China’s Belt and Road Funding Terms Spark Criticism

by James M. Dorsey Steep commercial terms for China’s investment in infrastructure projects across Eurasia related to its Belt and Road initiative may give it control of key ports and other assets as recipients of Beijing’s largess find themselves trapped… Continue Reading

Gulf Crisis Expands into the Horn of Africa

by James M. Dorsey The six-month-old Gulf crisis has expanded to the Horn Africa, potentially fuelling simmering regional conflicts. Renewed fears of heightened tension in the Horn, a region pockmarked by foreign military bases that straddles key Indian Ocean trade… Continue Reading

A Dangerous Gulf in the Horn: How the Inter-Arab Crisis is Fueling Regional Tensions

by International Crisis Group The Gulf crisis and the scramble for military outposts in the Horn of Africa are exacerbating regional tensions that risk triggering a conflict. In this Q&A, Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa Project Director Rashid Abdi untangles… Continue Reading

Saudi Strong Arms Muslim Nations to Take Sides in Gulf Crisis

by James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia, in a first move to pressure mostly Muslim states to join its campaign against Qatar, has persuaded six sub-Saharan African nations with threats of reduced financial aid and restricted quotas for the haj, the… Continue Reading

Enduring Bases, Enduring War in the Middle East

by David Vine Amid the distractions of the holiday season, the New York Times revealed that the Obama administration is considering a Pentagon proposal to create a “new” and “enduring” system of military bases around the Middle East.  Though this… Continue Reading