Without a common foreign policy goal, the Gulf states have engaged in trivial rivalries that have carried serious security and human costs for the region. It's time to rethink that approach.
The capture of southern Yemen by separatist forces has altered the dynamics of the countryโs long-festering civil war. Rising tensions among both rivals and allies now threaten either a renewed outbreak of fighting or a continuation of prolonged stagnation.
The now-iconic Washington Post photograph of Ahmed al-Sharaa calmly contemplating a chessboard during his visit to Washington reflects the strategy that has defined his rise: a blend of calculation, patience and a willingness to play a long game with pieces others assumed were unwinnable.
At a critical moment for Lebanon, the United States placed Tom Barrack in charge of difficult negotiations, yet he has proven to be the wrong man for the job.
Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington signalled that U.S.-Saudi relations are entering a more structured and future-oriented phase. The partnership is increasingly anchored in shared tech priorities, deeper defence integration and large-scale capital alignment with U.S. strategic industries.
The race between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will define who sets the Gulfโs digital standards and who becomes its technological gatekeeper. Abu Dhabi's position is already well established, but Saudi Arabiaโs Vision 2030 ambitions are fast catching up, setting the stage for a Gulf-wide AI rivalry.
Turkish President Erdoฤanโs latest economic and security outreach to the Gulf could easily benefit both sides, but Turkey's ambition and the Gulf's wariness of Ankara's influence could limit their cooperation.
Critical minerals, from lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, have become the backbone of modern industries, powering everything from defense systems to electric vehicle batteries. In todayโs fractured geopolitical landscape, they represent more than resources: they are leverage.
