Saudi Arabia: A New Player in the Global Tourism Market?
Natasha Metni Torbey 21/03 14:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Saudi Arabia, long known as an oil powerhouse and the cradle of Islam, now seeks to establish itself as a global tourism destination. Through large-scale projects and a strategic shift toward tourism, the Kingdom aims to diversify its economy and attract visitors from around the world. However, there are significant challenges to ...
Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Bid for a New Era
Natasha Metni Torbey 21/03 14:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Formula One Middle East Saudi Arabia
By 2030, Saudi Arabia envisions a radical reinvention of itself. Since April 25, 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been leading a bold and transformative agenda, centered on innovation, economic diversification, and unprecedented social reform. Vision 2030 is reshaping Saudi Arabia’s economic, political, and social landscape ...
MBS's Diplomatic Gamble: Reshaping Saudi Arabia’s Geopolitical Role
Natasha Metni Torbey 21/03 14:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Saudi Arabia Donald Trump Houthi Israel Middle East
Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia has undertaken a series of diplomatic maneuvers that are redefining its role in the Middle East. As a key regional power, the Kingdom aims to position itself as an influential mediator, forge new strategic alliances and normalize relations with pivotal players. These ...
MBS’s Economic Reforms: Success or Continued Dependence on Oil?
Natasha Metni Torbey 21/03 13:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Middle East Saudi Arabia MBS KSA
Since Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) ascended to power in 2015, Saudi Arabia has undertaken a series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at reducing its reliance on oil and diversifying its revenue sources. These reforms are the cornerstone of Vision 2030, a blueprint designed to transform the Kingdom into a modern, diversified global economic power. ...
Social Reforms in Saudi Arabia: Navigating Modernity and Internal Resistance
Natasha Metni Torbey 21/03 13:40 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Formula One Saudi Arabia MBS KSA ISLAM
Since 2015, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia has undergone a significant shift in its social and economic policies. Women's rights, the opening of certain cultural sectors and the management of internal resistance have been central to this transformation. While MBS has positioned himself as a leader ...
Syria: A New Phase of Conflict Between Pro-Assad Forces and the Authorities?
Natasha Metni Torbey 07/03 18:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syria Bashar Assad Latakia Conflict Ahmad al-Sharaa
The Pandora’s box that opened in Syria in 2011 is far from closed. After the civil war that broke out 14 years ago, a new phase of tensions has begun in the wake of former President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster and his exile in Russia. On Thursday, fighting intensified across the country, particularly in the west, as supporters of the former ...
Ghada Aoun: Retirement Amid Judicial Controversies
Natasha Metni Torbey 03/03 17:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ghada Aoun Free Patriotic Movement Central Bank of Lebanon Judiciary Lebanon
She pursued her judicial campaign until the very last day before the official end of her tenure within the judiciary. On March 1, 2024, the prosecutor at the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal, Ghada Aoun, who had been dismissed from her duties in May 2023 by the Judiciary’s Disciplinary Council, retired. True to her nature, however, she did not ...
President Aoun in KSA: Will He Succeed in Restoring Bilateral Ties?
Natasha Metni Torbey 27/02 21:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Saudi Arabia Joseph Aoun MBS
For his first official visit abroad, President Joseph Aoun will head to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, then to Cairo for an extraordinary Arab League summit two days later. These visits could mark a turning point in Lebanon's diplomatic relations with the Arab world, particularly with Saudi Arabia, and potentially usher in a new era of bilateral ...
Israel's Strategic Push to Redefine the Balance of Power in Southern Syria
Natasha Metni Torbey 26/02 21:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Israel Ahmad al-Sharaa Benjamin Netanyahou Syria Suweida Quneitra Daraa
Israel has taken a firm stance on its plan for the “total demilitarization” of southern Damascus. “We will not allow forces from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (the group behind the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024) or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...
The Government's Challenge in Gaining a Vote of Confidence
Natasha Metni Torbey 24/02 16:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Government Nawaf Salam parliament Vote of Confidence policy statement
To establish its legitimacy, Nawaf Salam’s new government must overcome one final hurdle before effectively taking power. After its formation on February 8, 2025, and the drafting of its ministerial statement last Monday, the cabinet will face its ultimate challenge: gaining the confidence of Parliament. Thus, during a plenary session ...
