GOVERNMENT & DIPLOMACY

In July, the GCC Supreme Council announced the approval of a unified tourist visa allowing foreigners to access all six countries within the bloc using a single permit. With plans to pilot this by the end of 2025, the relaxation of rules encourages multi-destination trips across the Gulf region.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)’s new political roadmap for resolving the national crisis has received rare praise across Libya’s political spectrum. It presents a real opportunity for success, but only if UNSMIL can capitalize on its momentum.

On 8 August, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Washington that is poised to end more than three decades of bilateral tensions and open the way to better connectivity, not only in the South Caucasus but also for the Middle Corridor linking China to Europe.

The Gulf is positioned as a pivotal hub in the emerging India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), with the potential to reshape global trade routes while diversifying its economies. This analysis explores EU–GCC integration and the geopolitical stakes driving IMEC’s future.

The recent peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, known as the Washington Agreement, could unlock major economic opportunities in eastern Congo, particularly in the mining and infrastructure sectors. But serious challenges remain.

In recent years, UNSMIL has failed to provide meaningful leadership, allowing Libya’s political crisis to deepen with no clear path forward. While it has thus far fallen short of its mandate, it still retains the opportunity to recalibrate, though time and public confidence are running out.

While the regional landscape remains volatile, this report outlines several pragmatic recommendations that could help Iran navigate its way out of the current quagmire through diplomatic recalibration, strategic restraint, and internal realignment.

Since the Israel-Iran ceasefire came into effect on June 24, the atmosphere has shifted in the Gulf region as key states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE work to secure their economies and recalibrate their geopolitical positioning.