As Arab states rekindle ties with Damascus, other regional states or actors risk seeing al Assad’s success as proof that force is a valid option to quell threats to their control.
By Ryan Bohl
The high-level visit to Tehran reflects the UAE’s desire for increased dialogue with its long-time regional rival for the sake of security and economic benefits.
Guided by the UAE’s success, Riyadh will find clever and covert ways to gradually reshape public opinion toward normalization.
Compared with Qatar and the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will be much slower to naturalize the descendants of desert nomads living within their borders.
With the U.S. focused elsewhere, Doha’s regional security will increasingly hinge on keeping close ties with Turkey while avoiding antagonizing bigger rivals like the UAE.
The ruling PJD's loss of 112 parliamentary seats reflects Moroccans’ economic frustrations, as well as the waning popularity of Islamist politics in the country.
During the conference in Baghdad, Iraq pushed for mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which would help stabilize the broader region.
Abu Dhabi is working to improve its relations with regional rivals in preparation for a reduced U.S. presence in the Middle East.
The once-close Saudi-Emirati relationship is fraying amid overlapping economic interests and strategic differences on issues like Yemen.
By Ryan Bohl
The new Israeli government’s hawkish Palestinian policies will impede its push to start anew with Jordan after years of stormy relations.
