Strategic Interests Drive Gulf Policy Toward Syria
Many Gulf states have shifted course on Syria, prioritizing concerns over growing Iranian and Turkish influence.
Many Gulf states have shifted course on Syria, prioritizing concerns over growing Iranian and Turkish influence.
The death of the traditional and uncompromising Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa clears the way for the reformist crown prince to head the government. Still, state and financial security will continue to top Bahrain’s priorities.
On April 23, AGSIW hosted a virtual private roundtable with H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, ambassador of Bahrain to the United States.
Israel’s ties intensified in recent years with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and created an infrastructure conducive to the normalization of relations.
The coronavirus pandemic represents an opportunity to reevaluate existing policies and tools, and climate change provides the needed lens for redirecting development onto sustainable trajectories.
The normalization of relations with Israel provides another grievance Tehran can use to mobilize Bahrain’s Shias against their rulers.
While the UAE had a complex range of goals, Bahrain is focused on Iran.
While political narratives on Israel are shifting under the influence of some determined state leaders, resistance to normalization remains across Gulf societies.
A number of countries are expected to follow suit, each for its own distinct reasons.
As Gulf Arab policymakers continue to confront an ambiguous future, they will rely heavily on familiar economic policy measures and avoid straying from the status quo as long as possible.
Learn MoreThrough its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
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