The intense phase of the war is moving towards Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where mutual attacks between Iran-backed group Hezbollah militias and the IDF army are now escalating, raising concerns about the possibilities of a regional, transnational and multilevel war.
Israel has carried out a military strike on Iran in response to Tehran’s attack last Saturday. While no material damage seems to have occurred, this mutual show of force that prioritizes war deterrence over de-escalation increases dramatically the level of tension in the region.
On the 17th of March, the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt have signed a Joint Declaration for a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, covering several areas of interest and unleashing billions of euros for investments.
Israel spent the last fifty years working to normalize regional relations and alleviate the innate tension around the birth of the Israeli State. But now, just as Netanyahu’s government is conducting the most aggressive military operation in Gaza, the web of regional relations built so laboriously is starting to tremble. How are Israel’s foreign relations being shaped by its approach to this conflict?
The 100-day threshold has been passed: since October 7, when the latest phase of the conflict in Gaza began, the situation has evolved on multiple levels. As the echoes of the conflict have widened, regional and international actors become increasingly involved. Once again, the waters of the Middle East are turbulent, reflecting an unstable geopolitical situation.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted in Abu Dhabi the 28th edition of the UN-sponsored Conference of the Parties (COP28), the largest global conference on climate change. The Emirates’ strategy is highly ambivalent, and mirrors a regional reality that is solidly tied to the oil trade but intends to repurpose itself as a global hub for new energy sources for the transition.
The latest resurgence of the Middle East conflict can be framed in an already uncertain global scenario, where heightened geopolitical risks for commodity markets are related to structural energy security issues.
On October 7, the military group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched an attack on Israel. The regional sphere is crucial to the evolution of the conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian war has always been an ideological clash in the region, lining up two sharply opposing factions; now, despite the strategy of normalization with the Arab neighbors brought forward by Israel in recent years, an escalation on a regional level could become a very serious matter. Overall, the resurgence of this conflict has left the world wondering what is the role and responsibility of the international community.
The 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22–24, 2023. The latest summit marked a turning point in the membership debate, as six more countries will join the BRICS as of January 2024. With Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joining, the BRICS countries will be able to express an economic, financial, and demographic weight that will unavoidably redraw the power balance.
The conflict between Morocco and the Saharawi’s people for the Western Sahara has been going on for almost fifty years. Three days ago, Israel has recognized Morocco’s claims on the territory, further legitimizing its occupation. While the international community remains silent, regional geopolitics and economic and strategic interests are reinforced.
