Giorgio Cafiero

The Saudi-UAE clash: What’s going on?

The roots of the very public — and personal — clash between the two Arabian powers in OPEC are complicated and rooted in myriad geopolitical factors.

Will Iran’s 'proxies' trap Biden in the Middle East?

The White House plan to continue nuclear talks while bombing Iran-backed militias in Arab countries could weaken the Americans.

How far does China’s support for the Palestinian cause go?

Beijing is vocal about Palestinian suffering on international platforms like the UN, but its economic and long-term regional interests mean its solidarity won’t go beyond strong rhetoric.

Assad is here to stay, and international response needs to reflect that

The regime’s sham elections last week aimed to humiliate Syrians opposed to its rule and convince the international community to forget about the war. How should Western countries react?

Assessing the impact of the violence visited upon Gaza

The winners are quite clearly Hamas and Netanyahu but the Palestinian cause, and the discourse around it, also scored a major victory.

Israeli aggression shows that the Abraham Accords do nothing for peace

Signatories to the Abraham Accords defended a normalisation of ties with Israel by saying it would allow them to exert leverage over Israel. That has not been the case.

Joe Biden’s effect on Saudi Arabia’s MBS

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's tone has shifted drastically with regards to Iran, and it bodes well for the whole region.

Will Deby's death fuel instability in Chad and across the Sahel?

The Chadian strongman's demise is set to have major implications for global security and the struggle against extremist groups in Africa.

'Nuclear terrorism' in Natanz threatens diplomacy in Vienna

It's clear that Israel does not want the Iran nuclear deal to be salvaged, but provocations may speed up re-negotiation.

Jordan’s 'malicious' plot and rival narratives

There are still more questions than answers about what happened in Jordan, but the crisis will allow the US to recalibrate its friendship with the Hashemite Kingdom.

Three months since the Qatar blockade lifted, what's changed?

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have made a genuine attempt at reconciliation while the UAE and Bahrain are still dragging their feet.

After Khashoggi report, GCC States mostly back Saudi leadership

Saudi Arabia enjoyed a widespread bout of solidarity after the Khashoggi report, but as US-Saudi tensions grow, GCC states may find themselves in a perpetual balancing act.