middle east news

Amy Myers Jaffe, Managing Director of the Climate Policy Lab at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, discusses the Gulf carbon-zero commitments; Egypt’s renewable energy ambitions; the geopolitics of hydrogen; the prospects for LNG markets; Iran, Russia and global oil prices; China’s role in the Middle East; and the prospects for nuclear power.

Gulf rethinks climate diplomacy - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Egypt hands over solar power plant to Uganda amid Nile dam crisis - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As US led diplomacy fails to de-escalate tensions with Russia over Ukraine, Turkey with its drones and unequivocal support for Ukraine's territorial integrity is seen as a solid ally.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HE Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi , Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, discusses Sultan Haitham’s Vision 2040; regional security and diplomacy including Iran, Yemen, Syria, the Abraham Accords, and GCC reconciliation; and the resilience of Omanis in dealing with COVID 19, and Cyclone Shaheen.

Middle East economic outlook hinges on vaccinations - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Sultan Qaboos’ environmental legacy hits economic roadblock in Oman - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Janine di Giovanni, award winning journalist and Senior Fellow and Professor at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, discusses her book, The Vanishing: Faith Loss and the Twilight of Christianity in the Land of the Prophets, her own journey of faith as a journalist covering conflict in the Middle East, and the resilience of Christian communities throughout the region.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/last-christian-idlib-recalls-his-community

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/12/18/exp-1226-janine-di-giovanni-christians-vanishing.cnn

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/gaza-christmas-bleak-outlook

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/lost-history-gazas-jewish-quarter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bijan Khajehpour, managing partner at Eurasian Nexus Partners and Al-Monitor columnist, explains how Iran’s economic potential, and the prospects for foreign investment, depend on sanctions relief which would result from a nuclear deal; Raisi’s progress on COVID vaccinations; Iran’s relationships with Russia and China; and an update on Siamak Namazi, unjustly detained six years in Iran.

https://amwaj.media/article/budget-1401

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/12/how-feasible-raisis-economic-roadmap-iran

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/irans-days-rage-soleimani-anniversary-have-their-limits

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq has sealed a critical border crossing to the US protected and Kurdish governed zone in northeast Syria over a violent clash between a Syrian Kurdish youth organization and Iraqi Kurdish border forces. The closure has interrupted the flow of aid to the region as northeast Syria grapples with the effects of US sanctions against the Syrian regime, and of the COVID 19 pandemic not mention its worst drought in decades

Analyst Hiwa Osman explains what is at stake.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Libya was supposed to hold elections on December 24 that were meant to help the war wracked North African nation move on the path of stability and national reconciliation. But continued rivalries between numerous factions exacerbated by foreign meddling forced a cancellation. North Africa expert Jalel Harchaoui describes what's at stake.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East North Africa programme at Chatham House, assesses the Iranian nuclear talks, including the roles of Russia, China, and Israel; Iran’s long game in Iraq and Yemen; the prospects for regional security in the Gulf; how Iran is managing the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan; and more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gilles Kepel, who accompanied Macron to the Gulf, explains the impact of the French President’s visit to the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, including his meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and other Gulf leaders; the background to the $18 billion sale of French warplanes to the UAE; how the region is adapting to the Abraham Accords, economic and energy transitions, and the threat from Iran; why the Qatari mood is triumphant following the lifting the embargo; why the Muslim Brotherhood may be losing political relevance in the region; how the French policy is both a complement and a challenge to US influence in the region. Gilles Kepel is professor and director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Program at the Institute of Political Studies, Paris (Sciences Po), and host of Al-Monitor’s video podcast ‘Reading the Middle East.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey is undergoing one of the most unpredictable periods in its modern history amid mounting concern over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's shift towards authoritarianism. His poll ratings are sagging with rising inflation and the continued depreciation of the lira stemming from Erdogan's insistence on keeping interest rates low. With elections due in 2023, many wonder whether Erdogan, fearing that he may lose, will allow them to take place at all.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Kofman, director of the CNA Russia research program, explains how Russia approaches the Iran nuclear talks; why Moscow considers Syria a remarkable and cheap success; whether Turkey and Russia can manage differences in Ukraine and elsewhere; and why Belarus and Ukraine remain key flashpoints in US-Russia relations. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amberin Zaman, senior correspondent for Al-Monitor, discusses her reporting from northeastern Syria, including the devastating effect of the worst drought in seven decades; why SDF leader Mazloum Kobane doesn’t expect a Turkish attack, but is disappointed by US policy on Syria; how increasing tensions between Turkey and Russia over Ukraine could impact Syria; the tragedy of Syria’s camels; and more!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Jeffrey former US ambassador to Turkey and Iraq and the Trump Administration’s top Syria envoy has been sharply criticized for his alleged role in greenlighting Turkey’s 2019 invasion of northeast Syria which displaced hundreds of thousands of people and led to horrific rights abuses by Turkish backed opposition rebels. Jeffrey has unique insight into Ankara’s thinking and whether one agrees with him or not, he is a seasoned and knowledgeable professional. Jeffrey does not believe that Turkey will follow on its threats to mount another invasion against Syria’s Kurds anytime in the near future.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Noor Sweid, General Partner at Global Ventures, discusses how the Middle East and North Africa region has become a global tech and innovation hub; why a young MENA population will continue to drive and demand change, including for clean energy technologies; how MENA benefits and learns from trends in the Global South, Asia and the West ; and more!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Al-Monitor columnist Ben Caspit explains why the Israeli budget vote this week; whether Netanyahu still has a chance at a comeback; why another Gaza war is a matter of when, not if; and why Israeli leaders are worried and disappointed by the US approach to Iran.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Al-Monitor columnist Daoud Kuttab says that Jerusalem and settlements remain the big issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; why Hamas is gaining in popularity; how Palestinian President Mahmoud is managed the consequences of the Abraham Accords and thinking about his legacy and succession;  and why we may see more Palestinian protests in the coming year.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US Turkish relations remain on life support with Turkey's refusal to relinquish Russian made S 400 missiles. Turkey could face further US sanctions if Turkish president Erdogan acts on his talk about buying more Russian equipment. Turkey analyst Alan Makovsky believes this could lead to final rupture between Turkey and the NATO alliance.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kenneth Pollack, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses Iraq’s elections, the prospects for an agreement on an Iranian nuclear deal, and why cyber may be part of Israel’s ‘Plan B’ for Iran.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, discusses why the Iran nuclear talks could remain in ‘suspended animation;’ why some Iranian leaders may prefer to stick with the ‘resistance economy’ rather than pursue sanctions relief under a new nuclear deal; why the window for goodwill gestures to shake up the nuclear talks may have passed; and the prospects for release of Iranian-American detainees in Iran.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Biden administration vows to put an end to America's "endless wars," the United States' military campaign against the Islamic State in Syria stands out as a rare success. Several hundred US Special Operations Forces remain in northeast Syria where they are partnered with the Syria Kurds who played a critical role in defeating the jihadis. But the fallout in diplomatic terms with NATO ally Turkey has been huge. Aaron Stein, Director for Research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a think tank in Philadelphia, and the author of "The US War Against ISIS," reflects on this mixed picture

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.