Middle East
You might not realize it, but Iraq and Iran share a lot more than just similar names. They are so geopolitically intertwined that it is very difficult to talk about one without eventually needing to talk about the other. But other than being neighbors, why are Iraq and Iran so tethered together?
Read MoreDubai is just one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. But why are the emirates united into a single country to begin with, and are they really united?
Read MoreEgypt has been a recognizable geopolitical entity for about 5000 years. You’d think from its geographical position and its history that it would be far more powerful than it is. But Egypt today faces constraints that have made stability very difficult to achieve. So why hasn’t modern Egypt been able to achieve the power Ancient Egypt once had?
Read MoreSince 2015, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS for short, has consolidated power almost completely in the country. He’s launched an overhaul of the country’s economy, initiated unprecedented and controversial megaprojects, and dramatically liberalized Saudi society in general, while also intensifying authoritarian repression. But all of that is domestic. So how has MBS changed Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical dynamics?
Read MoreThe regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad collapsed in December 2024. Since then, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the man who led the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to victory against Assad, has led the country into uncharted territory. Without Assad, Syria is a fundamentally different place. But how exactly has Syria changed since his regime fell?
Read MoreFor almost as long as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has existed, Pakistan has been one of its closest allies. In fact, many consider this relationship to be one of the closest friendships between any two countries in the world. But in 2025, the two countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement to codify this relationship for the first time. This is an important geopolitical shift. Let’s talk about why.
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