Is the Concept of Tactical Retreat Applicable?
Rami Rayess 25/09 14:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Gaza Iranian Revolution Israel
The dangerous turn of events in Lebanon in recent days, fueled by the open conflict with Israel, signals dire consequences that are likely to further worsen the existing situation. The high-stakes gamble that has unfolded for over ten months has now reached the point of no return, particularly after Israel has fully destroyed Gaza, making it ...
Peace in the Middle East More Elusive Than Ever…
Rami Rayess 18/09 08:59 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
There are growing concerns about the future of the Middle East in light of the significant transformations the region has undergone since the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli war on Gaza, which has claimed over 40,000 lives and left the enclave completely devastated and uninhabitable for years to come. The battle rages on ...
Algeria Under Tebboune Again: Tough, but Surmountable Challenges
Rami Rayess 11/09 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Abdelmadjid Tebboune Algeria Morocco
The result of the Algerian presidential elections was almost a foregone conclusion, with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune re-elected for a second term. He received 94.65% of the votes – a high percentage that raised doubts among some, considering it is reminiscent of the overwhelming victories often seen in authoritarian regimes. However, the ...
Oslo Accords: Deliberately Obstructed Three Decades Later
Rami Rayess 04/09 09:29 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The prolonged Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, now extending beyond ten months, has thrust into the forefront the fate of the 1993 agreement signed at the White House and endorsed by then US President Bill Clinton. The Oslo Accords were signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) ...
SQUAD: China’s New Opponent
Rami Rayess 28/08 09:01 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Whether Vice President Kamala Harris wins the upcoming United States presidential election in November, or former President Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office after a four-year absence, the challenge posed by China will remain a significant concern for Washington. However, the approaches may differ depending on who is in power. It is now ...
European-British Security Cooperation: Undefined Areas
Rami Rayess 21/08 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Brexit European Union Germany London
In addition to the significant economic challenge posed by Brexit, the security dimension was equally, if not more, crucial from a strategic perspective, given its serious implications for both Europe and Britain. The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union deprived it of access to shared European security and intelligence systems, ...
Is the Unification of Fronts a Realistic Approach?
Rami Rayess 14/08 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The slogan “unification of fronts” was popularized many years ago among the members of the “Axis of resistance,” or “Moumanaa axis,” which includes Iran, Syria, a number of Iraqi factions, the Houthis of Yemen, Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad organization. Hamas, also a member, had distanced itself from the axis during the Arab ...
75 Years Since NATO's Creation: Is the World Safer?
Rami Rayess 07/08 08:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The twelve countries that founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 9, 1949, in Washington, D.C., possibly did not foresee that this alliance would last 75 years, including more than thirty years after the fall of its rival, the Warsaw Pact, which dissolved with the collapse of the Soviet-led socialist bloc before the ...
Where Does the Saudi-Iranian Agreement Stand Now?
Rami Rayess 31/07 20:17 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
China Gaza Saudi-Iranian Agreement
It's been nearly a year and a half since the Saudi-Iranian agreement, brokered under China's auspices, which surprised many observers. The decision by the two longtime rivals to turn to Beijing to settle their differences was unexpected. This agreement underscored the emerging role of Chinese diplomacy in a complex issue that had troubled the ...
The US Presidential Race and Its Impact on the Middle East
Rami Rayess 24/07 10:52 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Israel-Hamas war US Presidential Elections 2024
The recent rise in regional tensions – marked by Houthi attacks on Tel Aviv and Israel’s unprecedented response of targeting the port of Hodeidah – signals a broadening of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This could usher in a new phase of military intervention that extends beyond traditional boundaries, without necessarily escalating into a ...
US Presidency: Is the Outcome Predetermined?
Rami Rayess 17/07 14:47 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump Joe Biden US Presidency
In the wake of the presidential debate between US President Joe Biden and his rival, former President Donald Trump, Biden's lackluster (if not catastrophic, as leading commentators and political analysts have described) performance has fueled expectations that Trump may achieve a decisive victory. Biden's frequent gaffes and almost daily slips of ...
Biden-Trump: What Are the Differences?
Rami Rayess 10/07 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump Joe Biden US President White House
Whether US President Joe Biden continues his presidential race towards the White House or not – due to the political and public pressures following a presidential debate in which he did not perform well – it is clear that unprecedented turning points have emerged in the presidential battle. Although President Biden addressed many ...
Is Iran’s Presidential Election Bringing Real Change?
Rami Rayess 03/07 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Iranian presidential elections were rescheduled following the tragic helicopter crash on May 19, which resulted in the immediate deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and several other Iranian officials. Raisi had previously contested against President Hassan Rouhani in 2017 but did not win. ...
Sudan Stands at a Critical Juncture
Rami Rayess 26/06 07:53 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Israeli war against the Gaza Strip and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict have overshadowed the events in Sudan, including the armed conflict that has been raging since April 2023. This is happening amidst international and Arab indifference towards resolving the rift between the two warring military factions: the official Sudanese army and the ...
Lebanon: When Will the Conflict in the South End?
Rami Rayess 19/06 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The connection between the southern Lebanese front and the Gaza war occurred the day after the events of October 7, 2023, when Hezbollah initiated a surprise attack on Israel, indicating a linkage between the two fronts which – it soon became apparent – would be irreversible. The war in the South was described as the “support front” for ...
