Dr. Ashraf Keshk

In fact, talking about threats to oil installations is not new, and there have been many cases of aggression in the Arabian Gulf region, in light of the intensification of regional conflicts on the one hand and technological development on the other, the protection of these facilities has become a prerequisite.

Where does NATO’s role as a purely defence organization end, and when does the EU’s role as a regional security organization with a different approach to conflict resolution begin?

Although technological development is a feature of the modern era and is reflected in all fields, including the field of defense, the latter is the most important because it is related to the national security of countries as a whole and not to a specific sector, and far from delving into defining the meaning of military technology and its manifestations, its direct impact is the absence of the element of surprise, which is the essence of the defense doctrine of states.

Without going into the details of the consequences of these crises over the past three years from 2020 to 2022, the logical question is what lessons have been learned from these dramatic shifts?

Although it is difficult to predict the course of crises in general, especially those of a violent military nature, where all possibilities remain, the continuation of the Ukrainian crisis in this way represents a dilemma for both Russia and the West for three reasons.

The question that always arises is whether maritime security is a purely legal issue, i.e. respect by States for the contents of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Or is it the de facto ability of a state to protect its international trade through strategic waterways? Or the ability to deal with anticipated marine disasters?

Dr. Ashraf Keshk offers an analysis of the outcomes of the 18th Manama Dialogue annual regional security conference, from the integration of regional and global security concepts due to the overlapping conflict theaters, to the rising importance of resolving Middle East conflicts to avoid the outflow of their factors to other conflict regions, and reaching the shining strategic significance of mediation by middle and rising powers in conflict resolution and prioritizing common understandings above all.

Dr. Ashraf Keshk analyzes domestic and foreign impressions brought by the success of the 2022 parliamentary and municipal elections in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in terms od tolerant coexistence, well-rooted political participation, and merits of the democratic experience despite its youth. The writer cites examples from the reality of experience and the recent events hosted by the Kingdom.

Dr. Ashraf Keshk presents his remarks on countries’ need to qualify their local experts in military industrialization, in line with international cooperation to prevent rogue states and groupings from acquiring advanced materiel. He refers to large events organized by the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss and demonstrate the latest developments in this area, quoting expert opinions that support proceeding down this path.

In this article, Dr. Ashraf Keshk assesses NATO’s warnings about Iran’s drones and missiles being used against Ukraine, comparing these warnings with the previous leniency demonstrated during the lengthy and futile negotiations by the 5+1 countries on Iran’s nuclear portfolio, while pointing out the opportunities to develop the defense partnership with Gulf States considering this dangerous development and NATO States’ need for Gulf energy security.