Russia
All countries-
Germany's energy policy and the Middle East
Beware of tunnel vision!
Foresight is needed to turn the tide of German policy. Being independent of Russia must not lead to dependence on authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. By Kristin Helberg
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Syrian civil war
Landmines – Syria's faceless killer
Family members from three generations were planning to sample the long-forgotten peacetime pleasure of a simple family picnic in Syria when a landmine brought a bloody end to their outing – and to the lives of 21 family members
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Vladmir Putin’s war in Ukraine
Why the public support in the Arab world?
Although many Arabs express sympathy for the Ukrainian people, social media reveals a current of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin that is rooted in polarisation, writes Amr Salah
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Syria and Ukraine
Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football
Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war. Diana Hodali reports
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Putin’s new world order
What does the war in Ukraine mean?
Despite what heads of state may claim, the Russian attack on Ukraine is not a wake-up call for a self-confident Europe that defends its values. The war is accelerating the decline of the old continent and rousing familiar spectres from the past that never really went away. Meanwhile, the Middle East is reprising its not unfamiliar role as an under-reported fringe region. Essay by Stefan Buchen
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Osman Kavala and Turkey's travesty of justice
Exploiting the fog of war
By supporting Ukraine and presenting himself as a regional mediator and peacemaker, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has found the political cover he needs to crack down further on potential dissidents and opposition figures at home, writes Seyla Benhabib
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Western Sahara
Is a gas crisis with Algeria on the horizon for Spain?
Madrid's about-face on the Western Sahara conflict has enraged Algeria. Trade relations have been frozen unilaterally and a cut in gas supplies to Europe could be in the pipeline. By Ralph Schulze
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Libya and the Ukraine conflict
The ever-present threat of war
A ceasefire has been in effect in Libya for the past year and a half. Yet after Russia's attack on Ukraine, another proxy war looms in Africa's most oil-rich country. Mirco Keilberth reports from Tunis
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Ukraine war and the Middle East
Will the wheat crisis bring more food independence?
Middle Eastern countries are boosting their food independence to counter the coming wheat shortfall. But despite some encouraging initiatives, existing challenges make food sovereignty almost impossible – for now. Jennifer Holleis reports
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Iran and the Ukraine war
Ali Khamenei prepares for the future
The Ukraine war is changing the global geopolitical landscape. Ali Khamenei, Iran's most powerful man, is already cosying up to Russia in anticipation of a harsh post-war reality. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Saudia Arabia and the UAE
Getting Washington wrong
Analyst Iyad El-Baghdadi examines the ongoing tensions between the United States and the two Gulf states – Saudi Arabia and the UAE – and their geopolitical implications in interview with Rayyan Al-Shawaf
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Middle East oil states
Surging energy prices likely to de-rail reforms?
The Ukraine war has seen energy prices spike with oil producers in the Middle East making more money than ever. But will it put the brakes on long-planned reforms to diversify oil-reliant economies in the region? By Cathrin Schaer