Category: Middle East

  • The North Caucasus connects Russia with the Middle East and Africa

    The Stavropol territory welcomed representatives from the Middle East and Africa in the event “North Caucasus in the Changing World”, whose goal was to create a link between the region and potential foreign investors and markets.

  • United Arab Emirates cultural diplomacy in Dagestan

    The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Russian Federation organised an event in the city of Makhachkala to promote the national culture and create a link with Dagestan, a strategic North Caucasian republic located on the Caspian Sea.

  • Iranian possible membership in SCO: a geopolitical overview

    Iran signed a memorandum of commitment for its permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, enhancing its role in the Eurasian chessboard and strengthening the Moscow-Beijing-Tehran axis.

  • Iran’s interests and strategy in Central Asia

    Over the years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consolidated its relations with the countries of Central Asia, exploiting either the Persian common ethnic-cultural element or proposing itself as a logistic hub for the energy sector and trade corridors.

  • SpecialEurasia discussed with Dr Waref Kumayha Saudi – Chinese relations and the upcoming Arab – China summit

    The forthcoming first Arab – China summit scheduled in Saudi Arabia confirms Beijing’s interests in the Gulf Arab monarchies and the Middle East and Riyadh’s strategy of diversifying its political and commercial partners and decreasing its dependence on the United States.

  • Russia and Saudi Arabia discussed the situation in the global oil market

    The recent phone conversation between the President of Russia and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia might be interpreted as the Kremlin’s move to counter the recent U.S. President Joe Biden’s official visit to Riyadh.

  • Turkey discovered a massive reserve or rare earth elements

    The discovery of a massive deposit of rare earth elements in Turkey might change the geopolitical dynamics in the Eurasian chessboard since Ankara might challenge China, which has had the leading role in the market until now. Furthermore, this finding might change the domestic political scenario in Turkey and quiet doubts and disappointment about the country’s economic performance.

  • SpecialEurasia attended the Virtual Symposium on Lifting the Siege on the city of Taiz in Yemen

    SpecialEurasia attended the Virtual Symposium on Lifting the Siege on the city of Taiz and efforts toward building peace organised by the Embassy of Yemen in Italy to focus the attention of media, politicians and experts on the Yemen civil war and the harsh conditions the local population is experiencing.

  • Russia and Iran: boosting strategic partnership to counter Western pressure

    Although Russian – Iranian ties date back to the Islamic Revolution, Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine (or special military operation as the Kremlin has always declared) and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions have strengthened the cooperation and pushed these Western adversaries together.

  • Tension between Greece and Turkey reaches new heights

    Over the past two months, the tension in Greek-Turkish relations has reached new heights. What triggered it seemed to have been the age-old Turkish claims concerning the continental shelf delimitation and the total demilitarisation of the Greek Islands in the Eastern Aegean.

  • SpecialEurasia pubblica il report “Gli interessi dell’Iran nel Caucaso”

    SpecialEurasia ha pubblicato il report “Gli interessi dell’Iran nel Caucaso” scritto da Silvia Boltuc con l’obiettivo di analizzare le relazioni diplomatiche, culturali ed economiche tra Teheran e gli attori della regione caucasica e comprendere quali potrebbero essere gli sviluppi futuri alla luce delle complessità e dinamiche regionali.

  • The Iraqi crisis: between energy disputes and political stalemate

    The ongoing political crisis is not the only issue affecting Iraq. Fight against terrorism, extreme drought, frequent sandstorms, demonstrations against rampant corruption, and a dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan to manage the hydrocarbon fields in the north are challenging the central Government of Baghdad.

  • Astana Peace Talks, Syrian refugees and Turkish new military operation

    On June 15th, 2022, the 18th international meeting of Astana Peace Talks kicked off in Nur Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. As guarantor countries, delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran (which launched the Astana peace process in January 2017) will meet the Syrian government and opposition forces during the two-day talks.

  • Bahrain, energy market and media: a meeting with Rashid Al-Hamer and Sara Najeeb

    SpecialEurasia investigated contemporary Bahrein, its energy market and media situation with Rashid Al-Hamer, the Secretary-General of the Bahrain Journalists Association, and Sara Najeeb, board member and Head of the Media Committee of the Bahrain Journalists Association.

  • Kurdistan politics and media: a conversation with Dr Nazakat Hussein

    Kurdistan is experiencing severe internal complications due to the relationship with the central government in Baghdad and the recent Turkish military operation in the region in which Ankara planned to eliminate PKK members defined by Turkish authorities as “terrorists”.

