The United States and Iran said Sunday that they had reached an interim agreement that could end the months-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Officials are expected to sign the deal in Switzerland on Friday, following the G7 summit in France. If signed, it would mark the biggest diplomatic breakthrough since the war began. Keep in mind, the…
For many years, mutual concern about Iran helped to paper over deeper disagreements between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The two powerful and ambitious Sunni Gulf monarchies have been on opposite sides of the civil wars in both Sudan and Yemen, as well as in fierce competition for regional dominance in AI.
But two months into the so-far unresolved Iran war – which has exposed both countries to…
As missiles and drones flew over the Gulf region, global shipping companies faced a new reality: the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for more than a quarter of the world’s oil and countless consumer goods, was suddenly at risk.
In this Global Stage interview, GZERO's Tony Maciulis speaks with Gulftainer Group CEO Farid Belbouab about how the UAE rapidly transformed its eastern coast…
Well, that didn’t last long. President Trump unveiled “Project Freedom,” an initiative to escort ships and restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, on Sunday. By Tuesday evening, he had unceremoniously suspended it by Truth Social post, shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters how committed the administration was to it.
The US Navy did manage to bring two…
In this "ask ian," Ian Bremmer breaks down the rapidly unraveling situation following the US announcement of “Project Freedom ” and why tensions with Iran are escalating again.
Ian explains that Iran’s swift retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz , including targeting ships and launching drones and missiles at the UAE , wasn’t just about disruption. It was a…
In this “ask ian,”Ian Bremmer says the United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from OPEC reflects a broader erosion of trust in longstanding institutions amid growing regional instability.
Ian notes that in this more fragmenting geopolitical landscape, more and more countries are “seeing their own interests as distinct and hindered by, hampered by legacy institutions and…
The United Arab Emirates announced Tuesday that it will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the 12-country cartel that coordinates oil production and exports, on May 1. The Gulf state has long been frustrated with the crude quotas that the group imposes. It will also exit OPEC+, a group that includes other large oil…
President Donald Trump announced on social media on Tuesday that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until their leaders “can come up with a unified proposal.” He did not provide a deadline, though, and it remains unclear how and when this impasse over ending the war will end. The US leader added that the US blockade of the Strait of…
The extra cash comes just before Islamabad sends a $3.5 billion debt repayment to Saudi Arabia’s friend-turned-rival, the UAE. This isn’t the first time that Saudi Arabia has provided Pakistan, a relatively poor country with a mighty military, with funding. In 2018, Riyadh gave Pakistan a rescue package worth $6 billion as it faced an economic crisis. What’s the benefit to the Saudis?…
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are moving closer to joining the US-Iran conflict. It’s a notable shift for the former friends-turned-foes: despite backing opposite sides in Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, they could find themselves aligned again in Iran. Riyadh reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to continue military action…
Air defense batteries moved out of Asia. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Growing domestic frustration with the Trump administration. Formula 1 races in the Gulf canceled.
The secondary effects of the US-Israel war with Iran have been expansive. But no specific issue has perhaps been more pressing for governments than the fuel shortages prompted by the de facto closure of the Strait of…
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held a series of telephone conversations with key regional leaders on Saturday as tensions continued to escalate in the Middle East following recent attacks in the Gulf region.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar spoke with the United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,…