European Elections: A Different Perspective
Rami Rayess 14/06 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Emmanuel Macron European Elections France
Since the announcement of the European parliamentary election results, there has been a surge of political and non-political analyses to understand their anticipated impact on the "old" continent and their implications for the future European trajectory. These concerns were amplified by the swift and surprising move by French President Emmanuel ...
Lebanon’s Unified Position: Can It Be Replicated?
Rami Rayess 29/05 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Seldom has Lebanon faced the international community with a unified position. It was the case this time, however, regarding one of the most important and pressing matters for the country; the Syrian migrants whose presence on Lebanese soil has become a burden that requires a thorough and responsible approach, away from grudge-bearing and hasty ...
'Iranian Theology' Prevails Post-Raisi
Rami Rayess 22/05 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ebrahim Raisi Iran président Supreme Guide
Iran is often described as the only country in the world where an elected president answers to a higher-ranking, unelected official—the Supreme Guide, who is not subject to any form of accountability. This is particularly significant since, in "Iranian Theology," the Supreme Guide represents divine authority and is above the mechanisms ...
The European Union at a Critical Crossroads!
Rami Rayess 15/05 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Economic European Union France Germany Security
The European Union (EU) faces a myriad of challenges spanning political, security, economic and monetary spheres. Debates within EU circles and among leaders often revolve around how to effectively address these challenges, ensuring the sustainability of the common union project while propelling it forward towards new directions. This includes ...
Lebanon: The Dangers of Being Stuck in a Vicious Circle
Rami Rayess 08/05 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The dangerous presidential vacuum the country has known for almost two years now, has grown even more complicated, given Lebanon’s direct link to the regional events, notably the October 7 “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation – and the ensuing Israeli attack on Gaza that is still underway despite Hamas accepting the proposed truce as a first step ...
Rising Turmoil Inside Israel With Over 200 Days of Gaza War
Rami Rayess 01/05 08:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
While some might believe that over two hundred days since the Gaza war erupted have brought about monumental changes in the region’s landscape, the impact on Israeli society cannot be overlooked. Unfortunately, this facet often remains rarely reported by the global media, partly due to the intensely violent nature of the conflict and to the ...
US-UK: A Long-Standing Strong Alliance Until Further Notice
Rami Rayess 24/04 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
When former British Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed as Foreign Secretary in November 2023, many expected significant changes in foreign policy. With years of experience in government leadership, Cameron was well-versed in numerous international issues — including the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict — having ...
Turkey and Iran: No to Regional War
Rami Rayess 17/04 08:58 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Some are putting forward the fact that both Iran and Turkey are wary of any escalation in the Gaza conflict that could spiral into a full-blown regional war, given its potential international fallouts. Despite their divergent interests, these key regional stakeholders are on the same page regarding preventing such an escalation. As Turkey ...
Climate Change, Is It Too Late to Act?
Rami Rayess 10/04 11:02 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The United Nations defines climate change as "long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. While these changes can occur naturally, driven by variations in solar activity or major volcanic eruptions, human activities have become their primary driver since the nineteenth century. This is mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels such as ...
One History Book for Lebanon, an Impossibility
Rami Rayess 03/04 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Among the many pending Lebanese projects is the writing of a unified history book for Lebanon. Many attempts were made to that end and failed, not for the lack of competent historians who possess the required skills, but for the absence of any political decision. Another obstacle is the conflicting views about Lebanon’s history, from its ...
Municipal Elections in Turkey: A Fierce Political Battle
Rami Rayess 27/03 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ankara Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey
An estimated 64 million Turkish voters will head to the polls on Sunday (March 31) to elect municipal and local councils across 81 provinces. These elections are fraught with political calculations, particularly for the ruling party, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who seeks a decisive victory to solidify his popular legitimacy. In the ...
Turkey-Syria: An Unresolved Love Story!
Rami Rayess 20/03 14:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In recent decades, the fluctuating Turkish-Syrian relations served as a poignant reminder that in politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends, only ever-changing calculations and interests. However, the extent to which these calculations align with the people’s best interests requires a deeper examination, as the population and ...
Turmoil in the Red Sea: What’s Next?
Rami Rayess 13/03 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Gaza Hezbollah Houthi Israel red sea
The Red Sea area is a strategic one for countries in its vicinity and for the entire global trade. It is a point of transit that shortens distances, from the Far East to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, all the way to Europe and the northern areas. The importance of this maritime passageway cannot be overstated, as it reduces the ...
Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict: A Closed Chapter or a 'Pause'
Rami Rayess 06/03 08:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh tends to resurface periodically, only to dwindle once armed hostilities cease. International attention wanes thereafter, despite the human casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands of people from their homes and lands. Similarly, the displacement of ...
Is It Time to Declare the Arab League Dead?
Rami Rayess 14/02 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Arab League Arab World European Union Gaza
This is no recent question. But it must be asked at this first major test in the Arab World; it is a concern among Arab peoples who were highly optimistic about the capabilities of this institution in terms of common projects—whether economic, financial, political or otherwise. It is high time to recognize the fact that the structure of ...