https://mena-studies.org/topics/geopolitics/Recent content in Geopolitics on MENA Research CenterHugoen-GBThu, 05 Nov 2026 14:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/libya-books-in-tripoli-troops-in-the-sahara/Thu, 05 Nov 2026 14:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/libya-books-in-tripoli-troops-in-the-sahara/After a few days in Tripoli, Denys Kolesnyk argues that Libya’s future is increasingly being shaped in the Sahara and in foreign capitals, and that France has a role to play.https://mena-studies.org/the-war-that-proved-him-right-mohammed-soliman-on-iran-west-asia-and-whats-left-of-american-power/Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:06:32 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-war-that-proved-him-right-mohammed-soliman-on-iran-west-asia-and-whats-left-of-american-power/Mohammed Soliman does not like the phrase “Middle East.” It is, he has argued for several years now, a cartographic relic, a term coined by an American naval strategist in 1902 to describe the sea lanes between Suez and Singapore, and it has outlived its…https://mena-studies.org/amelie-chelly-by-closing-the-strait-of-hormuz-iran-moved-from-rhetoric-to-action/Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:56:47 +0200https://mena-studies.org/amelie-chelly-by-closing-the-strait-of-hormuz-iran-moved-from-rhetoric-to-action/In this interview, Amélie Chelly discusses the structure of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ and Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy, which has been constrained by an unstable regional context – ranging from the Syrian civil war to recent confrontations with Israel…https://mena-studies.org/syria-as-an-energy-transit-corridor-between-promising-geography-and-a-constrained-reality/Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:41:31 +0200https://mena-studies.org/syria-as-an-energy-transit-corridor-between-promising-geography-and-a-constrained-reality/Iran’s attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli war on Iran pushed countries around the world to search for alternative routes and corridors. The issue of transforming Syria into an energy transit hub returned to the forefront of…https://mena-studies.org/fragile-peace-in-israel-why-an-eruption-of-violence-is-only-a-matter-of-time/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:36:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/fragile-peace-in-israel-why-an-eruption-of-violence-is-only-a-matter-of-time/Although Israel has carried out relentless military operations against Hamas for the past two years, the chances for lasting peace are extremely slim. On the contrary, it seems only a matter of time before violence erupts again. This time, not necessarily in…https://mena-studies.org/challenges-to-expanding-the-abraham-accords/Sat, 13 Dec 2025 11:38:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/challenges-to-expanding-the-abraham-accords/Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 and 2021 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, no additional countries have joined the framework. At the same time, none of the signatories have withdrawn. The Abraham…https://mena-studies.org/the-new-middle-east-ignites-competition-between-turkiye-and-israel/Sun, 07 Dec 2025 10:42:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/the-new-middle-east-ignites-competition-between-turkiye-and-israel/The Gaza Strip war reshaped the region, upending the balance of power and opening the door to scenarios that were previously unlikely in the Middle East. The period between Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the twelve-day war between Israel and…https://mena-studies.org/iran-at-the-heart-of-global-transformations/Sat, 29 Nov 2025 09:53:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/iran-at-the-heart-of-global-transformations/At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iran once again emerged as one of the central topics in global discussions.https://mena-studies.org/khamenei-besieged-by-domestic-crises-and-regional-deadlocks/Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:04:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/khamenei-besieged-by-domestic-crises-and-regional-deadlocks/As the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih enters its fifth decade, the system faces unprecedented challenges that seriously threaten its survival. At the center of these challenges stands Ali Khamenei himself, the leader of the clerical republic— not only the…https://mena-studies.org/democracy-as-blasphemy-and-criminality/Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:43:23 +0100https://mena-studies.org/democracy-as-blasphemy-and-criminality/Democracy, in its noble theoretical meaning, is government of the people, by the people, and for the people — the fruit of centuries of struggle against tyranny and injustice. But when it is applied in societies lacking political, cultural, and scientific…https://mena-studies.org/iran-on-the-edge-of-a-volcano/Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:12:03 +0200https://mena-studies.org/iran-on-the-edge-of-a-volcano/Iran is witnessing decisive historic moments today, as internal tensions escalate and waves of popular protests continue to unfold — protests that reflect overwhelming anger against a tyrannical regime. These uprisings are not mere spontaneous reactions; they…https://mena-studies.org/is-india-turning-its-back-on-the-united-states/Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:09:55 +0200https://mena-studies.org/is-india-turning-its-back-on-the-united-states/When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States shortly after Donald Trump assumed the presidency, the discussions were warm, marked by friendly gestures and promises of expanding trade. Yet, within six months, the scene had changed…https://mena-studies.org/russia-seeks-victory-in-afghanistan/Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:03:03 +0200https://mena-studies.org/russia-seeks-victory-in-afghanistan/Russia has become the first country in the world to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan — a move that constitutes strong support for the movement, which has failed to honor its commitments to the international community, especially…https://mena-studies.org/civil-society-and-the-state-what-should-their-relationship-be/Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:56:42 +0200https://mena-studies.org/civil-society-and-the-state-what-should-their-relationship-be/This paper explores the reasons behind the failed attempts to give birth to civil society institutions in our miserable East in general, and in Syria in particular. It also examines the nature of the relationship that should exist between political authority…https://mena-studies.org/franco-saudi-push-to-recognise-palestine-whats-next/Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:36:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/franco-saudi-push-to-recognise-palestine-whats-next/In this conversation we discuss France’s recent recognition of Palestine and its broader implications for the Middle East and global diplomacy. Emmanuel Dupuy, president of the IPSE and MENA Research Center Associate Fellow, analyses France’s longstanding position…https://mena-studies.org/the-israeli-attack-exposes-the-fragility-of-the-iranian-russian-alliance/Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:18:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-israeli-attack-exposes-the-fragility-of-the-iranian-russian-alliance/Russian-Iranian relations are complex. While the two countries share broad opposition to Western influence, the balance of common, overlapping, and diverging interests is far more intricate than it appears. Despite the deepening of ties in recent years…https://mena-studies.org/how-europe-could-put-economic-pressure-on-tehran/Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/how-europe-could-put-economic-pressure-on-tehran/Germany, France, and Britain have long anticipated last-minute interference from Moscow in their talks with Iran. Now, that scenario appears to be unfolding: according to reports, Russia has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking an…https://mena-studies.org/imperial-phantom-pains-erdogan-putin-and-their-fantasies/Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:23:29 +0200https://mena-studies.org/imperial-phantom-pains-erdogan-putin-and-their-fantasies/On an autumn evening in 2023, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stood before his supporters and spoke of Gaza. For Turkey, he declared, this embattled strip of land was no different from Adana, a sprawling city in the country’s south. The remark stuck—not for its…https://mena-studies.org/the-mullah-regime-and-europes-dilemma/Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:15:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-mullah-regime-and-europes-dilemma/Three months after the war with Israel, Tehran projects an air of calm. The scars are visible—collapsed floors in the north, missile strikes downtown, a damaged state broadcaster. Yet in the streets, silence reigns. People have learned to keep quiet: out of…https://mena-studies.org/russia-and-iran-aligned-in-foreign-policy/Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:00:06 +0200https://mena-studies.org/russia-and-iran-aligned-in-foreign-policy/The White House hailed it as a “historic peace agreement” — a joint declaration signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Moscow, however, described the event merely as a “meeting…https://mena-studies.org/new-tension-between-france-and-algeria-deal-a-deadly-blow-to-economic-relations/Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:25:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/new-tension-between-france-and-algeria-deal-a-deadly-blow-to-economic-relations/Several French business owners operating in Algeria have launched what amounts to a cry for help to save their businesses from collapse amid the growing tensions between the two countries in recent months. Two French parliamentarians who recently