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Oman’s New Visa Policy - Unpacking the TruthThe much-anticipated Oman Labour Law, herein referred to as the New Law, was officially promulgated on 25 July 2023 by means of Royal Decree 53/2023. Effectively operational as of 26 July 2023, the New Law constitutes a substantial overhaul ofContinue Reading
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The Hamas-Israel Conflict: A Nexus of Religion, Nationalism, and GeopoliticsThe Hamas-Israel conflict has long been recognized as a volatile flashpoint that involves not only religious and nationalist tensions, but also broader geopolitical implications. It becomes crucial to delve deeper into the complexities underlying this multifaceted conflict amid recent intensifiedContinue Reading
-
2023 Red October: A Historical Process Assessment of Holy Wars From the Holy Land in Superpower EraThe general structure and location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Source: https://www.dailysabah.com Introduction On October 7th, 2023, news broke out that the Palestinian group Hamas crossed the border with Israel from Gaza Strip and launched armed attacks on military and civilian targetsContinue Reading
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Global energy supply risks associated to the conflict between Hamas and IsraelPhoto Source: https://www.efchina.org/Blog-en/blog-20220526-en Introduction The escalation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, that reached a tipping point on the 7th of October, 2023, risks attracting supporters into a larger clash, with possible consequences on global economic and political stability. The context of thisContinue Reading
-
Bangladesh-EU Energy Cooperation - What Is the Impact of the Visit of Peteris Ustubs?Peteris Ustubs, the European Union (EU) director for Middle East, Asia, and Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA), embarked on a significant visit to Bangladesh from September 30 to October 2. The visit underscored the EU'sContinue Reading
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The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Most Mentioned Issues, vs. the Most Pressing Issues in the Middle East and North Africa: Quo Vadis, United Nations?United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall.” Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers (Good Reads , 2023) 1.Introduction According to the official website, “theContinue Reading
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The Drone Attack on a Syrian Military College in Homs: Implications for the Syrian Civil War and the Global OrderThe Syrian Civil War is one of our time's most complex and protracted conflicts. It has been raging for over a decade and has caused immense suffering and destruction. The conflict has also significantly affected the global order, as regionalContinue Reading
-
The Predictable and Unpredictable Related to the Palestinian Armed Incursion into IsraelIntroduction On the 7th of October, 2023, news broke out that (Hamas) Palestinians fired thousands of rockets towards Israel, crossed the border through multiple points, attacked checkpoints and security locations, took military and civilian hostages, destroying/confiscating military vehicles and tanks. InContinue Reading
-
When It Is Not Anymore About President Bashar al-Assad: the Heinous Terrorist Attack at the Military Academy in Homs, Syria“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country. “George S. Patton, Jr. (Palmer, 2020) HaveContinue Reading
-
Securing Global Stability in the Face of Asian NATO and the Chinese BlockadeIn an increasingly complex and interconnected world, two major concerns have emerged as critical factors shaping global stability: the potential formation of an Asian NATO and the looming threat of a Chinese blockade. These regional issues have global implications andContinue Reading
-
Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 9th Forum“Rethinking the EU-MENA Cooperation. A Resilient Approach” is an event organized by the Bucharest-based think-tank MEPEI (Middle East Political and Economic Institute) and EuroDefense Romania. The event is organized in partnership with IPIS (Institute for Political and International Studies IPIS/MoFA, Iran),Continue Reading
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Turkmenistan’s Transit Line Competition: Balancing Growth and GeopoliticsThe intensification of international competition over Turkmenistan’s transit lines represents a multifaceted and evolving phenomenon that carries significant implications for both Turkmenistan and Central Asia’s broader geopolitical landscape. This analysis delves into the intricate dynamics of this competition, highlighting itsContinue Reading
-
