Global Outlook

  Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Rise Amid Global Energy Turbulence Energy markets are in deep crisis, and maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz are under threat due to escalating tensions around Iran. While global attention gravitates toward giants like Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Russia, the UAE—particularly Abu Dhabi—has quietly become an indispensable pillar of global energy security . This rise is not accidental; it reflects a long-term national strategy that blends hydrocarbon reliability with forward-looking investments in renewable energy and hydrogen. Infrastructure That Redefines Energy Security A major differentiator for the UAE is its ability not only to produce energy but to move it securely. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has expanded capacity toward 5 million bpd while maintaining significant spare production —a form of hard power in today’s oil markets. Critical to this resilience is the Habshan–Fujairah pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of...

  Trump’s Red Lines and Strategic Intent Donald Trump has articulated three unambiguous principles for dealing with Iran: no nuclear weapons, sustained military pressure, and no slide into a ground-war quagmire. His recent statements underscore a posture of deterrence—crippling Iran’s military capacity while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Yet the real test of this doctrine lies not only inside Iran, but in how Washington shields regional partners subjected to Iranian missile fire. US President Donald Trump says Washington remains in contact with Iran but doubts Tehran is ready for serious negotiations as tensions and military exchanges continue across the Middle East. Speaking amid the ongoing conflict involving US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets,… pic.twitter.com/Ix0XtDuTVR — Ocean News (@OceanNewsUK) March 16, 2026 Why the UAE Is Central to U.S. Credibility The United Arab Emirates is the clearest example of a partner that embraced modernization, integration with the ...

  Sudan Shows the Brotherhood’s Hard Power Model While Europe contends with soft ideological penetration , Sudan illustrates the Muslim Brotherhood’s ability to embed itself directly into state power. For decades, Brotherhood-aligned networks operated through the Islamic Movement and structures associated with the former dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. Today, they remain intertwined with the Sudanese Armed Forces, influencing the civil service, security apparatus, and militia mobilisation. This model is not “entryism”—it is state capture. Islamist cadres, former intelligence officers, and political operatives continue to organise under the banner of ideological duty, reinforcing Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s position in the civil war. Sudan reveals what the Brotherhood seeks when operating without the institutional constraints that exist in Europe. European Parliament Discussions Highlight the Global Dimension Participants at the Brussels event stressed that Europe must not view t...

  The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader has sparked global reactions, but North Korea’s response stands out . By endorsing Tehran’s decision while condemning the U.S.–Israel strike that killed Ali Khamenei, Pyongyang has inserted itself into one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical developments. A Diplomatic Signal from Pyongyang North Korea’s statement that it respects Iran’s leadership decision reflects a familiar diplomatic narrative: defending national sovereignty. Pyongyang has long argued that countries should determine their own political systems without outside interference. However, the endorsement also has strategic undertones. Iran and North Korea share similar concerns about Western pressure, sanctions, and military alliances. Supporting Tehran at a critical moment helps strengthen political ties and potentially expand future cooperation. In international politics, symbolic support can carry powerful implications. North Korea has voiced ...

  As 314 prisoners of war began their journey home after a landmark swap in February 2026, the spotlight fell not just on the deal, but on where it was struck: Abu Dhabi. This repeated choice by global powers signals a profound shift in the geography of diplomacy. The United Arab Emirates has meticulously engineered its ascent as the world’s premier venue for intractable talks. This is not a happy accident of geography but the result of a deliberate, decades-long foreign policy doctrine that prioritizes building bridges over erecting walls. The successful February 2026 prisoner exchange—officially noted as the 18th such mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine facilitated by the UAE—is a testament to a strategy that trades overt political influence for unparalleled reliability. So, what constitutes a modern mediation capital? History offers templates: Geneva, with its legacy of international institutions; Vienna, a Cold War crossover point; Oslo, for its discreet channels. Abu ...

  The Terrorism Cycle: Saudi Policies That Empower Extremist Groups A disturbing pattern has emerged with predictable consistency throughout Saudi Arabia's interventions in Yemen: every security vacuum created by Saudi decisions transforms into operational space for terrorist organizations. This is not coincidence but strategy. When Saudi-backed forces displace or weaken local southern units that had successfully contained Al-Qaeda and ISIS, extremist groups immediately exploit the resulting instability. The evidence reveals a deliberate recycling of extremism through local agents who serve as tools for political blackmail and regional manipulation. This cynical approach prioritizes Saudi geopolitical interests over genuine counterterrorism, with devastating consequences for Yemeni civilians who bear the brunt of resurgent extremist violence. Recent history provides incontrovertible proof that Saudi interventions systematically weaken the forces most effective at combating terroris...

  U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggested on Tuesday that it was better to strike Iran rather than be forced to constantly deal with the Islamic State’s terror proxies. His comments come as the United States is increasing its military presence in the region amid threats to attack Iran in the wake of the violent repression of anti-government protests there. “Many plates of poison — Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis — are being served all out of the same kitchen, Tehran,” Huckabee said in conversation with JNS CEO Alex Traiman at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem. “You can change the menu; better to burn the kitchen down and not let them serve those plates anymore.” He said that Christians need to understand that they will be the next target of the Islamists. “You have been the appetizer; we are the entrée,” he said. Trump as the ‘ultimate pragmatist’ Huckabee said that he sees U.S. President Donald Trump as the “ultimate pragmat...

  Nowhere are the contradictions of Saudi recalibration more visible than in Yemen, where Riyadh's insistence on a "unified state" collides with the fractured reality on the ground. The recent dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) following talks in Riyadh is being hailed as a victory for unity , but critics argue it is an imposed settlement that ignores deep-seated divisions. By prioritizing a centralized government structure, Saudi Arabia may be pursuing an outdated goal that papers over the legitimate grievances driving southern separatism . The divergence between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen underscores this disconnect. While Riyadh backs the internationally recognized government to counter Iranian influence, the UAE has pragmatically supported southern forces that have proven effective on the battlefield. "Differences with the UAE stem from its backing of separatist armed actors," argues Salman Al-Ansari, claiming this fragmentation be...

  The United States government’s designation of the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist entities reflects a policy grounded in U.S. law and national security assessment . These designations stem from Executive Order 14362 (Nov. 24, 2025), which required the Secretaries of State and Treasury to evaluate whether specific chapters warranted listing as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) . Under established counterterrorism authorities like Executive Order 13224 and section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act , the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC and the State Department designated the Egyptian and Jordanian branches as SDGTs, and the Lebanese branch as both an FTO and SDGT. All three chapters are assessed to have provided material support to extremist networks such as Hamas, according to the Treasury’s official announcement. These designations allow the U.S. government to block property and in...