Analyses
Regional Trends
Iraq Between Geopolitical Challenges and Strategic Opportunities
Regional Trends
The Syrian-Iraqi Border: Reshaping the Geopolitical Space of the Middle East
International and Global Trends
Real clear world: A former terrorist inside the white house
International and Global Trends
NYT: The President and A Former Terrorist Meet at the White House
Arab policy
The Syrian Unity Predicament: Files of Sovereignty, Security, and the Kurdish Issue
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Washington and Tehran: Negotiations Under the Hammer of Military Buildup
The recent talks held in Oman reflect a notable shift in Iran’s negotiating behavior, with Tehran accepting an expansion of the scope of negotiations to include non-nuclear issues that were previously considered red lines. This shift comes amid escalating U.S. military threats, a decline in Iran’s regional influence, and mounting domestic pressures on the regime. While Tehran is likely prepared to make concessions on the nuclear file and its regional engagement, its missile program remains the most complex obstacle, as it constitutes the regime’s last pillar of deterrence.
Iraq Between Geopolitical Challenges and Strategic Opportunities
Recent developments in Iraq indicate that the country stands on the threshold of a profound geopolitical and economic transformation. The recent elections are seen as a pivotal moment for reshaping regional power balances. With its vast oil and gas resources and its strategic location linking the Gulf to Turkey and Europe, Iraq is gradually becoming an arena for geo-economic competition among Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf–U.S. axis, as well as Western powers. While global actors race to invest in ports, corridors, and energy projects, Iraq’s future remains contingent on its ability to harness this competition to build stability and sustainable development.
The Syrian-Iraqi Border: Reshaping the Geopolitical Space of the Middle East
The Syrian-Iraqi border is entering a new phase marked by strategic competition and sharp ideological divergence. Its significance now extends far beyond a simple bilateral boundary, turning it into a geopolitical flashpoint that may shape the region’s future landscape. Despite a period of relative calm, the stability along the border remains fragile and temporary, while the likelihood of tension or escalation—driven by domestic developments in both countries or by broader regional and international shifts—remains conspicuously high.
Real clear world: A former terrorist inside the white house
This article examines the unprecedented decision to welcome a former jihadist—long designated as a terrorist by the United States—into the White House. It traces his trajectory from al-Qaeda operative to interim president of Syria, raising urgent questions about a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy. The piece challenges readers to consider the consequences of legitimizing a figure whose past is inseparable from decades of extremist violence.
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NYT: The President and A Former Terrorist Meet at the White House
This article, published in The New York Times on November 9, 2025, in which the GM of STRATEGIECS Institute examines Ahmed al-Sharaa (known as al-Julani)’s visit to the White House, highlighting the grave implications of this event for regional and strategic security, as well as for the United States itself. It underscores how al-Julani’s background—rooted in global terrorism—and the legitimization of an extremist model of governance achieved through military takeover and disguised as pragmatism represent new instruments for transnational terrorist organizations seeking to undermine the very concept of the nation-state.
The Syrian Unity Predicament: Files of Sovereignty, Security, and the Kurdish Issue
The transfer of power in Syria in 2024 did not achieve the desired reconciliation, as the conflict between the interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces undermined the March 10 agreement and deepened the division over the form of the state between centralization and decentralization. The ambiguity in the agreement and the regional and international interventions, especially from Türkiye, the United States, France, Russia, and Israel, have also contributed to complicating the scene and preventing a stable settlement, which makes the future of Syria linked to the government’s ability to establish a comprehensive and binding social contract that ensures the participation of all components.
Trump’s Plan: Second Phase Scenarios
With the launch of the second phase negotiations of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the two-year war is entering a new stage that may bring about unexpected developments. While attention is focused on the major issues on the negotiating table, it seems that the fine details within the more complex files may prove decisive in shaping a new reality on the ground—and perhaps a political and security reality that does not align either with current expectations or the declared terms of the plan.
Will the Shifting Orientations of Iraqi Voters Decide the Upcoming Elections?
As the parliamentary elections draw near, electoral campaigns must be built upon the tangible progress already achieved and address the aspirations of an Iraqi society that has indeed changed—a society no longer willing to tolerate policies of denial or procrastination.
The Syrian Situation Between Centralization and Decentralization Options
The issue of centralization versus decentralization in Syria is a structural one that goes beyond intellectual debate, touching on the very essence of state reconstruction, the definition of national identity, and the form of governance. While centralization is viewed by some as a safeguard for the country’s unity, experience has shown that it has deepened marginalization and weakened political participation. Conversely, many political segments see decentralization as an entry point for comprehensive institutional reform; however, hastily adopting it could threaten stability and sovereignty, especially given the complexities of the Syrian reality.