  • SpecialEurasia launched a new joint project called “Opinione Araba – الرأي العربي”

    SpecialEurasia launched a new joint project called “Opinione Araba – الرأي العربي” in partnership with the Italian media agency Notizie Geopolitiche. The project aims to promote geopolitics, international relations, investment opportunities, and local dynamics related to the Arab world among the Italian audience.

  • Oman: regional role, development strategy and media. Report from Muscat

    Located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman has elaborated a strategy to establish balanced relations with regional and international actors, improve social living conditions, attract foreign direct investments (FDIs), and promote its historical identity and traditions.

  • Media, society, and geopolitics in the Middle East: the case of Syria, Yemen, and Iraq

    During the 31st World Congress of IFJ, we discussed with Iraqi, Syrian and Yemenite representatives the situation in their countries, focusing on society, media and the impact of regional and international geopolitics.

  • Opportunities for the tourism industry between Iran and Pakistan

    The neighbouring Iran and Pakistan might expand their cooperation in the tourism industry to create job opportunities and support regional development in a period characterised by huge geopolitical risk in Eurasia.

  • Security, social stability, and the role of the media in contemporary Iraq

    Since 2003, the situation in Iraq has undergone a significant change, and the country has had to face a process of modernisation and democratisation combined with the fight against the various local terrorist organisations, primarily the Islamic State, which have undermined the local stability and represented a threat to the security of the Iraqi people.

  • Iran and Tajikistan expanded their cooperation in different fields

    Iran and Tajikistan marked a significant step in their bilateral relations after the meeting of the Iranian and Tajik presidents and the signing of 16 cooperation agreements which stressed Tehran’s cultural diplomacy in Central Asia and Dushanbe’s attempt to diversify its foreign partners.

  • New Great Britain’s approach to the JCPOA

    In recent weeks, Great Britain has backed the nuclear deal with Iran by changing its previous positions. According to the spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the main reason is the desire to establish economic relations with Iran as soon as possible.

  • An intermestic approach: Israel’s foreign policy strategy vis-à-vis the Ukraine conflict

    Due to the regional dynamics and considering its security, Israel has always adopted a domestic policy as a function of its foreign policy and vice versa. Although the external threats have changed during the decades, now and in the future, Tel Aviv will continue to adopt interlinked domestic and foreign strategies.

  • The other side of the Yemeni war: UAE and Saudi Arabia soft-hard power games in Socotra

    Recent events in the Gulf underlined that while Saudi Arabia is focusing on the al-Mahrah province on the border with Oman to ease its access to the Indian Ocean, the UAE is getting hold of the essential Yemenite islands, with the most relevant being Socotra.

  • Turkey started a military operation in northern Iraq in connection with gas pipelines

    In the aftermath of the events in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia, European countries are straggling in search of alternative gas imports. Turkey started a military operation in northern Iraq to ensure gas supplies from Kurdish fields.

  • Russian economy is shifting toward Eurasian markets through Iran

    The Western sanctions against Russia caused by the Ukraine conflict have changed the Kremlin’s foreign policy, which currently seems to be more oriented toward the Eurasian market, as the recent Iran-Russia trade conference highlighted.

  • Russia and Iran intensify trade and economic ties

    While the Western world is increasingly moving away from Russian exports, Moscow and Tehran are taking measures to intensify trade and economic cooperation, as evidenced by intensive negotiations between the parties.

  • The Iranian nuclear deal amplifies divisions in the Middle East

    The Iranian nuclear deal might become the watershed in the Middle Eastern dynamics, leading to regional escalations and divisions and rising the geopolitical risk level.

  • Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s operations in Yemen

    The recent al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorist attack against the Southern Separatist Forces in Yemen demonstrated the group’s capabilities and its possible influence in regional geopolitical dynamics and security. 

  • Pakistan awaits the signing of the JCPOA to boost its regional role in Eurasia

    The possible signing of the JCPOA might support Pakistan’s desire to play a strategic and logistic role in the Eurasian energy market linking transit corridors and pipelines.

  • Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan enhanced economic cooperation and investment opportunities

    Sauri Arabia and Kyrgyzstan discussed investments partnership confirming Riyadh’s desire to improve its economic presence in the Kyrgyz market and Central Asia and Bishkek’s necessity to diversify its financial partners and foreign investors. 

