Derasat Reports are occasional papers comprising research and analysis projects.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iranian nuclear deal, marks an important turning point in the strategic balance of the Middle East area, and the Gulf in particular. The geo-political tumult experienced by the region after the Arab Spring in 2011...
In recent years, there has been a growing discussion about the security of sea lanes. This is in light of the fierce clashes with terrorist groups on land, which forced them to target shipping lanes which are the main routes for the movement of world trade.
The Iranian official position intermittently triggers a controversy in the media about the name of the “Arabian Gulf”. The issue is not confined to insisting on marking the Gulf as Persian, but goes beyond the name to include nationalist dimensions and political implications centered on the pursuit of regional hegemony.
The Gulf-Iranian relation was and still is the most controversial issue. This controversy intensified after signing the Nuclear deal between Iran and western countries on the 14th of July 2015.
Despite that signing the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program between Iran and the G-5 countries +1 on the fourteenth of July 2015 was expected, as there were many indications especially from the United States to ensure the signing of that agreement, it has sparked a lot of controversy not because of its content but given its timing and the GCC states views towards it.
The Arab World has been undergoing strategic transformations since 2011. Such changes allowed the GCC states to play a major regional role towards certain crises. However, they have concurrently placed an intricately complex regional environment before the GCC states to deal with, particularly in 2014...
The current world equilibrium is undergoing profound and historical changes that could lead to unexpected outcomes in the strategic international balance of powers. This is obvious in the economic structural problems facing the United States and Europe and their impact on foreign policy, as in the case of the United States changing its defense policy over the next ten years.
Because the hydrocarbon sector is responsible for such a large proportion of the gross domestic product of the GCC states’, maximizing the value obtained from these resources in a sustainable way is essential. In this regard, modeling the energy sector is a key tool for better understanding of the energy markets.
India has strong economic and cultural ties to the West Asia region, including both the GCC countries and Iran. A series of important events, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US invasion of Iraq, the Arab Spring, and the Iranian nuclear deal, are contributing to a new balance of power in the region.
Oil prices have declined significantly since the middle of 2014, causing significant concern among major oil exporters, among the Russia and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE).
China’s Strategy Toward the GCC States: The Challenge of Balancing Interests and Principles
This report looks at the prospects for Gulf-Russian oil and non-oil cooperation, in light of the latest economic and geo-strategic developments that are affecting oil markets.
The Syrian conflict continues to deteriorate, with estimates suggesting a death toll in excess of 300,000, in addition to millions of refugees. The conflict has been extremely internationalized, not just in terms of the diplomatic attention that it has attracted, but also...
The Gulf countries are taking steps toward monetary union. The continuing Greek debt crisis has caused major problems for the European single currency. It also presents useful lessons for the Gulf countries as they plan their own single currency.
In July 2015, the P5 + 1 countries reached a deal on the Iranian nuclear program and on the lifting of economic sanctions imposed upon Iran. This important development in Middle Eastern strategy led to extensive commentary from many different stakeholders, including the governments of the US, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
A quarterly publication that provides an overview of the current state of the Bahraini economy and analyzes it. In the “Policy Focus” section, the report analyzes an important current issue faced by policymakers and provides recommendations.
Indubitably, the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, which was signed between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Vienna on July 14, 2015, did not end the controversy over the former’s nuclear program.
The Chinese economy is undergoing major reforms in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. These reforms aim to help the Chinese economy maintain its previous growth trends. Yet in a low oil price environment, some challenges arise with regards to China’s energy security.
