News and Analyses of events in the Middle East
On the international stage, sanctions have isolated Iran, limiting its ability to trade and access global financial markets. However, Iran has found ways around some restrictions, particularly by selling oil to China, one of its most important trade partners. Iran also works closely with Russia, especially in Syria, and has some potential opportunities to improve relations with European countries
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Trump’s foreign policy, outlined in the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, represents a bold shift in American power. By focusing on China and the Indo-Pacific, he aims to address what he sees as the biggest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century, believing that pulling back from other regions will be worth it.
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For decades, Palestinians have turned to the UN for support, but its resolutions often go nowhere. The U.S. has vetoed 46 Security Council measures critical of Israel since 1972, continuing this trend in 2025. Meanwhile, Russia and China use the conflict to challenge Washington. The 2002 peace roadmap stalled due to mistrust, and past negotiations—like the Oslo Accords (1993) and Camp David (2000)—collapsed over disputes about Jerusalem and Israeli settlements. The 2020 Abraham Accords improved Israel’s ties with the UAE and Bahrain but ignored Palestinian concerns, offering diplomacy without a real solution. Without strong enforcement or genuine compromise, these efforts remain empty gestures.
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Governance becomes untenable when media prioritizes sensationalism over facts. The Iraq War provides a stark example. Legacy media uncritically amplified fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), with The New York Times running front-page articles based on anonymous intelligence sources. The truth was different: UN inspector Hans Blix found no WMDs before the 2003 invasion, yet by 2004, a PIPA study showed 57% of Americans still believed Iraq possessed such weapons—a testament to the media’s influence. The consequence? Over 4,000 US troops and 100,000+ Iraqi civilians perished, while trust in Western governance eroded. By 2007, only 19% of Britons trusted their government, per Ipsos Mori.
The media’s role in exacerbating racial tensions became glaring in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd riots. While outlets like CNN and The Guardian highlighted police brutality, they largely ignored the widespread rioting that caused $2 billion in damages, as estimated by AXA Insurance. The selective narrative deepened racial divisions; a Pew Research poll found that by year’s end, 73% of white Americans felt race relations had worsened, up from 44% before Floyd’s death. Rather than fostering understanding, the media amplified discord.
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Beyond the Asian giants, the Middle East stands as Bangladesh’s quiet yet crucial economic anchor. With over 2 million Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, the region’s remittances total £12 billion annually, forming 15% of Bangladesh’s GDP. Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) meets 20% of Dhaka’s energy needs, reinforcing an economic lifeline that predates Bangladesh’s independence. Early diplomatic recognition from Gulf states and humanitarian assistance during crises like the 1974 famine have solidified ties, yet the relationship remains largely transactional.
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Economically, Syria is a corpse. The World Bank confirms 90% of its 22 million people live in poverty, with half its hospitals ruined and electricity sporadic. The EU’s £2.1 billion pledge on 24 February, per the Middle East Institute, is a pittance against a £315 billion rebuilding cost. US sanctions, unyielded despite HTS’s pleas, choke recovery, a cruel relic of deep-state spite. Russia, hobbled by Ukraine, clings to Tartus but offers little; China dangles Belt and Road promises but hesitates. HTS’s economic vision—330 diplomatic engagements by February, per the Washington Institute—flounders as the Syrian pound stabilises at 9,000 to the dollar, a frail improvement from 15,000, yet still dire.
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Erdogan’s rise to power in the early 2000s was initially celebrated as a triumph of democratic reform and economic modernization. He positioned himself as a bridge between Turkey’s secular Kemalist establishment and its conservative Muslim majority, promising to reconcile these divergent identities while propelling Turkey into the ranks of global powers. For a time, he succeeded, overseeing a period of robust economic growth and expanding Turkey’s influence in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. However, this era of optimism gave way to a gradual but unmistakable shift toward authoritarianism.
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If history is any guide, these think tanks will continue to provide intellectual cover for future regime change operations. Perhaps tomorrow’s target will be Venezuela, where think tank reports have long painted Nicolás Maduro as an existential threat to regional stability. Or maybe it will be Iran again, where “experts” routinely warn about the dangers of its nuclear program, conveniently ignoring the long history of U.S. meddling in Iranian affairs. Wherever the next intervention occurs, one can be sure that a glossy think tank report will be there to justify it.
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And then there’s Israel, which might be celebrating now but could soon regret this whole thing. Sure, the Israeli government loves a plan that involves fewer Palestinians in Gaza, but at what cost? If Hamas gets stronger, Hezbollah gets bolder, and international condemnation reaches new heights, Israel could find itself more isolated than ever. Even its European allies, who have been fairly tolerant of Israeli policies, might start pulling away. Because, let’s face it, even the most pro-Israel European leaders will struggle to justify a U.S.-led eviction of Palestinians. At some point, the international community might have to draw the line, and when they do, Israel could find itself in a diplomatic mess of its own making.
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The ICC’s geopolitical bias not only affects the credibility of its operations but also has diplomatic consequences. Countries with associations to ICC interventions face the risk of diplomatic fallout, affecting their global standing and relationships. For Bangladesh, submitting to ICC scrutiny can have far-reaching effects beyond the courtroom, potentially influencing its trade, aid, and diplomatic engagements.
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