Derna Floods: the Road to Political Unification or Territorial Partition? A Contextual Assessment as of September 2023Source of the photo: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/environment/floods-in-libya-s-derna-worst-disaster-in-21st-century/2992617 In a world in a whirlwind of news, information and rumours related to the G20 summit in India, the conflict in Ukraine, the North Korean leader's visit to Russia, and various manifestations of fierce competition betweenContinue Reading
-
The Future of Iran-Egypt Relations, Opportunities and ChallengesTensions between Iran and Egypt began again after the Islamic Revolution, when the exiled Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was welcomed by former Egyptian President Mohammad Anwar Sadat, despite the demands of the revolutionaries. After that, the peace agreementContinue Reading
-
Morocco's Humanitarian Response to the Earthquake TragedyEmergency workers search a destroyed building in Amizmiz on September 10 Source of the photo: Nacho Doce On Friday September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7 struck Morocco, causing widespread destruction. The epicentre was situated in the HighContinue Reading
-
Perspective of Normalization between Iran and Kingdom Saudi: Perceptions and RealitiesIran and Kingdom Saudi as the most important Shiite and Sunni countries in the Islamic world, are two main pillars of the balance of power in the Middle East. On March 10, 2023, China mediated an agreement between Iran andContinue Reading
-
What was Qatar’s role in the Iran-US agreement?Why was this agreement made with the participation of Qatar despite the fact that countries like Iraq and Oman have hosted several rounds of meetings in recent years in support of Iran-US talks? Finally, after a year of intense talks betweenContinue Reading
-
The New US Military Step in the Middle East: Evident and Latent GoalsIntroduction Over the past few months, the US has dispatched additional military forces to the Middle East in multiple phases in order to strengthen its operational capabilities in the region. The first phase involved deploying advanced F-22 Raptor jets on JuneContinue Reading
-
The Caspian Sea Was the New Centre of Concentration of Regional and Global PowersAs the largest closed lake in the world, the Caspian Sea has always played an important role for coastal countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. Although this great water source was neglected at some point, this regionContinue Reading
-
BRICS Expansion: Welcoming Middle Eastern Nations into the Exquisite FoldIn the face of unprecedented global polarization, the BRICS alliance has made an impressive step forward by revealing an expanded new strategy that resembles a thriving garden of variety. This strategic step entails the admission of six new members toContinue Reading
-
The Debate with International Participation “TO BE OR NOT TO BE BRICS: THAT’S THE QUESTION!”The debate was organized by the EuroDefense Romania and the Middle East Economic and Political Institute on August 30, 2023 For the moment BRICS cannot be seen as a product, but as a process. It is a process reminding theContinue Reading
-
To BRICS or not to BRICS - a General Perspective - a Few Days after the End of its 15th SummitThe 15th BRICS summit took place in the midst of a tumultuous, almost entropic period in international politics, characterised by the end of the pandemic period, the accentuation of divergences between China and the US both discursively and in practice,Continue Reading
-
BRICS Expansion in the Middle East: Emerging Trends in the Geopolitics of the RegionThe expansion of the BRICS is seen as a significant move to reshape the global order and provide a counterweight to the US and its allies. The recent BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 toContinue Reading
-
Expanding BRICS: A New Dawn for Global Economic DynamicsThe 15th BRICS meeting is a key landmark that marks a substantial change in the global economic landscape. This move is mostly related to the addition of new members, which represents a deviation from the alliance's established principles. This developmentContinue Reading
-
A POLYCENTRIC WORLD AND AN INDIVISIBLE SECURITYDuring the period of August 13-16, 2023, I participated in THE 11TH MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY where I was invited by the organizers (the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) as an independent expert. It is evident that thisContinue Reading
-
African Déjà Vu: The Niger Coup and its Detrimental Impact on the People's FutureIn the heart of Africa's unfolding narrative, a new chapter unfolds, bearing the weight of a somber tale woven with the threads of power shifts and tumultuous transitions. Once more, the world holds its collective breath, anticipating the reverberating repercussionsContinue Reading
-
Are the Taliban Afghanistan’s Unsung Heroes?The role of the Taliban in Afghanistan has been what some would call positive. Economic growth and improved safety and security across the nation has sparked ongoing discussions about whether they could be seen as ‘unsung heroes’, despite their controversialContinue Reading
