Giorgio Cafiero

Hope for a new understanding among Gulf States

A window for rapprochement in the Gulf could be in the offing as the US tones down its rhetoric on Iran pushing Saudi Arabia and the UAE to take a step back.

Bolton’s departure doesn't make US foreign policy any easier to decipher

Donald Trump has one less hawk in his administration, that much is certain. What is unclear is whether it means a less combative foreign policy with countries like Iran or Venezuela.

A Tokyo listing for Saudi Aramco?

The Saudis might be considering Japan as a venue to go public with the world's most profitable company, and reap the benefits of the lower political and regulatory liabilities in the country.

Bahrain unsurprisingly supports Israeli aggression

Bahrain leads the charge in befriending Israel as Gulf nations prioritise the Iranian 'threat' and shove Palestine off the agenda.

India's actions in Kashmir and the muted response from Arab Gulf states

Why are Muslim countries in the Gulf silent over the crackdown and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir?

UAE backs off US 'maximum pressure' policy that imperils Emirati interests

The Trump administration's campaign against Iran is flying too close to the sun and the UAE sees war as an outcome they don't want, and can't afford.

Manama summit puts Arabs in a bind with no foreseeable positive outcome

The Trump administration is expected to unveil its 'Deal of the Century', a deal that most in the region view as a normalisation of Israeli occupation and nothing else.

Could Japan's quiet diplomacy de-escalate tension between the US and Iran

On the face of it, Shinzo Abe’s visit was a failure, however, by going and speaking to the Iranians the US has established a backdoor channel.

Why the ‘good neighbours’ foreign policy is good for Iraq

Baghdad is attempting to maintain strong diplomatic relations with both the US and Iran as the two rival nations ramp up tensions in the region.

Bloody crack down by Sudan's military has echoes of Egyptian tactics

As the Transition Military Council brutalises the protest movement, it shows the ‘Deep State’ is unwilling to give up its grip on power, which could lead the country into further violence.

Can Oman pull the US and Iran back from the brink of confrontation?

Oman's goodwill and relationships with the Muslim world and the West could prove vital, as they have historically, to ensuring that US-Iran tensions don't boil over.

Sabotage and information warfare in the Gulf of Oman

Security crises in the Persian Gulf will become increasingly high-stakes as the lack of communication between Iran and the US and its allies can trigger misinformation, perceived threats and potentially military confrontation.