The UAE must abandon the illusion of strategic exceptionalism, and rebuild its autonomy through a collective Gulf security order [Article was originally published by MEE] The United Arab Emirates has spent two decades trying to escape the ordinary fate of small states through the network power of hyper-connectivity. It built ports, bought influence, cultivated militias, courted Washington, hedged with Moscow and Beijing, and projected the image of a country too nimble, too w

Following the last round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Iran’s foreign minister and negotiator Abbas Araghchi declared in a post on X on April 17 that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open”. This came after he also signalled that his government could be flexible over the issue of nuclear enrichment as well as Iran’s support for its proxies in the region. Then came an abrupt correction. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former commander in the Islamic

As American power becomes more erratic and extortionate, Europe and the Gulf could help each other building strategic autonomy When empires decline, they rarely do so gracefully. They become fiercer. They try, with increasing desperation, to defend their pole position through ever riskier military adventures and ever harsher forms of economic coercion. Their rulers appear more erratic. They overestimate their own judgement, their country’s strength and the resilience of the i

[ originally published on DAWN ] Every war the West has fought in the post-9/11 "War on Terror" era has ended in some form of stalemate or outright defeat. Tactical battlefield successes never consolidated into sustainable strategic outcomes of security and stability — neither for America nor the region. While the U.S.-led coalition toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003 quickly, it lost the war in the subsequent quagmire, fighting violent non-state actors across a spe

From Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, regional states must take steps to shape their own destinies, rather than being pawns in the Israeli-US agenda On Saturday morning, the departure board at Dubai’s main airport began to stack up with delays. Over the water, pale arcs rose, flared and vanished - interceptors, officials later said - leaving chalk traces in a sky turning white. Similar scenes occurred in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama and Kuwait City. Then, in the afternoon, both the Dubai air

This is a moment in which the Gulf has to balance between an Iran that has been largely passive and reactive since the 7th of October and an Israel that has been erratic, impulsive and hyper activist in pursuit of short to midterm security interests.

Donald Trump has boxed himself in by promising to ‘help’ Iran’s protesters. But he has few good options for military operations that he can control. [published on Al Jazeera originally ] Illiberal systems often look most permanent just before they change. But moments of upheaval can also produce a different illusion: That the system is one dramatic external blow away from collapse. With Iran convulsed by unprecedented protests against the country’s leadership, it is tempting

Iran as a network-state will survive degradation from Israel

As Trump enters a volatile phase of his second-term foreign policy, his erratic leadership style casts doubt on his ability to manage potential war in the Middle East. What resembles madman theory is, in reality, impulsive chaos lacking discipline or control.

Israel has achieved stunning tactical successes against the Islamic Republic in the past few days but risks strategic overreach – and...

Israel’s surprise strike on Iran isn’t just military—it’s a political ambush aimed at derailing Trump’s MAGA diplomacy

Israel is playing chess against Iran playing a 3D network game

Washington must not cater blindly to the argument of authoritarian stability – this narrative is already sold much more convincingly by...

Since August, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been on a comprehensive regional tour that has involved Abu Dhabi reconciling with...