... between the SAR and the IRI. In Damascus, too, there is certain wariness towards Arab states, and they remember too well that Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar, had been among the main sponsors of the Syrian opposition at least until 2014. It is unlikely ... ... years than even before 2018, which was the period of active fighting. And it is not the Arab boycott that is to blame, but U.S. sanctions that made any transactions with the SAR toxic. Banks, insurance and transport companies, including Arab ones, choose ...
... reintegrated into the Arab family. The UAE also serves as an intermediary for Damascus’s communication with other GCC states (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Qatar) and the West. It is also worth noting that the Syrian government views the UAE as a potential counterbalance ... ... Iranian influence in Syria.
Cooperation with the Emirates is also beneficial for economic reasons, such as circumventing Western sanctions on Damascus and giving Syrian entrepreneurs an opportunity to exploit Dubai’s financial center as a “hub” to access ...
... their interests are not represented in a global deal that directly affects regional security.
Alexander Kozintsev:
Political Transformations in Iran: How to Keep up with the Times
The Middle Eastern allies of the USA
Major regional players, such as Saudi Arabia or Israel, will be wary of the Biden administration’s first actions regarding the return of the United States to the JCPOA and the sanctions relief. The Israelis are openly against the deal concluded under Barack Obama. Given that J. Biden is well acquainted with both Israeli politicians and American lobbyists for Israel, and being a frequent guest of AIPAC conferences, one should ...
... recent weeks, the world’s attention has been riveted on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. On May 12, four tankers owned by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were attacked by unknown forces when entering the Strait off the coast of Fujairah. ... ... incidents occurred against the backdrop of another exacerbation in U.S.–Iran relations and the United States imposing more sanctions on Tehran.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for either of the incidents. As is often the case today, it has not been ...
... that current Venezuelan President has been very vocal about his criticism regarding United States' policies, not differently from his predecessor Hugo Chávez. It is also interesting that Venezuela's oil reserves are larger than Saudi Arabia's. It should be noticed as well that the current price crisis is definitely putting the Venezuelan economy to a tough test, with the risk of default looming large. If the sanctions were to escalate, a script which has already been played more than once in the past, that might deliver the final blow. A hypothetical default would also have direct repercussion on China and Russia, which are owed important debts from Venezuela,...
