19 May 2025

TikTok: China’s new weapon

The ongoing trade war between China and the United States (U.S.) has been unfolding for several years and has gained increasing public attention, largely throughout the influence of social media platf...
14 May 2025

What If: The India-Pakistan Ceasefire Collapses?

The recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following four nerve-racking days of escalating military exchanges, offered a moment of reprieve from the brink of what many feared could...
8 May 2025

Hezbollah 2.0: The Future of the Party in Lebanon

Hezbollah stands at a pivotal crossroads, navigating the turbulent aftermath of a devastating conflict with Israel and grappling with profound shifts in its domestic politics and the regional strategi...
6 May 2025

DRC Minerals and a Potential U.S.–EU Confrontation

In a few months, the Trump administration is expected to push Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to sign a peace deal which is supposed to be followed by a bilateral minerals’ agreement...
1 May 2025

Rajaee Port Explosions: Could it Disrupt Diplomatic Path Between Tehran and Washington?

The strategically significant Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, was rocked by a massive explosion during the third round of Iranian-US talks in Oman on Saturday, April 26 2025, marking a piv...

Programmes

What If: The India-Pakistan Ceasefire Collapses?

14 May 2025
The recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following four nerve-racking days of escalating military exchanges, offered a moment of reprieve from the brink of what many feared could become an all-out conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Missiles and drones crossed borders, tensions were sky-high, and the language from both capitals was increasingly aggressive. President Trump's sudden announcement of a truce, while welcomed, underscored the inherent fragility of the situation. Amid celebrations in India and Pakistan, and self-congratulations in Washington, Kashmir endured another night of violence, with both sides claiming violations. This temporary calm exists against a backdrop of deep-seated historical grievances, unresolved territorial disputes, evolving nuclear doctrines, and a complex interplay of internal and external pressures. The critical question now is not just how the ceasefire was achieved, but whether it can hold, and what the consequences would be if this fragile truce were to collapse.

TikTok: China’s new weapon

19 May 2025
The ongoing trade war between China and the United States (U.S.) has been unfolding for several years and has gained increasing public attention, largely throughout the influence of social media platforms. As awareness of the conflict spreads, social media not only informs the public but also shapes consumer behaviour, often prompting individuals to shift to alternative markets. In some cases, governments recognize this influence and strategically leverage social media influencers to guide public opinion and economic choices. This is already going on in our scenario between China and U.S.

Hezbollah 2.0: The Future of the Party in Lebanon

8 May 2025
Hezbollah stands at a pivotal crossroads, navigating the turbulent aftermath of a devastating conflict with Israel and grappling with profound shifts in its domestic politics and the regional strategic map. The cessation of hostilities, marked by a U.S.-brokered ceasefire effective Nov. 27, 2024, brought an end to intense fighting that inflicted immense human suffering and infrastructural damage across the country. This fragile peace coincided with, and was significantly influenced by two seismic events: the sudden collapse of the al-Assad regime in Syria, severing Hezbollah’s critical land bridge to Iran, and the end of a paralyzing two-year presidential vacuum in Lebanon with the election of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Joseph Aoun, who has promised to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure and restrict access to weapons, these promises were likely possible to make because of Hezbollah's significantly weakened state.   The 2024 conflict dealt an unprecedented blow to Hezbollah, resulting in the decapitation of its leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and his designated successor; the death of thousands of its fighters; the depletion of its arsenal; and the destruction of vital military infrastructure. This military degradation precipitated a tangible decline in its political influence. Regionally isolated by the fall of its Syrian ally and unable to dictate terms domestically, facing the state signaling a potential shift in Lebanon's internal power dynamics.   Faced with military exhaustion, regional isolation, domestic political setbacks, and a core narrative of "resistance" severely challenged by the reality of defeat, Hezbollah confronts an existential crisis. The organization that emerged from the 2024 conflict is fundamentally different from the one that entered it. This analysis, probes the future trajectory of Hezbollah in this drastically altered landscape to understand how Hezbollah might adapt, survive, or transform in the face of these compounding pressures, and the constraints facing the Lebanese state and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in asserting sovereignty, the divergent perspectives shaping the political discourse, and the plausible future pathways for Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Most Read

What If: Israel Created a New Corridor to the Euphrates in Syria?
Programmes
10 Dec 2024

What If: Israel Created a New Corridor to the Euphrates in Syria?

The dream of Greater Israel is not fictional but real, first developed by Theodore Hertzel, the founding father of Zionism, Greater Israel include all lands from the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq. This includes territories from Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, all Jordanian territory, and all historical Palestine. In 2017, the United Nations issued a report indicating that Israel is proceeding with its plans to annex Palestinian lands in the West Bank while keeping Palestinians in severe conditions of isolation and deprivation. Moreover, soldiers of the Israeli army have worn badges showing Greater Israel during military operations in Gaza, indicating that Israel might expand its military operations in the Middle East after ending its military operations in Gaza. The pathway to accomplishing the dream of Greater Israel began in November 2024 when Israel entered the demilitarised zone that separates the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. In this area, Israel began establishing a construction project, paving a road along the borders with Syria. What if the Israeli construction project in Syria is the first step to build a corridor that would connect Israel to the Euphrates, thus making Israel closer to achieve the dream of Greater Israel? What will be the consequences if Israel manages to create this corridor?
Vision 2030: Empowered Women, Transformed Kingdom
Programmes
17 Dec 2024

