Opinion & Analysis
Opinion articles and political analysis by Dr. Salem Alketbi on Gulf, Arab, Iranian and international affairs.
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Armies to markets: The changed nature of power
Armored warfare of the past century has yielded to conflicts that begin with economic coercion. What is changing is both…
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United States
Has the security equation in Europe changed?
The US military presence in Europe can no longer be treated as a fixed fact or an unquestionable guarantee. What…
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Iran
Iran’s oil gamble could turn Gulf attrition into Tehran’s own nightmare
Can Iran turn the Gulf into a long attrition arena without itself becoming the most attrited party?
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UAE
Abu Dhabi sees leaving OPEC as a matter of national interest
The United Arab Emirates' withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ did not appear to be a technical move tied only to…
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Extremism
UAE dismantles Iran-linked terror cells
Amid regional tensions and Iranian attacks on Gulf states, information disclosed in the United Arab Emirates shows the activity of…
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Gulf security
Why is the UAE reappraising its alliances?
Reuters quoted an Emirati official April 29 as saying the country is reviewing the viability and relevance of multilateral organizations,…
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Extremism
What threat model did the UAE confront, and why should we care?
The recent statement by the United Arab Emirates State Security Service announcing the dismantling of a terrorist organization linked to…
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Extremism
The Strait of Hormuz: How the world endorsed Iran’s blackmail
There is a question rarely asked amid the clamor over the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz: how did…
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Gulf security
Peace of the wicked: Mohammad Javad Zarif reframes the Iranian threat
In moments of major change, the most dangerous projects do not come as threats; they come in language that appears…
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Extremism
A regional scramble to borrow from Iran’s playbook
Several regional actors are moving quietly, not to contain the fallout from the current phase but to fill the vacuum…
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