Contributor
Ali Bakir is an assistant professor at Qatar University’s Ibn Khaldon Center for Humanities and Social Sciences. He is also a nonresident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. Bakir writes extensively on geopolitical and security developments in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on Turkey’s foreign and defense policies, and Turkey-Gulf relations.
The Gaza war has demonstrated the strategic utility and resilience of the detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, its longer-term sustainability may depend on unpredictable regional dynamics or other outside factors.
While the strategic value of Iran’s drones seems limited thus far, Moscow seems to view them as an inexpensive – and punitive – way to maintain leverage in the conflict.
The Saudi crown prince’s trip to Ankara may resolve questions about the seriousness of reconciliation efforts between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The security dimension of the recent agreements between Turkey and the UAE shows an acknowledgment of the emerging shared threat perception stemming from the proliferation of pro-Iranian militias in the region.
On September 29, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion on Gulf interests and involvement in the eastern Mediterranean basin.