Vision 2030: Empowered Women, Transformed Kingdom

Saudi Arabia is undergoing a remarkable transformation across various sectors. Fuelled by ambitious reforms under Vision 2030. The Kingdom’s economy is not only reaching new heights, having recently achieved trillion-dollar status, but also aiming to be among the leading economies in the world. This economic shift is driven by diversification and substantial investments, fundamentally changing the country’s economic structure and aiming at strengthening its global position.   Another key driver of this growth is the rise in female participation in the workforce through increased educational opportunities, and a more inclusive cultural environment. Saudi Arabia has implemented significant reforms to empower women economically, creating a positive impact that extends beyond 2030 vision. As a result, the country is witnessing a significant boost in economic growth demonstrating the transformative power of women’s empowerment.
The Fall of Al-Assad: Beyond the Defeat of a Regime
Programmes
23 Dec 2024

The Fall of Al-Assad: Beyond the Defeat of a Regime

More than a decade after the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the unexpected fall of the Assad regime shocked many commentators and world leaders who believed that President Bashar Al-Assad had firmly consolidated his power. This development demonstrated that despite enduring years of civil war, Syria continues to hold strategic relevance at both regional and international levels. The conflict has provided an opportunity for regional and global powers to establish a presence in the country, amplifying the impact of the regime's collapse far beyond Syria's borders. Notably, the fallout has produced clear winners, with Turkey and Israel at the forefront, and losers, including Russia and Iran. Meanwhile, some European countries have discreetly benefited from the situation without openly acknowledging their gains.
Making Sense of Trump’s Foreign Policy
Programmes
3 Dec 2024

Making Sense of Trump’s Foreign Policy

The U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) is a comprehensive document produced by the National Security Council in conjunction with the executive branch of the United States Government for Congress and then signed by the President. The NSS mainly outlines the U.S.’s major national security concerns and how the administration intends to address them using all instruments of national power. In this context, the 2024 NSS will be one of the most crucial concerns for the President-elect Donald Trump.
Remontada?! How Will Syrian Armed Factions Redefine the Regional Landscape
Programmes
2 Dec 2024

Remontada?! How Will Syrian Armed Factions Redefine the Regional Landscape

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, Syrian armed factions launched a coordinated offensive targeting regime-controlled sites and militia positions in the western countryside of Aleppo, northern Syria. This operation marks the most significant joint military action since 2016, involving key groups such as “Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham” (formerly Jabhat Al-Nusra). In a video statement, the Joint Operations Room declared the initiation of the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation. The announcement emphasised that the offensive was necessitated by recent regime movements threatening civilian areas, framing the operation as a defensive imperative rather than a strategic choice. The statement underscored that this action was in direct retaliation for the Syrian regime's bombardment of north-western regions, signalling a potential escalation in the conflict dynamics of the region.

Publications

The Blog

The 2025 European Blackout: Grid Fragility, Renewables, and Lessons for the Middle East

30 Apr 2025

Canada’s Elections in the Shadow of Trump

29 Apr 2025

Lebanon: A Pattern of Escalation in the Middle East

23 Mar 2025

Emergency Arab Summit: The End of Gaza’s Suffering?

25 Feb 2025

Lebanon’s Golden Opportunity: A New Era with General Joseph Aoun

15 Jan 2025

HMPV: Political Weapon or Health Threat?

8 Jan 2025

What is Next for Syria?

10 Dec 2024

Dubai Future Forum, 2024

24 Nov 2024

A New US President… A New Middle East!

10 Nov 2024

The UAE’s Vision for Peace in the Region

24 Sep 2024

Restoring Lost Deterrence: Pager Explosions in Lebanon

18 Sep 2024

Al Karamah Crossing Incident: Individual Act or Growing Resistance?

11 Sep 2024

Political Consequences of Germany’s Local Election

3 Sep 2024

Will Germany’s Political Shift Alter Europe’s Stance on Ukraine?

3 Sep 2024

The Economic Ramifications of Israel’s Pre-emptive Strikes on Hezbollah

25 Aug 2024

What is Happening in Britain?

8 Aug 2024

The Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh: Implications for the Region

31 Jul 2024

The Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

15 Jul 2024

BRICSPHONE: A Cultural Call to Unity to End Western Hegemony

8 Jul 2024

How Can New Think Tanks Navigate & Thrive in Changing Landscapes?

1 Jul 2024

BRICS Experts Forum 2024 “The Role of the BRICS in the Search for a New World Order”

26 Jun 2024

Security and Stability in the Mediterranean in Athens, Greece 2024

13 Jun 2024

What’s Next for Iran?

20 May 2024

Global Navigation Systems and Houthi Missiles

19 Feb 2024

Taiwan’s Elections: What Does it Bring for the World?

14 Jan 2024

Israel and the ICJ: Resuscitating Global Order

11 Jan 2024

Scrolling Through Their Childhood: Social Media’s Deep Impact on Coming Generations

20 Nov 2023

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