-
Russia-Iran Trade Cooperation: A New Route with Convergence of InterestRussia and Iran are collaborating to establish a new trade channel as a means to circumvent existing restrictions. The proposed route is anticipated to span from the eastern periphery of Europe, namely Ukraine, to the Indian Ocean, including a distanceContinue Reading
-
The Russia-Ukraine War: An Emerging Wave of Refugees in TürkiyeTürkiye has emerged as a prominent hub, attracting a significant influx of refugees, mostly originating from Ukraine and Russia. However, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia initiated a subsequent surge of migration from both nations. Individuals seeking refuge fromContinue Reading
-
IDEF ’23: AN HOMAGE TO A LONG-AWAITED MOMENT IN ANKARA’S MILITARY DEVELOPMENT“Today, we have five firms among the world’s top 100 defense companies. This number will inshallah increase constantly. Our goal is to entirely end our foreign dependency in defense industry by 2023.” An excerpt from the speech of the TurkishContinue Reading
-
Oman’s New Visa Policy - Unpacking the TruthThe much-anticipated Oman Labour Law, herein referred to as the New Law, was officially promulgated on 25 July 2023 by means of Royal Decree 53/2023. Effectively operational as of 26 July 2023, the New Law constitutes a substantial overhaul ofContinue Reading
-
The Hamas-Israel Conflict: A Nexus of Religion, Nationalism, and GeopoliticsThe Hamas-Israel conflict has long been recognized as a volatile flashpoint that involves not only religious and nationalist tensions, but also broader geopolitical implications. It becomes crucial to delve deeper into the complexities underlying this multifaceted conflict amid recent intensifiedContinue Reading
-
2023 Red October: A Historical Process Assessment of Holy Wars From the Holy Land in Superpower EraThe general structure and location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Source: https://www.dailysabah.com Introduction On October 7th, 2023, news broke out that the Palestinian group Hamas crossed the border with Israel from Gaza Strip and launched armed attacks on military and civilian targetsContinue Reading
-
Global energy supply risks associated to the conflict between Hamas and IsraelPhoto Source: https://www.efchina.org/Blog-en/blog-20220526-en Introduction The escalation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, that reached a tipping point on the 7th of October, 2023, risks attracting supporters into a larger clash, with possible consequences on global economic and political stability. The context of thisContinue Reading
-
Bangladesh-EU Energy Cooperation - What Is the Impact of the Visit of Peteris Ustubs?Peteris Ustubs, the European Union (EU) director for Middle East, Asia, and Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA), embarked on a significant visit to Bangladesh from September 30 to October 2. The visit underscored the EU'sContinue Reading
-
The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Most Mentioned Issues, vs. the Most Pressing Issues in the Middle East and North Africa: Quo Vadis, United Nations?United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall.” Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers (Good Reads , 2023) 1.Introduction According to the official website, “theContinue Reading
-
The Drone Attack on a Syrian Military College in Homs: Implications for the Syrian Civil War and the Global OrderThe Syrian Civil War is one of our time's most complex and protracted conflicts. It has been raging for over a decade and has caused immense suffering and destruction. The conflict has also significantly affected the global order, as regionalContinue Reading
-
The Predictable and Unpredictable Related to the Palestinian Armed Incursion into IsraelIntroduction On the 7th of October, 2023, news broke out that (Hamas) Palestinians fired thousands of rockets towards Israel, crossed the border through multiple points, attacked checkpoints and security locations, took military and civilian hostages, destroying/confiscating military vehicles and tanks. InContinue Reading
-
When It Is Not Anymore About President Bashar al-Assad: the Heinous Terrorist Attack at the Military Academy in Homs, Syria“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country. “George S. Patton, Jr. (Palmer, 2020) HaveContinue Reading
-
Securing Global Stability in the Face of Asian NATO and the Chinese BlockadeIn an increasingly complex and interconnected world, two major concerns have emerged as critical factors shaping global stability: the potential formation of an Asian NATO and the looming threat of a Chinese blockade. These regional issues have global implications andContinue Reading
-
Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 9th Forum“Rethinking the EU-MENA Cooperation. A Resilient Approach” is an event organized by the Bucharest-based think-tank MEPEI (Middle East Political and Economic Institute) and EuroDefense Romania. The event is organized in partnership with IPIS (Institute for Political and International Studies IPIS/MoFA, Iran),Continue Reading
-
Turkmenistan’s Transit Line Competition: Balancing Growth and GeopoliticsThe intensification of international competition over Turkmenistan’s transit lines represents a multifaceted and evolving phenomenon that carries significant implications for both Turkmenistan and Central Asia’s broader geopolitical landscape. This analysis delves into the intricate dynamics of this competition, highlighting itsContinue Reading
-
Derna Floods: the Road to Political Unification or Territorial Partition? A Contextual Assessment as of September 2023Source of the photo: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/environment/floods-in-libya-s-derna-worst-disaster-in-21st-century/2992617 In a world in a whirlwind of news, information and rumours related to the G20 summit in India, the conflict in Ukraine, the North Korean leader's visit to Russia, and various manifestations of fierce competition betweenContinue Reading
-
The Future of Iran-Egypt Relations, Opportunities and ChallengesTensions between Iran and Egypt began again after the Islamic Revolution, when the exiled Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was welcomed by former Egyptian President Mohammad Anwar Sadat, despite the demands of the revolutionaries. After that, the peace agreementContinue Reading
-
Morocco's Humanitarian Response to the Earthquake TragedyEmergency workers search a destroyed building in Amizmiz on September 10 Source of the photo: Nacho Doce On Friday September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7 struck Morocco, causing widespread destruction. The epicentre was situated in the HighContinue Reading
-
Perspective of Normalization between Iran and Kingdom Saudi: Perceptions and RealitiesIran and Kingdom Saudi as the most important Shiite and Sunni countries in the Islamic world, are two main pillars of the balance of power in the Middle East. On March 10, 2023, China mediated an agreement between Iran andContinue Reading
-
What was Qatar’s role in the Iran-US agreement?Why was this agreement made with the participation of Qatar despite the fact that countries like Iraq and Oman have hosted several rounds of meetings in recent years in support of Iran-US talks? Finally, after a year of intense talks betweenContinue Reading
-
The New US Military Step in the Middle East: Evident and Latent GoalsIntroduction Over the past few months, the US has dispatched additional military forces to the Middle East in multiple phases in order to strengthen its operational capabilities in the region. The first phase involved deploying advanced F-22 Raptor jets on JuneContinue Reading
-
The Caspian Sea Was the New Centre of Concentration of Regional and Global PowersAs the largest closed lake in the world, the Caspian Sea has always played an important role for coastal countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. Although this great water source was neglected at some point, this regionContinue Reading
-
BRICS Expansion: Welcoming Middle Eastern Nations into the Exquisite FoldIn the face of unprecedented global polarization, the BRICS alliance has made an impressive step forward by revealing an expanded new strategy that resembles a thriving garden of variety. This strategic step entails the admission of six new members toContinue Reading
-
The Debate with International Participation “TO BE OR NOT TO BE BRICS: THAT’S THE QUESTION!”The debate was organized by the EuroDefense Romania and the Middle East Economic and Political Institute on August 30, 2023 For the moment BRICS cannot be seen as a product, but as a process. It is a process reminding theContinue Reading
-
To BRICS or not to BRICS - a General Perspective - a Few Days after the End of its 15th SummitThe 15th BRICS summit took place in the midst of a tumultuous, almost entropic period in international politics, characterised by the end of the pandemic period, the accentuation of divergences between China and the US both discursively and in practice,Continue Reading
-
BRICS Expansion in the Middle East: Emerging Trends in the Geopolitics of the RegionThe expansion of the BRICS is seen as a significant move to reshape the global order and provide a counterweight to the US and its allies. The recent BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 toContinue Reading
-
Expanding BRICS: A New Dawn for Global Economic DynamicsThe 15th BRICS meeting is a key landmark that marks a substantial change in the global economic landscape. This move is mostly related to the addition of new members, which represents a deviation from the alliance's established principles. This developmentContinue Reading
-
