Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reacted quickly to the collapse of the Assad regime with public statements supporting the aspirations of the Syrian people, calling for respect of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity, and warning against a descent into chaos. During Syria’s Arab Spring uprising, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE backed competing factions of the Syrian armed opposition. But following years of bloodshed, frustration with a divided opposition and what seemed like a deadlocked conflict, they decided to deal with facts on the ground by reopening diplomatic channels to try to pull Assad away from Iran’s orbit and address other priorities, including curtailing the Captagon trade and facilitating the return of Syrian refugees.

Type: Analysis

The Gulf states increased assertiveness in the Horn of Africa has garnered substantial attention of late, particularly the proliferation of military installations and ports and the increase in military and economic aid. Less attention has been paid, however, to the role Middle Eastern countries have played in attempting to resolve some of the Horn’s most intractable conflicts, efforts that in some cases pre-date the more recent security and economic engagements.

Type: Analysis

In the last of a five-part series of papers and meetings on “Reshaping the Strategic Culture of the Middle East,” regional specialist Adeed Dawisha told an audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on June 12 that, contrary to some expectations, no clear political or ideological breach has opened up between the revolutionary states of the Arab Spring and the region’s status quo powers.

Type: Analysis