Hostilities Again After Ceasefire Expiration?
Natasha Metni Torbey 19/02 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel United Nations Resolution 1701 Lebanese Army
After several months of a – partial – cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the expiration of the ceasefire raises important legal questions about security, particularly whether hostilities could (or could not) resume. The ceasefire agreement, which was decreed in November 2024 for a period of 60 days, was renewed in January ...
Israel's Continued Control of Five Strategic Positions in Lebanon: What’s at Stake?
Natasha Metni Torbey 18/02 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Israel Donald Trump Beirut International Airport Ceasefire Hezbollah
Israel started its withdrawal from all of Lebanon. All of it? Not exactly, as five strategic points will remain under Israeli control. The continued presence of Israeli troops in several areas of southern Lebanon raises questions about Israel’s intentions and its short- and long-term plans. Tel Aviv will maintain its soldiers at these ...
Is Saad Hariri Eyeing a Major Comeback to the Lebanese Political Scene?
Natasha Metni Torbey 13/02 12:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Saad Hariri Rafic Hariri Saudi Arabia
February 14, 2025, could mark a turning point in the current political landscape. After six years away from the Lebanese political scene, following his resignation as prime minister in 2019, and 20 years after the assassination of his father, Rafic Hariri, Saad Hariri may be preparing a significant comeback. At least, that is what his team has ...
A Deep-Rooted Crisis at the Lebanon-Syria Border
Natasha Metni Torbey 10/02 17:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hezbollah Lebanese Army Syria Lebanon Border clashes
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, the Syrian-Lebanese border—particularly the region east of Lebanon—has become a flashpoint for violent clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces, Syria’s new rulers, and Lebanese tribes. While these tensions are not new, they mark a turning point in a region already ...
Goma Conflict: What About the Fate of the Lebanese Community in DRC?
Natasha Metni Torbey 29/01 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Congo Goma Lebanon Lebanese community Fighting
The recent fighting in the cities of Goma and Kinshasa raises deep concerns about the fate of the Lebanese community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Intense clashes between the Congolese Army and the M23, an armed anti-government militia backed by Rwanda, have reignited, especially near the Rwandan border. On January 26, fierce fighting ...
All Eyes on the Ministry of Finance
Natasha Metni Torbey 27/01 22:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Amal Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah International Monetary Fund
The exception is not the rule. This saying does not apply to Lebanon, where for over a decade, well after the signing of the Taif Agreement in 1989, the Amal-Hezbollah duo has persistently claimed—“de facto and de jure,” as they often assert—the Ministry of Finance, one of the most coveted portfolios in the country. The reasons behind ...
Progress on UN Resolution 1701 Implementation
Natasha Metni Torbey 26/01 07:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon South Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel
“Nothing is more certain than the impossible.” For years, this idea shaped Lebanon's political and security landscape under Iranian dominance— the impossible Israeli withdrawal, the impossible deployment of the Lebanese Army along the border, and the impossible disarmament of Hezbollah. Today, in the aftermath of the devastating war that ...
Mine Clearance in Lebanon: When Will Displaced Families Return South?
Natasha Metni Torbey 24/01 13:37 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel mines demining LMAC MAG
Haunted by thousands of landmines and unexploded ammunition, Lebanon faces a significant challenge: clearing a territory scarred by decades of conflict, the most recent being the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Tel Aviv, the conflict spilled over into Lebanon under the banner of ...
Lebanon's Ceasefire: What Will Happen on January 26, 2025?
Natasha Metni Torbey 20/01 16:51 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The deadline for the 60-day ceasefire agreement, established on November 27, 2024, is about to expire. However, diplomatic sources suggest that the truce may be extended, as the ceasefire has not yet tackled the root causes fueling the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon remains a key geopolitical flash point as Hezbollah and Israel ...