visited…https://mena-studies.org/irans-lost-influence-in-the-middle-east-and-its-alternative/Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:13:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/irans-lost-influence-in-the-middle-east-and-its-alternative/It appears that Iran has come to realize that its influence has significantly diminished in the Middle East. In the best-case scenarios, Tehran needs many years to repair its troubled relationships with the active states in the region. This comes after the…https://mena-studies.org/qatar-and-iran-a-risky-relationship/Sat, 02 Aug 2025 17:12:54 +0200https://mena-studies.org/qatar-and-iran-a-risky-relationship/It was one of the most unusual military attacks in recent history: Iran launched a dozen missiles at the Gulf state of Qatar—specifically targeting the U.S. air base at Al Udeid. Yet at the same time, Tehran appeared intent on preventing any real damage.…https://mena-studies.org/what-is-the-fate-of-european-influence-in-the-middle-east/Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:31:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/what-is-the-fate-of-european-influence-in-the-middle-east/Europe has long played a pivotal role in the modern history of the Middle East, particularly in carving it up into states and entities during the British and French mandates. Even after the colonial era ended, European influence remained strong, shaping…https://mena-studies.org/what-are-saudi-arabias-goals-in-syria/Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:43:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/what-are-saudi-arabias-goals-in-syria/Saudi Arabia is playing an increasingly prominent role in rehabilitating Syria and reintegrating it into the international community, especially following the rise of a new government with foreign policy priorities markedly different from those of former…https://mena-studies.org/eu-foreign-ministers-without-a-clear-course-divisions-over-israel-deepen/Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:56:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/eu-foreign-ministers-without-a-clear-course-divisions-over-israel-deepen/After a two-hour video conference on the escalating Middle East conflict, the verdict from the EU’s new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was sobering: the main outcome was coordination on evacuating EU citizens. When asked whether the EU had discussed…https://mena-studies.org/frances-palestine-offensive-macrons-risky-bet-for-a-new-middle-east-peace-process/Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:55:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/frances-palestine-offensive-macrons-risky-bet-for-a-new-middle-east-peace-process/As the Middle East conflict deepens and Gaza lies in ruins, France is attempting a bold and high-stakes diplomatic initiative. Co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, the Palestine Conference held in New York from June 17 to 20 aimed for nothing less than a breakthrough…https://mena-studies.org/between-partnership-and-enmity-the-complex-history-of-israeli-iranian-relations/Sat, 14 Jun 2025 09:44:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/between-partnership-and-enmity-the-complex-history-of-israeli-iranian-relations/Today, Israel and Iran rank among the fiercest rivals in the Middle East. Their mutual hostility is marked by sharp rhetoric, proxy conflicts, and a tense security situation with global implications. However, this deep-rooted confrontation has not always…https://mena-studies.org/tunisian-efforts-to-mediate-libyan-dialogue/Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:24:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/tunisian-efforts-to-mediate-libyan-dialogue/Amid the recent clashes in Tripoli and heightened tensions on the Libyan scene, Tunisia has reemerged as a diplomatic actor proposing itself as a neutral ground for reconciliation. During its participation in the Arab League Summit held in Baghdad, the…https://mena-studies.org/egypt-withdraws-from-africa-peace-3-military-exercises-as-diplomatic-crisis-deepens-between-tunisia-and-morocco/Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:53:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/egypt-withdraws-from-africa-peace-3-military-exercises-as-diplomatic-crisis-deepens-between-tunisia-and-morocco/Informed sources have confirmed that the Arab Republic of Egypt has decided not to participate in the “Africa Peace 3” military exercises hosted by Algeria between May 21 and 27, 2025. The decision follows Cairo’s discovery that the Polisario Front was…https://mena-studies.org/between-mediation-and-discord-the-european-union-in-the-gaza-conflict/Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:42:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/between-mediation-and-discord-the-european-union-in-the-gaza-conflict/Since the massive outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, the European Union has been struggling to find a common position on handling the Gaza conflict. While some member states grant Israel the unrestricted right to