Partner Insight - The Geopolitical Desk

Is Iraq becoming a Houthi front against Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has been looking for a way to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran and its regional allies have other plans.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 22 Sep 2026

Is Iraq becoming a Houthi front against Saudi Arabia?

Disarm or die trying: Iraq's September reckoning

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has bet his young government on a September 30 deadline to strip armed groups of their weapons, a high-stakes echo of the 2021 crisis that nearly got his predecessor killed.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 26 Aug 2026

Disarm or die trying: Iraq's September reckoning

A new Levant: The rise of Eastern Mediterranean gas

The Eastern Med has been an interest for investment for years, but recent geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf are directing more eyes on the region.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 13 May 2026

A new Levant: The rise of Eastern Mediterranean gas

How the Iran war could redefine Iraq's fragile state

Iraq has long found itself in an uncomfortable position between its two main international partners, Iran and the United States. It has managed to maintain a delicate balance, but the current conflict threatens to upend that equilibrium.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 26 Apr 2026

How the Iran war could redefine Iraq's fragile state

The realist who saw the end of the Middle East coming

Mohammed Soliman predicted the Middle East's transformation before the Iran war made it impossible to ignore. In this interview, the engineer-turned-strategist explains why the region is now "West Asia" and why that distinction matters for Europe, India and the future of AI infrastructure.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 1 Apr 2026

The realist who saw the end of the Middle East coming

Geopolitical chokepoints and Gulf food security: the fertiliser paradox

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacts more than just oil. The Gulf is struggling to export fertiliser and import food, creating a worsening cycle.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 27 Mar 2026

Geopolitical chokepoints and Gulf food security: the fertiliser paradox

The limits of U.S. energy independence and the upstream risks of escalation in Iran

U.S. military escalation against Iran is reshaping energy geopolitics and exposing new risks for oil and gas investors across the Middle East. From Iraq and Syria to the Eastern Mediterranean, upstream opportunities created by geopolitics may prove far less stable than they appear.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 9 Mar 2026

The limits of U.S. energy independence and the upstream risks of escalation in Iran

Inside Libya’s FX arbitrage machine

Libya’s dinar crisis is not a dollar shortage. It is the product of fiscal expansion, subsidy distortions and a widening gap between official and parallel markets. This piece breaks down the data behind the arbitrage machine shaping Libya’s FX trajectory.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 23 Feb 2026

Did Bangladesh’s elections restore stability or defer crisis?

Bangladesh’s post-election landscape signals short-term stability, but structural risks persist. As Dhaka recalibrates after polls, investors and policymakers must weigh political consolidation, economic pressures and opposition dynamics shaping the country’s trajectory in 2026 and beyond.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 19 Feb 2026

Did Bangladesh’s elections restore stability or defer crisis?

More oil, more problems: how to fix Libya’s structural energy trap

Libya’s latest bid round has revived debate about production, reform and investment risk. But in today’s oil market, the real constraint is no longer geology or output. It is whether Libya’s governance and operating model can convert barrels into durable economic value.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 10 Feb 2026

More oil, more problems: how to fix Libya’s structural energy trap

Navigating Gulf markets through the eyes of a veteran investor

In this interview, investor and advisor Munder Shuhumi breaks down the opportunities and risks facing foreign investors in the GCC. From Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to navigating local partnerships and due diligence, Shuhumi shares essential insights on doing business in the Gulf.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 11 Jul 2025

Navigating Gulf markets through the eyes of a veteran investor