UAE Embassy Reopens in Lebanon: A Diplomatic Milestone
Natasha Metni Torbey 13/01 22:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
United Arab Emirates Joseph Aoun Gulf lebanon
The reopening of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Beirut, following a two-year closure, marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic ties between the two nations. This symbolic and strategic move, welcomed by the Lebanese government, heralds a new phase of cooperation and dialogue. What led to this decision, and what are its ...
The Twelve Labors of… Parliament
Natasha Metni Torbey 09/01 10:50 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Amal Gebran Bassil Hezbollah Israel
Since the end of former President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022, Lebanon has been facing a period of presidential vacancy, accompanied by overlapping economic and security crises, the most recent being the war between Hezbollah and Israel. From political divisions to diplomatic visits, the Lebanese political scene has become mired in ...
At Least 20 Lebanese Towns Still Under Israeli Control
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-12-31 08:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Israel Lebanese Army Hezbollah South Lebanon
Halfway through the 60-day ceasefire initiated on November 27, nearly 800 Israeli violations have been recorded in just 33 days. Strikes targeting Lebanese towns and villages during this period have claimed over 30 lives. Observers warn that these alarming developments cast serious doubt on the viability of the truce agreement between Hezbollah ...
Can Bashar al-Assad Be Judged for His Crimes?
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-12-20 11:41 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
International Criminal Court UN Security Council Vladimir Putin Bashar al-Assad
War crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of chemical weapons against civilians… The accusations directed at former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raise pressing questions, particularly following the fall of his regime on December 8: can he be brought to justice? If so, through what legal mechanisms? And what about the status he enjoys in ...
Post-Assad Syria: Political and Institutional Prospects
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-12-08 17:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The fall of Bashar al-Assad marks the beginning of a new era for Syria, one that holds the promise of political and institutional transformation after 13 years of civil war. This prolonged conflict has devastated the country’s state institutions and torn its social fabric. Observers believe that the regime’s end could create an opportunity to ...
Armed Factions in Syria: Identity, Affiliations, and Strategic Positioning
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-12-02 20:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Over thirteen years since the beginning of the war, Syria remains a stage for complex conflicts, with numerous factions vying for control over different zones of influence. Last Wednesday, following the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Syrian opposition forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Cham launched an offensive from their ...
The Reconstruction of War-Torn Areas in Lebanon: A Complex and Uncertain Equation
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-11-29 17:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Banks Hezbollah International Monetary Fund Israel South Lebanon
The end of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel raises a critical question for the Lebanese: who will bear the financial responsibility for rebuilding the villages and cities devastated by the conflict? In a country already mired in an unprecedented economic and political crisis, options are both limited and complex. Several actors could ...
Political and Security Implications of the Ceasefire
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-11-27 19:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel Jean-Yves Le Drian
The date of November 26 marked a turning point in the war that has lasted over a year between Hezbollah and Israel. On Tuesday evening, a ceasefire was declared in Lebanon, that took effect early Wednesday morning. While the agreement between the warring parties represents a significant step toward managing the tensions that have plagued the ...
Lebanon-Israel: Are the Diplomatic Advances Real?
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-11-25 22:05 - Reading : 10 minute(s)
Will the long-awaited agreement between Lebanon and Israel be concluded? According to some sources and several American and Israeli media, the two sides have finally agreed on the terms of a ceasefire. Others, however, dismiss the possibility altogether. The reality is such that between diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon and ...
Hochstein in Lebanon and Israel: A New Diplomatic Mirage?
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-11-18 20:15 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Amos Hochstein Hezbollah Israel ceasefire
In the absence of an “Iran-Israel-US deal,” any roadmap for a ceasefire in Lebanon seems destined to fail. What about a proposal that, in both substance and form, brings no changes (being similar to the previous one) and for which each party continues to express reservations? According to various media sources, US envoy Amos Hochstein is ...
Lebanon Balancing on The Edge of Truce and War
Natasha Metni Torbey 2024-11-12 10:30 - Reading : 8 minute(s)
Amos Hochstein Damascus Donald Trump Russia
Caught in the crossfire between Israel and Iran—through its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah—Lebanon is plunging deeper into uncertainty. Under the looming threat of military escalation, the country, now stripped of its ability to influence its own fate, has become the focal point of numerous international negotiations, which remain ambiguous and ...