  • Geopolitical scenarios of the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of the Ukrainian crisis

    The Ukrainian crisis, which was supposed to represent the collapse of the Russian economy and its leading role in Eurasia, is having unexpected implications. The sanctions imposed on Moscow’s energy supplies have caused oil prices to rise and created some opportunities for the Persian Gulf countries.

  • Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the United Arab Emirates

    The Syrian and UAE delegations meeting underlined Dubai’s diplomatic efforts to play a decisive role in the Middle Eastern geopolitics and international arena.

  • How could the nuclear energy impact the oil and gas market in the Middle East?

    SpecialEurasia published the second report of our project “Geopolitics of Nuclear Energy in Eurasia” titled “How could the nuclear energy impact the oil and gas market in the Middle East?” in partnership with ASRIE Analytica and CeSEM – Centro Studi Eurasia Mediterraneo.

  • Ukraine conflict, Chechnya and the Gulf Arab countries

    While the Russian military forces are approaching Kyiv, Chechnya is trying to play its diplomatic role in the Gulf Arab countries to support the Russian Federation in the international arena.

  • The Ukraine conflict can boost Iranian energy exports

    The Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions against Russia might highlight the Iranian role in the oil sector in the Eurasian chessboard, especially for the European Union interested in diversifying its energy import and decreasing the Russian grip.

  • Japanese interests in Iranian ports and the Persian Gulf

    The recent meeting between the Japanese Ambassador in Iran and the head of the Ports and Navigation Department of the Hormozgan province to discuss investments underlined Japan’s interests in expanding maritime cooperation in the Persian Gulf exploiting the Iranian ports’ role. 

  • Iran promotes gas projects in Qatar

    The Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi arrived in Doha to attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and probably sign several Memorandum of Understandings, most notably to realise a crucial underwater project that will connect Iran and Iraq.

  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) boost trade partnership and investments in Iran

    The United Arab Emirates expressed their interests in increasing investments and trade with Iran whose geographical position in the Middle East and connections with the Caucasus and Central Asia plays a strategic role in international trade and relations.

  • “1979 Rivoluzione in Iran” di Nicola Pedde

    Il libro “1979 Rivoluzione in Iran. Dal crepuscolo dello scià all’alba della Repubblica Islamica” scritto da Nicola Pedde e pubblicato da Rosenber & Sellier ci offre una analisi storica degli eventi e i personaggi che hanno caratterizzato il periodo prerivoluzionario e posto le basi per i moti che a partire dal 1978 hanno riscritto la fisionomia del paese.

  • Saudi Arabia supported anti-government militants in Iran

    The trial of Habib Farajollah Chaab, Iranian-Swedish ringleader of Al-Ahwaziah, revealed that Saudi Arabia financially supported the Arab separatist movement, which carried out attacks in Iran and several European countries.

  • Webinar “Geopolitica del Medio Oriente: dinamiche regionali, interessi economici e terrorismo”

    SpecialEurasia  organizza un webinar dal titolo “Geopolitica del Medio Oriente: dinamiche regionali, interessi economici e terrorismo” il cui obiettivo è quello di analizzare l’attuale situazione della regione mediorientale che gioca un ruolo importante nello scacchiere geopolitico euroasiatico.

  • Chinese interests in Iranian ports

    The opening of the first Chinese consulate in Iran, in the port city of Bandar Abbas, will boost Beijing’s investments on the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. Beijing aims to establish several Chinese companies in the Makran region and connect Iranian ports to its Belt and Road Initiative.

  • Iran-Pakistan Relations: Changing from Tactical to Strategic Ties

    Iran and Pakistan share borders and strategic interests in Eurasia. Both Tehran and Islamabad are interested in strengthening their cooperation in political, economic, social and cultural issues and overcoming their differences to exploit several opportunities, such as the partnership with China and other regional actors.

  • Turkey: origin, evolution and role of TIKA, a fundamental instrument of Ankara’s foreign policy

    The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) plays a key role in promoting Ankara’s influence and presence in strategic regions through socio-cultural, economic and humanitarian projects.

  • Iranian public opinion on Israel and possible future Tehran-Tel Aviv military confrontation

    According to a domestic survey, most Iranians consider the Israeli regime to be a threat whose possible adventurism must be seriously dealt with in case of Israel-Iran military confrontation.

  • How the nuclear talks might influence South Korea-Iran relations

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 15 Issue 5 – Iran and South Korea might improve their economic and financial relations if the Asian country will release frozen Iranian assets after having played a positive role in the recent nuclear talks in Vienna.

