
When Regional Hedging Fails: War Comes to the Gulf’s Doorstep
The war may prompt Gulf states to weigh the implications of Israel’s growing regional assertiveness alongside enduring challenges posed by Iran.

The war may prompt Gulf states to weigh the implications of Israel’s growing regional assertiveness alongside enduring challenges posed by Iran.

For effective transregional dialogue, policy analysis in Europe and North America needs to engage more systematically with regional perspectives.

If the U.S. and Israeli operations continue without concrete vision, they may find that instead of liberating Iran, they might open the gates of chaos.

Although Russia remains a great power, current events signal the gradual weakening of Moscow as a geopolitical actor.

As designated instruments of a law-based system of deterrence, nuclear weapons can succeed only in their protracted non-use by Israel and Iran.

Ankara is cautious about the spillover effects that a regime change in Iran could bring about, but it possesses the instruments to manage instability.

Saudi Arabia is pursuing a more institutionalized model while the UAE’s flexible hedging emphasizes optionality over commitment in security.

The 2025 Ukrainian strikes show that dark vessels are now at the crossroads of sanctions enforcement, hybrid conflict, and maritime safety.

The Taliban seek to marginalise Persian (Dari) in favour of Pashto, which forms part of a broader pattern of cultural suppression in Afghanistan.

For the first time in almost six decades, intellectuals are engaged in an open conversation about their state, society, and shared future in Syria.

Almond teaches us to appreciate that the political interests of individuals are too complex to fit into Huntington or Said’s grand theories.

I would like to see educational initiatives, sustainable development, and economic growth happen in the Gaza Strip and beyond, in the Middle East.
AI does not meet Manara Magazine and the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum’s (MENAF) criteria for authorship.
Please consult the submission guidelines page for further information.
© Cambridge Middle East
and
North Africa Forum 2026.
To provide the best experiences, we use cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.