Orientul Mijlociu

Turkish-Syrian Re-engagement: Drivers, Limitations, and US Policy Implications

A little over two weeks ago, the defense and intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria met face-to-face in the Russian capital Moscow — the first such meeting in over a decade. In the wake of the Russian-sponsored summit, which was described by participants as “constructive,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a follow-up call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed visited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. As global media attention intensified around what some called “a clear sign of normalization,” speculation then emerged claiming plans were afoot for the Syrian and Turkish foreign ministers to meet in mid-January to pave the way for an Erdoğan-Assad meeting, either in Russia or the UAE.

Rise of New Centres of Power in Eurasia: Implications for Turkish Foreign Policy

The emergence of new centres of power in Eurasia has entailed a re-reading of Zbigniew Brzezinski’s book which drew an analogy between the Eurasian supercontinent and a grand chessboard. Following the global financial crisis of the last few years, countries like China, Russia and India have started to project greater global political and economic influence.

UE: Les gardiens de la révolution iraniens sur liste des organisations terroristes effrayent le pouvoir algérien

Panique générale au sein du haut commandement de l’armée algérienne, où le chef d’état-major, le général Saïd Chengriha, est affolé par l’initiative du Parlement de l’Union Européenne (UE) demandant de classer le corps des gardiens de la révolution iraniens sur la liste des organisations terroristes, une action qui s’étend de facto au polisario, mouvement terroriste, soutenu par le pouvoir algérien et les milices iraniennes.

Increase in Jihadist attacks in Syria as Turkey courts Assad

Syrian jihadi groups are increasing their attacks on Syrian army outposts, as tripartite meetings between Russia, Turkey and Syria hint at a potential rapprochement deal to end the decade-long war.

Jamaat al-Tawhid, an affiliate of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist group by the US and United Nations, confirmed to have raided several Syrian army posts on Wednesday.

Al-Monitor/Premise poll: Majority in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia on edge over food access

In an exclusive poll in five countries across the Middle East and North Africa, 68% majority of the population worried about their ability to access food.

It was soaring food prices that sparked the popular uprisings throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, but it is unprecedented increases in food and energy prices since the outbreak of Russia’s war in Ukraine last February that now have a 68% majority of the population in Egypt, Turkey, Yemen, Tunisia and Iraq worried about their ability to access food in the coming months, according to an Al-Monitor/Premise poll.

Syrian refugees in Turkey watch uneasily as Erdogan warms to Assad

Syrians in Turkey are wary of losing refuge as the Turkish President eyes dialogue with Assad

Turkey’s bid to reconcile with the Syrian government has left many Syrian refugees in the country on tenterhooks as Ankara faces pressure to cut a deal with Damascus on the return of the Syrians amid rising anti-refugee sentiment in a critical election year.