self-defense…https://mena-studies.org/the-eus-middle-east-dilemma/Tue, 03 Jun 2025 08:56:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/the-eus-middle-east-dilemma/A powerful message echoed through the streets of Brussels recently: over 20,000 people marched through the Belgian capital, demanding an end to the bloodshed in Gaza and calling on the European Union to take a tougher stance against Israel. Their demands were…https://mena-studies.org/a-president-as-businessman-in-the-gulf/Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:51:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/a-president-as-businessman-in-the-gulf/Donald Trump remains true to form—especially on the world stage. Unlike previous U.S. presidents, who traditionally chose neighbors like Canada or Mexico, or close allies like the UK, for their first foreign trip, Trump once again made Saudi Arabia his first…https://mena-studies.org/gulf-rulers-are-feeling-uneasy/Sat, 24 May 2025 17:57:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/gulf-rulers-are-feeling-uneasy/At first, the atmosphere was one of polite celebration. At a reception in Abu Dhabi marking Israel’s Independence Day, Yossi Shelly, Israel’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, addressed his guests with carefully chosen words that echoed the official…https://mena-studies.org/michel-makinsky-trump-needs-a-success-story-like-the-jcpoa/Sun, 18 May 2025 12:26:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/michel-makinsky-trump-needs-a-success-story-like-the-jcpoa/With Donald Trump aiming to relaunch nuclear negotiations with Iran, we spoke to Michel Makinsky, Iran specialist and associate expert at the MENA Research Center, to explore the reasons behind this policy shift and the regional dynamics. The interview was…https://mena-studies.org/xavier-driencourt-president-tebboune-has-gone-too-far/Fri, 16 May 2025 17:07:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/xavier-driencourt-president-tebboune-has-gone-too-far/Last month we had the Algerian analysis of the crisis in Franco-Algerian relations, and in order to get a balanced view on the matter, we spoke to Xavier Driencourt, French diplomat and Ambassador to Algeria (2007-2012, 2017-2020). The interview was carried…https://mena-studies.org/libyan-diplomacy-reform-or-power-play/Thu, 08 May 2025 08:55:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/libyan-diplomacy-reform-or-power-play/In a controversial move raising both praise and suspicion, Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has announced a sweeping reorganization of the country’s foreign missions, the suspension of government-funded foreign study programs, and the review…https://mena-studies.org/saudi-arabias-intentions-as-mediator-in-the-ukraine-war/Sun, 27 Apr 2025 15:50:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/saudi-arabias-intentions-as-mediator-in-the-ukraine-war/For Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the current situation represents a classic win-win. Following the disastrous meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now offers the…https://mena-studies.org/brussels-and-ankara-back-in-dialogue-mode/Thu, 24 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/brussels-and-ankara-back-in-dialogue-mode/This month, the European Union and Turkey resumed a so-called “high-level dialogue” on their economic relations for the first time in six years. The talks, held in Brussels, were led by Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission and…https://mena-studies.org/tehran-threatens-escalation-with-washington/Tue, 22 Apr 2025 10:57:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/tehran-threatens-escalation-with-washington/Iran has ruled out direct talks with the United States over its controversial nuclear program for the time being. According to Iranian Prime Minister Massud Peseschkian, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei informed U.S. President Donald Trump in an official…https://mena-studies.org/qatars-strategic-balancing-understanding-dohas-foreign-policy/Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:28:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/qatars-strategic-balancing-understanding-dohas-foreign-policy/In light of recent US-Iran talks hosted by Oman and broader developments in the Middle East, we spoke with Dr. Ariel Admoni, an expert on Qatar’s foreign and domestic affairs, to gain a better understanding of the foreign policy, internal dynamics, and…https://mena-studies.org/irans-risks-and-western-pressure/Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:42:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/irans-risks-and-western-pressure/“We cannot allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” said the American president at the White House, addressing Tehran. “We are in the final stages with Iran. Something will happen very soon.”https://mena-studies.org/erdogans-foreign-policy-options/Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:56:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/erdogans-foreign-policy-options/A