  • Germany confirms its military presence in Iraq

    On Wednesday, January 12th, 2022, the new German Government decided to extend by nine months the foreign mission in Iraq of the Bundeswehr until the end of October 2022. At the same time, the German Government discussed some adjustments regarding foreign missions to exclude the possibility of using the Bundeswehr in Syria.

  • In Lebanon politicians and activists established the “National Council to End the Iranian Occupation”

    The establishment of the National Council to End the Iranian Occupation in Lebanon, a significant development within the country’s political landscape, shed the light on sentiments held by a portion of the population towards Iran and its influential ally, Hezbollah.

  • Taliban reported a meeting with Ahmad Massoud and Ismail Khan in Tehran

    The Foreign Affairs Minister of the Taliban interim Government Amir Khan Muttaqi said that he had met with the head of the National Resistance Front Ahmad Massoud and the leader of the Herat militia Mohammad Ismail Khan in Tehran.

  • Iranian Azeri, the (almost) forgotten minority and their (in)direct impact on Iranian regional policies

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 15 Issue 2 – Among the numerous issues that impact Iran-Azerbaijan relations, considering the recent events which have interested the Caucasus region and the Iranian-Azerbaijani dialogue, it is fundamental to analyse the ethnic minority of Azeri who live on the Iranian territory and influence Tehran’s domestic and regional policies.

  • Lebanon-Italy: same problems and a common way out? A comparative proposal between two centralised countries that can benefit from a localistic reform (Part 2)

    The current Lebanese situation does not require an exacerbation of the tension among its components and a revival of additional factors of fear and caution, but rather a search for exits that mitigate tensions and reassure all communities about their existence and their cultural, social, and political specificities.

  • Lebanon-Italy: same problems and a common way out? A comparative proposal between two centralized countries that can benefit from a localistic reform (Part 1)

    Lebanon and Italy have many common traits and some apparent differences. Both are centralised countries with marked differences between territories; both are experiencing a long-term political-institutional deadlock and wonder how to get out.

  • Kurdistan – United States assessed their relations and regional policy

    The Manama Dialogue in Bahrain highlighted that the United States are still interested in Middle Eastern geopolitics and dynamics. In this regard, the White House might increase its cooperation and connection with Kurdistan to coordinate the fight against the Islamic State and contrast the Iranian and Russian presence and influence in the region.

  • Russia-Iran entente on Eurasian current issues and dynamics

    The recent telephone talk between Putin and Raisi highlighted Russia-Iran cooperation on geopolitical, security, and economic issues in Eurasia and Moscow-Tehran’s desire to strengthen their partnership and collaboration on Afghanistan, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh.

  • The Russian strategy in the Middle East. An interview with Alexander Hoffmann

    Since the so-called Arab Spring and concurrently with the U.S. slow disengagement from the Middle East, the Russian Federation has become a significant geopolitical actor in the Arab-Muslim world. Understanding Russian foreign policy with key Middle Eastern geopolitical actors and the Russian state companies’ activities is fundamental to forecasting possible future trends in the area.

  • Greece between the hammer and the anvil: geopolitical games in the eastern Aegean

    Since its birth after the 1821 war against the Ottoman Empire, the Modern Greek state has always been linked to the then three major powers: France, the U.K., and Russia, with the U.K. being substituted by the U.S. during the 20th century to contain the Soviet threat. This dependency is still a reality in Greek politics and foreign affairs. Athens remains a bone of contention for those powers fighting for a strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Tehran meeting on Afghanistan underlines Iranian regional strategy

    The meeting on Afghanistan organised in Tehran confirms the Iranian desire to have a major role in Afghan and regional dynamics and stressed how several Asian countries are strongly promoting greater regional cooperation that in the future might contrast Western local interests and presence.

  • Pakistan strategy in the Caspian Sea between Iran and Azerbaijan

    Islamabad strategy in the Eurasian geopolitical chessboard aims at strengthening cooperation with Iran and Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea to create a transit corridor that might boost Pakistani import-export and commercial trade in the region. 

  • Geopolitics of UAE investments in Central Asia

    The United Arab Emirates are among the Gulf countries the most active in Central Asia, as demonstrated by the participation of an Emirati business delegation at the International Business Forum Dushanbe-Invest 2021. Abu Dabhi’s investments in Tajikistan highlight Emirati strategy in the country and, generally speaking, in Central Asia to exploit economic opportunities and investment projects to make the UAE a leading foreign actor in the region.

  • Iran-Russia cooperation might support Tehran’s foreign strategy in Eurasia

    The meeting between the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Amir Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov highlights that Iran seeks to strengthen its cooperation with Russia to support its new foreign policy based on regional cooperation and commercial trade.

