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Abu Dhabi will pivot to ‘soft power’ security policies

Location:

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UAE military engagement abroad since the 1990s has earned it the nickname ‘Little Sparta’. Its activities included a lengthy mission alongside NATO forces in Afghanistan and…

Yemen’s war will restart if UN talks fail

Location:

YEMEN

Both sides -- the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and the Huthi -- appear ready to give Grundberg a little more time to secure a new agreement…

Economic warfare in Yemen could boost piracy risk

Location:

YEMEN

Since it began in March 2015, the many-sided conflict has become internationalised, following threats to the vital shipping artery in the Bab al-Mandab strait, through which trade…

Engaging more Yemen actors may marginally help talks

Location:

YEMEN

This follows a new wave of Huthi attacks on Saudi territory on November 20, and also coincides with an upsurge in fighting on the Marib, Ta'izz and Hodeida fronts. The escalation…

Acceptance of Indian-run Kashmir’s new status may grow

Location:

INDIA

Last month, a handful of locally active parties formed a new grouping -- the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) -- to seek peaceful restoration of that status…

International ground force unlikely in Syria

Location:

SYRIA/INT

While intensified air attacks will help weaken and contain ISG, they will not destroy it unless accompanied by a substantial ground force to defeat ISG on the ground. However, the…

France-Turkey ties shape Europe's Libya policies

Location:

LIBYA

France has supported eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar while Italy backs the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). Germany has been enlisted by the UN to…

World Cup will benefit Gulf states' tourism sectors

Location:

GULF STATES

Hotels in Qatar are fully booked and expensive. Many fans are opting to stay in neighbouring countries, from where dozens of newly introduced shuttle flights will transport them…

UN envoy departure will undermine Libya peace talks

Location:

LIBYA

The draft ceasefire agreement has been in the works since before the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UNSRSG) to Libya, Ghassan Salame, launched a dialogue in…

US efforts could only paper over the Gulf rift

Location:

US/GULF STATES

A senior US administration official briefed in advance that the Saudi-Emirati rift with Qatar was to be “a key point of discussion”, with the possibility of a special session of…