West Asia - The Geopolitical Desk (Page 3)

Aleppo, Sheikh Maqsoud and the shifting balance of power

Aleppo is not just another battlefield. It remains Syria’s economic lung, its industrial and commercial backbone, and a core symbol of post-war state reassertion. Any disruption in Aleppo reverberates nationally—politically, economically, and psychologically.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 16 Jan 2026

Aleppo, Sheikh Maqsoud and the shifting balance of power

Iran’s protests and the missing pieces of the puzzle

The recent protests in Iran have been some of the largest in years, yet gaps in their strategy will prevent them from breaking the regime.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 16 Jan 2026

Iran’s protests and the missing pieces of the puzzle

Why Gulf states need a unified foreign policy approach

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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 6 Jan 2026

Why Gulf states need a unified foreign policy approach

What comes after Yemen's southern takeover?

The capture of southern Yemen by separatist forces has altered the dynamics of the country’s 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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 26 Dec 2025

What comes after Yemen's southern takeover?

Is Ahmed al-Sharaa redefining the geopolitical chessboard?

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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 5 Dec 2025

Is Ahmed al-Sharaa redefining the geopolitical chessboard?

Tom Barrack’s implausible mission in Lebanon

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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 26 Nov 2025

Tom Barrack’s implausible mission in Lebanon

Is this the start of a new Saudi–US strategic order?

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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 24 Nov 2025

Is this the start of a new Saudi–US strategic order?

The race for AI leadership in the Gulf

The race between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will define who sets the Gulf’s digital standards and who becomes its technological gatekeeper. Abu Dhabi's position is already well established, but Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions are fast catching up, setting the stage for a Gulf-wide AI rivalry.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 14 Nov 2025

Turkey's evolving agenda in the Gulf

Turkish President Erdoğan’s 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.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 1 Nov 2025

Gulf states and the critical minerals race

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 today’s fractured geopolitical landscape, they represent more than resources: they are leverage.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 11 Oct 2025

Gulf states and the critical minerals race

Moscow prepares to host Russia-Arab Summit

With the middle east undergoing major changes, Russia is looking to reestablish its relations with Arab nations.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 8 Oct 2025

Moscow prepares to host Russia-Arab Summit

Palestine and the politics of low effort

The recognition of a Palestinian state by a slew of Western countries does little to change things on the ground, but opens up the real possibility of Israeli backlash. Here European states will need to take a stand, and buy time as possible change in the U.S. brews.

By The Geopolitical Desk

/ 25 Sep 2025