Politics

UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan

Iran and Islamists a threat to Gulf safe haven

United Arab Emirates strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was formally elected president on 14 May, has led a realignment of the Middle East, creating a new anti-Iran axis with Israel while fighting a rising tide of political Islam in the region
Kais Saied's creeping coup

Who will save Tunisia's democracy now?

Tunisia's president has been carrying out a coup by degrees, demolishing the country's hard-fought democratic gains bit by bit. With an economy in turmoil and a splintered opposition, is there anybody that can stop him?
By Cathrin Schaer & Tarak Guizani & Soumaya Marzouki
Ukraine war

Iran – at Putin's beck and call?

While Russia's watershed invasion of Ukraine has up-ended long-established European foreign and security policy paradigms, it also poses significant security challenges for countries throughout Eurasia and beyond. As Ali Fathollah-Nejad writes, Iran is by no means immune to the geopolitical changes underway
By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
"Not our fight"

Why the Middle East doesn't fully support Ukraine

Middle Eastern countries are still on the fence when it comes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Their citizens point to the West's double standards surrounding conflict and refugees. Should Europe be worried, asks Cathrin Schaer?
By Cathrin Schaer
Open-source on Russia's crimes

Lessons learnt in Syria help Ukraine

Researchers have spent years collecting evidence of Russian war crimes in Syria, using everything from social media to satellite images. Open-source research has evolved. Cathrin Schaer asks whether it could help bring justice to Ukraine faster
By Cathrin Schaer
Turkish opposition

Courting Turkey’s disenchanted electorate

Despite the economic crisis and Turkey's increasingly undemocratic track record, surveys show the ruling AKP is still the party of choice. So what exactly is holding back the opposition? Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
By Ayşe Karabat
Turkey and Central Asia

One nation, six states?

Turkey is turning towards the Turkic nations of Central Asia, intensifying its economic, diplomatic and military relationships with these countries. So what is driving Turkey’s Central Asia policy? Are we seeing a resurgence in nationalist Pan-Turkic geopolitics? Essay by Yasar Aydin
By Yaşar Aydın
Europe's gas supply

Reshuffling the EastMed cards

In a bid to become less dependent on Russia, Europe is seeking new sources of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean. War in the Ukraine has, however, led to new tensions over the EastMed pipeline project. By Ronald Meinardus
By Ronald Meinardus
Middle East conflict

"Palestinian refugees have a right to the truth"

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) wants to make public several million documents it has collected on those displaced in 1948 and their descendants. The project is intended to help deal with trauma. But funds are lacking, says Dorothee Klaus of UNRWA in an interview with Jannis Hagmann
By Jannis Hagmann
Dayton, Putin, the EU

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 30-year struggle

Separatists continue to threaten to destroy Bosnia & Herzegovina. A look back indicates the tiny western Balkan state is lacking democracy, the rule of law, prosperity and the prospect of being integrated into the EU soon. By Rudiger Rossig
By Rudiger Rossig
Ukraine and Iraq

Compassion yes, sympathy no

Iraq is in a quandary over Russia and Ukraine. Its attitude toward Kiev is ambivalent, yet it still hopes to emerge as one of the winners in this war. If Russia fails as an oil supplier, Iraq could step in. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Ukraine conflict

Chechen and Tatar Muslims take up arms against Russia

Chechen warlord and Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov has boasted of his soldiers' part in Russia's war in Ukraine. But many Chechen and Tatar Muslims are defending Ukraine and settling scores with the rulers of their homelands. By Monir Ghaedi
By Monir Ghaedi