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 ...
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