacy on the part of Washington, strengthened by clear coordination with Paris and regional partners, can play a decisive role in preventing the unraveling of another failed authoritarian state that could further destabilize the region and force even more costly engagement in the future.
According to multiple media reports, Taliban anti-narcotics units have managed to effect a drastic reduction in opium cultivation in Afghanistan. Assisted by armed Taliban soldiers, stick-wielding personnel are hopping from one opium-growing field to another, destroying standing crops in a large number of provinces. Overseen by international media, such operations may have resulted in an almost 80 percent reduction in opium cultivation this year in the country, which not long ago accounted for 85 percent of the world’s opium.