A POLYCENTRIC WORLD AND AN INDIVISIBLE SECURITYDuring the period of August 13-16, 2023, I participated in THE 11TH MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY where I was invited by the organizers (the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) as an independent expert. It is evident that thisContinue Reading
-
African Déjà Vu: The Niger Coup and its Detrimental Impact on the People's FutureIn the heart of Africa's unfolding narrative, a new chapter unfolds, bearing the weight of a somber tale woven with the threads of power shifts and tumultuous transitions. Once more, the world holds its collective breath, anticipating the reverberating repercussionsContinue Reading
-
Are the Taliban Afghanistan’s Unsung Heroes?The role of the Taliban in Afghanistan has been what some would call positive. Economic growth and improved safety and security across the nation has sparked ongoing discussions about whether they could be seen as ‘unsung heroes’, despite their controversialContinue Reading
-
Russia-Iran Trade Cooperation: A New Route with Convergence of InterestRussia and Iran are collaborating to establish a new trade channel as a means to circumvent existing restrictions. The proposed route is anticipated to span from the eastern periphery of Europe, namely Ukraine, to the Indian Ocean, including a distanceContinue Reading
-
The Russia-Ukraine War: An Emerging Wave of Refugees in TürkiyeTürkiye has emerged as a prominent hub, attracting a significant influx of refugees, mostly originating from Ukraine and Russia. However, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia initiated a subsequent surge of migration from both nations. Individuals seeking refuge fromContinue Reading
-
IDEF ’23: AN HOMAGE TO A LONG-AWAITED MOMENT IN ANKARA’S MILITARY DEVELOPMENT“Today, we have five firms among the world’s top 100 defense companies. This number will inshallah increase constantly. Our goal is to entirely end our foreign dependency in defense industry by 2023.” An excerpt from the speech of the TurkishContinue Reading
What is Behind the Clashes Between Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Army?
- on 01st May 2023
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, Global Affairs, North Africa, North Africa, Themes, Visions & Strategies
China’s Deepening Ties with the Middle East Multilateralism and China’s Global Development Initiative
- on 01st April 2023
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, North Africa, North Africa, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies
MEPEI calls for lifting sanctions on Syria
- on 30th March 2023
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, Highlights, Levant, Syrian Crisis, Visions & Strategies
Joint meeting of MEPEI and Iranian institute IPIS
- on 13th December 2022
Areas, Carousel Home, Events, Global Affairs, Iran, Past Events
Round Table “New Kazakhstan: the Path of Renewal and Modernisation”
- on 15th November 2022
Carousel Home, Events, Past Events
Towards an Asian Geopolitical Alliance
- on 27th October 2022
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, Themes, Visions & Strategies
The Report of the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s (Parliament) Special Investigation Committee on Death of Mahsa Amini
- on 26th October 2022
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, Iran, Themes, Visions & Strategies
Award Ceremony of the Essay Competition “Let’s Discover Kazakhstan”
- on 25th October 2022
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Themes, Visions & Strategies
Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 8th Forum “Middle East in Quest for Security, Stability, and Economic Identity”
- on 23rd June 2022
Afghanistan / Pakistan, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, Events, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Deal, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Levant, North Africa, North Africa, Past Events, Syrian Crisis, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies
Parliamentary 2022 Elections in Lebanon
- on 06th April 2022
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Levant, Visions & Strategies
Launch of the project “Asia’s Century”
- on 05th April 2022
Analysis, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Past Events, Visions & Strategies
Report – The Seventh Annual Conference “Middle East and North Africa: The Changes for a New Beginning”
- on 23rd February 2022
Afghanistan / Pakistan, Analysis, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Deal, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Levant, North Africa, North Africa, Syrian Crisis, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies
27th
September 2023
Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 9th Forum
Events, Highlights, Upcoming Events
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U.S. Leadership Has an Image Problem. Should We Care?
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