Hostage crisis strains Japan's Middle East policy

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hostage Crisis ◽  
United Front ◽  
Middle East Policy ◽  
Resource Security

Significance The threat to kill the two men came on January 20, during a diplomatic tour of the Middle East by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Impacts Japan's united front with Washington will limit its efforts to portray itself as a neutral and independent party. This crisis will strengthen Abe's wish for greater Japanese influence in the region, especially the Gulf. The Middle East will be an arena in Japan's competition with China for influence and resource security.

France's Middle East policy lacks vision

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Foreign Minister ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
International Crises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Export Policy ◽  
Arms Export ◽  
Middle East Policy

Subject France's Middle East policy. Significance French President Francois Hollande appointed former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault as foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle on February 11. Ayrault takes over from Laurent Fabius, who personally monitored several key Middle East issues. Impacts Ayrault may prioritise EU issues, and favour a common European approach to international crises. His team may be willing to increase cooperation with Russia on Syria, but other actors in the decision-making process will disagree. Fabius's departure should ease tensions with the Obama administration -- especially Secretary of State John Kerry -- on the Middle East. With Jean-Yves le Drian staying on as defence minister, arms export policy in the Middle East will not change.

Prospects for India in 2016

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bharatiya Janata Party ◽  
The Government

Subject Prospects for India in 2016. Significance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has accelerated its agenda of piecemeal and sequential reform following his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s defeat in the Bihar elections last month. As difficult state elections approach in the first half of 2016, the government is banking on these reforms and headline growth to secure voter and investor support. In foreign policy, the government is likely to focus on regions of strategic importance, especially Russia and the Middle East.

Imran Khan is likely to become Pakistan prime minister

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Military

Significance The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s five-year term ended on May 31. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif faces a tough fight to become prime minister, with the main challenge set to come from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and further opposition provided by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Impacts With Khan as prime minister, the military would likely have free rein to pursue an anti-India foreign policy. Khan would step up his criticisms of the war in Afghanistan and likely have a difficult relationship with US President Donald Trump. Pakistan under any government will pursue balanced diplomacy in the Middle East, seeking good ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Iran could sunder Hungary-Israel illiberal alliance

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Democratic Institutions ◽  
Small Country ◽  
Content Type ◽  
United Front ◽  
The Eu

Subject Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Jerusalem. Significance Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's July 18-20 visit to Jerusalem invited a great deal of controversy, largely related to his approach to Hungary’s interwar history and erosion of democratic institutions. An ideological affinity and common strategic interests support a warm long-term relationship. Impacts Following the examples of Austria, Poland and Hungary, other CE countries will strengthen their relationship with Israel. Common positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will become increasingly difficult to forge at international forums, including the EU. The profiles of small-country leaders with an illiberal outlook will rise as they show a united front on more issues.

Israel will strengthen its ties with the Gulf

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Opportunities ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Middle East Policy

Significance In October, Netanyahu travelled to Oman -- the first visit there by an Israeli premier in decades. In the past few years, relations between Israel and most of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have warmed, but this has not been publicised. More recently, GCC states have become less concerned whether their relations with Israel become public knowledge. Meanwhile, the United States is encouraging rapprochement as one of the anchors of its Middle East policy. Impacts Netanyahu may soon visit Bahrain, the first public visit by an Israeli leader to the country. Relations with Qatar will follow a separate track to other Gulf states. A political opening would create economic opportunities.

'Islamic State' hostage crisis sets back Abe's agenda

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hostage Crisis

Headline JAPAN/MIDDLE EAST: Hostage crisis sets back Abe agenda

Erdogan may forestall deterioration with 2021 election

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Shock Waves ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investor Confidence ◽  
Opposition Party ◽  
International Image ◽  
Chief Prosecutor ◽  
Middle East Policy ◽  
At Home

Significance He also withdrew Turkey from a convention protecting women and sexual minorities, while the chief prosecutor filed a case to close the main Kurdish opposition party. These back-to-back moves caused shock waves at home and abroad, further tarnishing Turkey’s international image. Impacts The loss of investor confidence in the government’s handling of the economy will be profound and lasting, pushing it deeper into crisis. The government’s openly anti-feminist, anti-LGBT stance may contribute to further violence and abuse against women and sexual minorities. Fresh protests are likely and could turn violent, especially in the Kurdish provinces, where repression will be heavy-handed. Western responses will be limited, given Turkey’s importance: as a NATO member; in controlling EU migration; and for US Middle East policy.

Migrant crisis to complicate Cameron's EU negotiation

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Labour Party ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
The Government

Significance As intended, the changes will temporarily ease the Conservative Party's internal atmosphere, most importantly before the October annual party conference. However, they are unlikely to alter the fundamentals of the referendum or its outcome. The more significant internal party battle will be over the terms of Prime Minister David Cameron's EU membership renegotiation. Impacts The government could still face a September 7 House of Commons defeat over 'purdah', despite its reversal on the issue. This would boost eurosceptic elements in the Labour Party before the September 12 leadership election result. Cameron's wish to discourage migration from the Middle East could intensify his foreign policy focus on the region.

US partisanship will damage its Middle East standing

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Role ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Senate ◽  
Middle East Policy ◽  
The Eu

Significance Trump’s controversial Middle East policy decisions have met bipartisan criticism in the US Senate, but in the House of Representatives -- where the influence of the party grassroots is more keenly felt -- Republican congressmen have staunchly backed the president. There are growing partisan differences towards other countries, a notable shift from previous decades when party was not a clear indicator for preference. This may have a major impact on Washington’s future relationship with the Middle East. Impacts Foreign lobbying efforts in Washington will increasingly be targeted on a partisan basis. Russian foreign policy, not beholden to the vagaries of democracy, may become more influential in the Middle East. The EU could seek to play a stronger, independent regional role to replace the United States.

China will focus on Middle East energy, not politics

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Regional Energy ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Supply Risks ◽  
Middle East Policy ◽  
The Belt And Road

Significance A significant proportion of imports come from the Middle East, where security-driven supply risks -- and Saudi Arabia’s production restraint -- are also helping to drive up oil prices. The region is also an important staging post for the Belt and Road Initiative. Despite this, Beijing’s Middle East policy remains largely hands-off when it comes to political issues. Impacts China will avoid engaging in entrenched quarrels between Saudi Arabia and other regional energy producers. Traditional Western suppliers of arms to the Middle East will face increasing competition from China. Gulf instability would force China to seek more oil elsewhere and further boost its rapid development of renewables and electric vehicles.

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