CENTRE for MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST & ISLAMIC STUDIES

In 2011, Ethiopia unilaterally began construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile, triggering a dispute between Addis Ababa and Cairo and, to a lesser extent, Khartoum. The dispute has raised fears of a wider conflict among Nile basin countries, as a series of diplomatic efforts have failed to produce any agreement for the management and sharing of the Nile resources, with the GERD now nearing operational status.

Donald Trump’s latest post on his account, in which he presents his vision to transform and reconstruct Gaza into a Riviera by displacing 2.1 million Palestinians, absurd as it may seem, unravels two distinct assumptions: first, it is merely an indifferent contribution to a puzzling situation that has remained unresolved since the beginning of the previous century; and second, it is yet another proposition that excludes one of the key variables in the equation: the Palestinians.

This article examines China's evolving role in the Middle East, focusing not only on its economic expansion but also on energy security and strategic diplomatic efforts. Through trade, infrastructure investments, and technological collaboration, China has deepened its influence in the region, while maintaining a policy of non-interference. China’s response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its competition with the U.S. are also vital factors in shaping its approach.  The article explores the challenges and opportunities China faces in balancing economic engagement with geopolitical pragmatism.

Following the large-scale protests that swept the country in 2019, Algeria is attempting to reclaim its diplomatic clout in international affairs. The country’s policy continues to reflect support for anticolonial movements, using its renewed influence at the UNSC to promote the Palestinian and Western Saharan issues. At the same time, its influence is declining in the very unstable Sahel region, where multiple terrorist organisations are active and coups d’état take place. Algiers has to balance between safeguarding its border security and keeping its foreign policy tenets intact.

The ongoing war in Gaza has intensified regional tensions, drawing strong reactions from neighboring Jordan. The country is home to a large Palestinian population and has always been a proponent of Palestinian rights, while -at the same time- holding a peace treaty with Israel since 1994. The war’s impact on Jordan may lead to a significant risk of destabilization, as the country is striving to balance between its support of the Palestinians and its national security interests.

This article tracks domestic and foreign policy developments in Tunisia during the past three years, on the occasion of the latest election results, with Saied being reelected with 90% of the vote. A series of undemocratic discrepancies, a continuum of socioeconomic precarity and growing xenophobic practices are leading to the characterization of Tunisia as a state steadily moving towards authoritarianism.

For Jordan, Israel’s war on Gaza is all but a foreign policy issue. It reverberates heavily on its domestic and foreign politics due to the stark contrast between the Jordanian deep support for the Palestinian cause and the state’s relation with Israel, compounded by its strong alliance with the United States. This article examines the variables that inform the Jordanian regime’s complex balancing act amid the ongoing regional crisis and how these impacted the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections. This article also argues that although the monarchy has managed to walk a thin line and avoid wider confrontations, the protracted crisis underscores an increasingly precarious balance that will test Jordan’s ability to deflect external and internal pressures in the face of prolonged conflict.

The death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19 triggered snap elections in Iran and brought pro-reform Masoud Pezeshkian to presidency. This article presents an overview of the election outcome and its implication for Iranian politics, economy and society.

On October 7, 2023, President Biden declared his administration’s “rock-solid and unwavering support” to Israel. More than nine months into the Gaza war, his adherence to his initial promise is unquestionable. This article will examine US foreign policy vis-à-vis the war on Gaza, focusing on its prospective objectives and its implications on domestic, regional, and international levels. It will also argue that American foreign policy on the issue is primarily reactive rather than proactive.

Tunisia is usually being referred to as one of the most successful cases with regards to social justice and democratization after the Arab Spring uprisings. However, ten years later, the country is once more facing a political and socioeconomic crisis, with President Saied’s policies becoming more and more unpopular amongst the people. Amidst the recent wave of popular upheaval in Tunisia, this article aims to analyze current domestic affairs and examine whether authoritarianism is on the rise.