Geopolits - Middle East Archives

Yunus’s China Visit, Power, Betrayal, and the Battle for Geostrategic Survival of Bangladesh

March 26, 2025March 30, 2025

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.

A Feast of Vultures and Syria’s Carcass in the Crosshairs

March 25, 2025March 30, 2025

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.

Categories: America / Central Asia / Middle East / Western Europe

Imamoglu’s Arrest is a Desperate Move in Erdogan’s Failing Quest for Dominance

March 22, 2025March 30, 2025

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.

Categories: America / Central Asia / Middle East / Western Europe

The Role of Think Tanks in Legitimizing CIA-Backed Regime Change Operations

February 7, 2025March 31, 2025

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.

Trump’s Gaza Takeover and the Chaos That Will Follow

February 6, 2025March 31, 2025

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.

Bangladesh’s Legal Sovereignty vs. ICC’s Western Strings

January 13, 2025March 31, 2025

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.

Perils of Weaponizing Tariffs in Global Trade

December 11, 2024April 1, 2025

Perhaps the most significant consequence of these tariffs is their potential to accelerate the decline of the rules-based global economic order. The WTO, already weakened by years of criticism and inaction, faces further marginalization as major economies resort to unilateral measures. This shift erodes the mechanisms that have historically provided stability and predictability in international trade, increasing the risk of disputes escalating into broader economic conflicts. In the absence of a strong multilateral framework, the global economy risks devolving into competing blocs, where power dynamics and economic leverage dictate outcomes.

Another Syrian Quagmire in the Making

December 11, 2024April 1, 2025

Israel, sensing an opportunity in the growing chaos, will likely intensify its military activities in Syria, particularly occupy full of Golan Heights and establish a mighty strategic presence in Syrian battlefield. With Russia and Iran distracted or scaling back their involvement, Israel could press forward with its encroaching strategy, seeing the instability as a chance to further secure its borders and push against Iranian influence. While the US may align with Israel’s goals in curbing Iranian expansion, Israel’s unilateral actions could further complicate the broader regional balance.

Categories: Central Asia / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia

How Ukraine’s Defence Industry Sold Itself Out

October 25, 2024April 1, 2025

The full impact of Ukraine’s defence collapse became clear during the Crimean annexation in 2014. With no nuclear deterrent and a military crippled by corruption, Ukraine was in no position to resist. The Battle of Ilovaisk in 2014 was particularly humiliating; many soldiers lacked even basic bulletproof vests, some resorting to buying their own protective gear. Much of Ukraine’s weaponry, like the T-64 tanks and MiG-29 jets, was non-operational, left to rust in storage. This national helplessness starkly exposed the failure to modernize and keep the once-imposing arsenal.

Categories: America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Middle East / Western Europe

Israel’s Double Act of Victimhood and Aggression in the Tragic Theatre of Middle East

October 9, 2024April 1, 2025

It’s a masterstroke of manipulation, really. Israel has successfully convinced its Western allies that its survival is intrinsically tied to their own strategic interests in the Middle East. The logic goes: “Save us, and you save yourselves.” The audacity of such a position is breathtaking—Israel, which refuses to end its occupation, and which repeatedly undermines any prospect for a two-state solution, now frames itself as the last bastion of Western civilization in the region. And the Western world, held hostage by the fear of losing influence, buys into this illusion. The United States, in particular, continues to funnel military aid and diplomatic backing to Israel, even as the cost is counted in shattered lives and ruined cities. It’s a deal with the devil, one where the U.S. sacrifices its credibility on the altar of strategic expedience, all the while enabling Israel’s worst excesses.

Categories: America / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / Western Europe