The Petrodollar Weapon Returns: Saudi Arabia's Oil Strategy Echoes Cold War Tactics
As OPEC+ floods markets and Western sanctions tighten, Russia faces a fiscal crisis with echoes of 1985 Four decades ago, Saudi Arabia made a decision that reshaped the global order. In September 1985, after years of restraining production to support oil prices, the Kingdom reversed course dramatically, flooding markets with petroleum. Within four months, oil prices collapsed from $32 to $10 per barrel. The Soviet Union, already strained by its Afghan occupation, lost more th
The Israel-Turkey Power Struggle in Gaza
Israel's rejection of Turkish participation in any international deconfliction force in Gaza reflects a deeper geopolitical struggle extending from northern Iraq to the Horn of Africa. While Turkey seeks to expand its influence through a combination of military power and Islamic diplomacy, Israel works to limit this role to preserve its security hegemony in the region. In this context, Gaza represents both a central and symbolic arena in this competition for regional leadersh
Gaza After Hamas: Reconstruction Catalyst, Economic Leverage, and the Question of Sovereignty
Gaza enters 2026 confronting unprecedented governance challenges following the October 2025 ceasefire that ended two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The Trump administration's twenty-point peace plan, endorsed by the UN Security Council in November 2025, establishes an International Stabilization Force and transitional governance structure, but deliberately leaves critical questions unresolved: What permanent administrative authority will govern Gaza's 2.3 million resi