  • Geostrategy and military competition in the Mediterranean Sea

    The geostrategic importance that the Mediterranean Sea has assumed in recent years can be traced back to the political-strategic priorities defined by Russia, the United States and some of its allies (Italy, Spain, France), identifiable as the states most militarily active within some regions of this geo-maritime space.

  • UAE Investment Interests In Kyrgyzstan

    The United Arab Emirates are interested in investing in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan and financing infrastructural, economic, energy, and social projects to become a key actor in a country affected by a massive debt with China. 

  • Iran increases its cooperation with Russia

    Due to the U.S. sanctions, Iran has shifted its foreign policy looking for regional actors with whom to reach a new partnership. Therefore, in the last years, we have witnessed an increase in cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in different fields.

  • The Middle Eastern expansion of Tatneft

    In the last few years, the Russian company Tatneft has expanded its business in the MENA region. Its roots in the Tatarstan Republic make it a perfect tool in the hands of the Kremlin, which wants to balance the Western influence in the area.

  • The role of pro-Iran Shiite militias in Afghanistan

    The eventuality that Iran has supported the creation of a Shiite militant organisation in Afghanistan has caused diplomatic tensions among Tehran and Kabul and highlighted how fragile the country’s situation might be after the NATO troops withdrawal.

  • Iran interests in Eurasian Economic Union: possibilities and constraints

    Tehran’s attempt to become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union aims to enhance its trade partners and contrast the economic problems caused by the U.S. sanctions.

  • Iran-UAE commercial trade will increase among regional tensions

    Iran and the United Arab Emirates will expand their commercial trade, although Tehran’s foreign policy is a source of permanent concern to Abu Dhabi and the Gulf states. 

  • Why we should monitor the Iranian presidential election

    The upcoming Iranian presidential election is among the 2021 most important geopolitical events because the future Iranian president might influence the Iran-United States negotiations on the Nuclear Deal, Tehran’s foreign policy and domestic economy strategy.

  • UAE investments in Turkmenistan confirm Abu Dabhi’s potential role in Central Asia

    The recent visit of a Turkmen delegation in Abu Dhabi emphasised the rising role that the United Arab Emirates want to play in Central Asia, focusing their efforts on investment projects and diplomatic and trade cooperation. 

  • Cooperation among Qatar and Uzbekistan

    During the first official visit to Uzbekistan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Doha expressed its desire to improve the cooperation and strengthen the relations with Tashkent, confirming the Qatari interest in the Central Asian dynamics.

  • Qatari interests in Turkmenistan underline Central Asia’s geopolitical role

    Qatar expressed interest in implementing major projects in the Republic of Turkmenistan.  The Arab country aims at playing a significant role in Central Asia, trying to boost its influence and political-economic presence in Turkmenistan, a post-Soviet republic well-known for its energy resources and strategic position.

  • Economic crisis and financial default in Lebanon

    The Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced the country’s inability to pay the foreign debt as a consequence of the domestic political crisis and the national financial default.  Lebanon is becoming an unstable country where foreign powers and actors can exploit people’s hunger and domestic chaos to promote their agenda.

  • Turkey blackmails the EU with the migration crisis

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues in his policy of exploiting migrants and refugees to checkmate the European Union denouncing the lack of political and material support for his very personal invasion of Syria. Due to the reopening of the Turkish borders with Greece, a huge number of refugees and migrants might come to Europe significantly affecting the current situation of the EU countries which are facing the problem of coronavirus.

  • Covid-2019 and Saudi Arabia – Russia disagreement on oil production

    Saudi Arabia may refuse to cooperate with the Russian Federation in terms of coordinating oil production volumes due to Covid-2019 which is demonstrating how a virus might impact not only the national security but also the economy and the international trade market with serious repercussion in the case of Russia because the country strongly depends on energy export.

  • Qasim al-Raymi, the leader of AQAP, killed by US raid

    The White House confirmed the killing of Qasim al-Raymi, the leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Ayman al-Zawahiri’s right-hand man.  Donald Trump commented on this event, stating that eliminating al-Raymi is a message for AQAP and the international terrorism network. It is a step forward to defeating terrorism in the MENA region.

Online Course "Geopolitical Intelligence Analysis"_November 2025

22 November 2025 – Online Course Geopolitical Intelligene Analysis

This course represents a practical step for professionals aiming to refine their analytical discipline in a rapidly shifting global environment.

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