Dr Keshk is a Research Fellow and Head of Strategic & International Studies with Derasat and was previously Director of the Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies in Egypt (Cairo branch). Dr Keshk has held the post of Fellow at the NATO Defence College, Rome specialising on Iran, Iraq and regional security and was also a researcher for the Egyptian Parliament and later worked for the Gulf Center for Strategic Studies in Cairo, specialising in regional and Gulf security. Dr Keshk regularly contributes studies and articles to the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Egypt and has supervised and authored many studies on strategic and security issues. He obtained his Bachelors in Political Science and his Doctorate, which focused on Gulf Security, from Cairo University.
Following the recent opening in Egypt of the largest military base on the Red Sea, Dr. Ashraf Keshk examines the reasoning behind the new base and its likely contribution to national and regional security.
President Trump is demanding that NATO play a larger role in Middle East security; Dr. Ashraf Keshk looks into how this could be realized and at previous US demands for greater engagement from NATO.
Countries bordering the Red Sea or Gulf Of Aden recently signed a charter activating a new 'Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden'; Dr. Ashraf Keshk considers the new Alliance and its potential impacts on the security of the region.
The assassination of Qasem Soleimani has thrown the need to increase regional security measures into the spotlight - Dr. Ashraf Keshk discusses what sort of measures are needed and where focus should be.
At the Istanbul NATO Summit in 2004, the GCC countries were invited to form a partnership with NATO in the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, which aimed at enhancing security and stability throughout the region. Dr. Ashraf Keshk looks back at the history of the initiative and at the various successes and future challenges.
Following the signing of the GCC Unified Military Headquarters Agreement on 22nd December, 2019 in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ashraf Keshk discusses the importance of this agreement, likely impacts and challenges.
The recent 8th edition of the Atlantic Dialogues organised by the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco was held under the theme, 'The South in times of turmoil'. Dr. Ashraf recaps the main topics discussed during the 3-day event and looks at the challenges and diversity of viewpoints.
Defence against cyber attacks on national security infrastructure and the use of cyber technology in warfare are discussed in this follow on article from the Middle East Military Technology Conference 2019 (MEMTEC) by Dr Ashraf Keshk.
The importance of localizing military technology production to sustainable development is discussed in this article by Dr Ashraf Keshk.
The escalation in regional threats brings focus to the need for secure, stable states to maintain a stable regional power balance; Dr. Ashraf discusses the importance of collaborations and at how this is being implemented in the GCC region.
Regional conflict brings with it the ever-present risk of environmental disaster such as oil spills. Dr Ashraf Keshk looks at the preparedness in Bahrain and the GCC countries and at the importance of cooperation and training to combating future disaster.
In a follow up article to the recent Middle East Military Technology Conference (MEMTEC), Dr. Ashraf looks at the need to update the military doctrine of countries to take into account developing technologies and the increase in asymmetric warfare.
The vital part simulation plays in preparing for defence and asymmetric threats is discussed in another follow up article to the recent Middle East Military Technology Conference 2019 (MEMTEC).
Following the US-led maritime security meeting hosted by Bahrain last week, Dr. Ashraf Keshk considers Bahrain's role in the coalition and in broader maritime alliances.
The importance of national security of all Gulf States as a means to achieve regional power balance is explored in this article by Dr Ashraf Keshk.
The importance of planning for potential security crises in the region is important so that situations can be detected early and to ensure a rapid response. Dr. Ashraf Keshk discusses the strategic value of crisis management planning and of the need to prepare for eventualities ahead of time.
In a recent newspaper article, Dr. Ashraf Keshk discusses Bahrain's latest move to join the US-led Alliance to protect Maritime Corridors in the region and looks at the likely activities and impacts of the Gulf States role in the alliance.
Following the recent attacks on Saudi oil installations, is there a role for NATO? Dr. Ashraf Keshk looks into the policies framing how NATO might get involved in regional crises.
How do EU and US perspectives converge and diverge with regards to Iranian threats? Dr. Ashraf Keshk delves into the complexities of current agreements and alliances between the US and EU states and their impact on policies towards Iran.
In the third part of Dr. Ashraf Keshk's four-part discussion on the challenges and responses to regional maritime security threats, he delves into the complexities of countering Iran's hegemonic ambitions.......
