Research desks
Türkiye
28 June 2025
Turkey’s Response to Israel-Iran War?
Türkiye has adopted diplomacy to call for de-escalation and regional dialogue. However, behind the scenes, Ankara is leveraging the crisis to advance its long-standing ambition of regional power projection, delicately balancing ideological support for Palestine with strategic distrust of Tehran. 13 June 2025 marks a seismic escalation between Israel and Iran. Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” significantly weakened Iranian power in the Middle East.
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Middle East & North Africa
5 June 2025
Navigating Security Dilemmas in US-Iran Nuclear Negotiations
Over the past two decades, Iran’s nuclear programme has been a persistent source of concern for the West. While diplomatic efforts led to the establishment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, shifting geopolitical dynamics have since escalated tensions, turning cautious engagement into overt hostility and placing national security on heightened alert.
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North America
3 June 2025
The United States Lifts Sanctions on Syria After Almost Five Decades
A couple of weeks ago, President Donald Trump announced plans to lift nearly five decades of sanctions on Syria. This development, first unveiled at a U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on 12 May 2025, alongside Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, represents a substantial departure from established U.S.
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Middle East & North Africa
15 May 2025
Lebanon at a Crossroads: Prospects of US and Gulf Investment Following a Weakened Hezbollah
Lebanon is at a crossroads in its history. In the wake of a weakened Hezbollah, following Assad’s ouster in Syria and its war with Israel, which have left Hezbollah’s social welfare, financial, and military operations...
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Middle East & North Africa
29 April 2025
15 weeks of Executive Power: Prospects for Lebanon’s crisis recovery under President Joseph Aoun
Joseph Aoun’s presidential inauguration early this year, marked a significant moment for Lebanon, after a two-year presidential vacuum, an ineffective political system, and conflict with Israel. At a Palm Sunday homily in February, the head of Lebanon’s Maronite church, Bechara Rai, expressed hope towards a turn in Lebanon’s leadership.
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Middle East & North Africa
24 April 2025
The Shift of Geopolitical Centrality away from Europe and towards Saudi Arabia
Europe has experienced recent struggles with where to position themselves within the geopolitical sphere and how to define its relationship with the big players. In previous years, they could rely on the United States to provide security, Russia to provide energy, and China for markets and production.
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Middle East & North Africa
18 April 2025
Iraq’s Development Road: A Path to Regional Connectivity and Economic Growth
Iraq's Development Road Project represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure initiatives in the Middle East, aiming to establish a 1,200-kilometer transport corridor linking the Gulf to Europe via Iraq and Türkiye.
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