few days ago, the Turkish daily newspaper Sabah , which traditionally maintains close ties to President Erdoğan, published an article that could be interpreted as a certain offer to Europe. The background of this article was the participation of Turkish…https://mena-studies.org/geopolitical-challenges-persist-from-the-middle-east-to-europe/Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:47:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/geopolitical-challenges-persist-from-the-middle-east-to-europe/Amid rising geopolitical tensions, we had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Witold Rodkiewicz, a specialist in Russian foreign policy at the Center for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw. In addition to his analytical work, Mr. Rodkiewicz teaches at the…https://mena-studies.org/general-romanenko-the-us-sets-a-new-level-of-strategic-vision/Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/general-romanenko-the-us-sets-a-new-level-of-strategic-vision/Given the recent messaging from the Trump administration regarding NATO, the EU, Ukraine and Russia, we decided to discuss it with Lieutenant General (retired) Ihor…https://mena-studies.org/interview-with-khaldoun-alnabwani-and-michel-makinsky/Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/interview-with-khaldoun-alnabwani-and-michel-makinsky/In this final discussion of 2024, hosted by Denys Kolesnyk for the MENA Research Center, two distinguished guests—Michel Makinsky and Khaldoun Alnabwani—reflected on the major events that shaped the year. They discussed Donald Trump’s re-election, the fall of…https://mena-studies.org/the-fall-of-bashar-al-assad-in-syria-the-unexpected-culmination-of-2024/Sat, 28 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/the-fall-of-bashar-al-assad-in-syria-the-unexpected-culmination-of-2024/The end of the year was marked by the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. We spoke to Nathaniel Garstecka, a journalist working for the Polish opinion…https://mena-studies.org/the-fall-of-assads-regime-in-syria-between-hopes-and-threats/Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0100https://mena-studies.org/the-fall-of-assads-regime-in-syria-between-hopes-and-threats/The collapse of the long-standing regime of Bashar al-Assad, and with it the Syrian Arab Republic, has been viewed by many commentators as a positive development. In…https://mena-studies.org/qatars-foreign-policy-between-neutrality-and-hypocrisy/Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:58:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/qatars-foreign-policy-between-neutrality-and-hypocrisy/Qatar is famous for its prominent role as a mediator. This role extends not just regarding Hamas and Israel, or Iran and the US, but beyond, including mediation between Russia and Ukraine. For instance, Qatar brokered a deal for the return of Ukrainian…https://mena-studies.org/shifting-power-armenias-move-away-from-russia-and-irans-regional-ambitions/Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/shifting-power-armenias-move-away-from-russia-and-irans-regional-ambitions/Join Zineb Riboua (Hudson Institute) and Richard Giragosian (Regional Studies Center) as they examine the intricate geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Armenia’s critical decisions post-Nagorno-Karabakh war. With Iran’s foreign policy under scrutiny…https://mena-studies.org/global-geopolitics-conference-us-elections-middle-east-and-china/Sun, 04 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/global-geopolitics-conference-us-elections-middle-east-and-china/End of July 2024, Denys Kolesnyk hosted for the MENA Research Center an online conversation to discuss global issues. The event brought together prominent experts, including Mr James Greene, a consultant and a former NATO official with extensive experience in…https://mena-studies.org/post-electoral-france-is-in-a-deep-political-crisis/Sat, 27 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/post-electoral-france-is-in-a-deep-political-crisis/Earlier this month, snap legislative elections took place in France, where the French were invited by President Emmanuel Macron to elect 577 deputies after his…https://mena-studies.org/mena-research-center-conference-july-2024/Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/mena-research-center-conference-july-2024/On June 24th, 2024, a video conference was held, focusing on several pressing global issues, hosted by French analyst and consultant Denys Kolesnyk. The event brought together notable experts including Professor Brigham McCown from the Hudson Institute…https://mena-studies.org/michael-doran-hamas-israel-we-applaud-while-they-die/Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0200https://mena-studies.org/michael-doran-hamas-israel-we-applaud-while-they-die/As the Hamas-Israeli conflict renewed, Denys Kolesnyk, a French consultant and analyst, had the privilege to discuss it, as well as the Middle East and the US approach to this region, with Dr. Michael Doran, an American analyst of the international politics…