USA Archives - Arab Digest

MBZ builds an empire of ports

15 January 202015 January 2020William LawHorn of Africa, Sudan, UAE, USA

The United Arab Emirates already has a string of ports in the Horn of Africa running along the Red Sea; it aspires to add another in Sudan.

Death of an Honest Broker

13 January 2020William LawIran, Oman, USA

At a crucial moment, with tensions between Iran and the US running dangerously high, the region loses the voice of an independent honest broker.

Hamas and Israel: has the assassination of Suleimani killed an incipient deal?

9 January 20209 January 2020William LawIran, Israel, Palestine, USA

A week ago Hamas and Israel appeared to be close to a deal. The Suleimani assassination may, for the foreseeable future, have just scuppered it.

The Gulf and Global Markets

6 January 20206 January 2020William LawIran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Suleimani killing, USA

Thus far a modest market reaction and US President Donald Trump’s wish to avoid a major spike in oil prices as he gears up for his re-election campaign are signs that war is not the inevitable outcome of the Sulemaini assassination

Tilting to war: the assassination of Suleimani

3 January 2020William LawIran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, USA, Yemen

The assassination of the Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Suleimani dramatically alters the political landscape of the Middle East. How Iran responds will determine if the region is marching toward a major war.

Of politics and anti-Semitism

18 December 201918 December 2019William Law#anti-Semitism, Israel, Palestine, UK, USA

A US presidential executive order and a declaration by the British government signal that the definition of what constitutes anti-Semitism is about to be significantly broadened.

Searching for multipolarity at the Doha Forum

17 December 201917 December 2019William LawDoha Forum, Iran, Turkey, USA

The goal of the 19th Doha Forum was to drive forward discussion of multipolarity in a world riven with conflicts and driven by bipolar confrontations.

Oil: Riyadh Trumped!

4 December 20194 December 2019William Lawoil, Opec, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA

Saudi Arabia heads into the Vienna OPEC meeting facing stiff headwinds in its bid to secure a higher price for oil.

The struggle for Tripoli

2 December 20192 December 2019William LawDrones, Libya, Russia, Turkey, UAE, USA

Too many players engaged on both sides in Libya’s civil war to assume that Khalifa Haftar will emerge victorious. America is the wild card.

Israeli settlements: the position on the ground

27 November 201927 November 2019William LawIsrael, Palestine, USA, West Bank settlers

Emboldened by the indulgent attitude of the Trump Administration, the Israeli settler movement continues to pursue its West Bank agenda.