Open Dialogue Research Journal
For years, a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been described as the ultimate prize in “Middle Eastern Diplomacy” — the keystone that would complete the Abraham Accords and reshape the region’s geopolitical architecture. Washington has pushed hard. Riyadh has signaled openness. Jerusalem has expressed eager anticipation. Yet […]
Fighting in Yemen has entered a new and more dangerous phase. Yemen’s internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, says it has retaken ground from the Iran-backed Houthi movement near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the narrow waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis say Saudi […]
Oil markets have spent months absorbing bad news out of the Middle East with relative composure, cushioned by the fact that the war between the US, Israel, and Iran hadn’t yet meaningfully disrupted the physical flow of crude. That cushion appears to be wearing thin. Brent crude climbed past $106 […]
Pakistan’s promise to defend Saudi Arabia is becoming harder to separate from Yemen’s war. On September 18, it was reported that army chief, Asim Munir, had urged Iran to restrain the Houthis amid attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure. The intervention reveals Islamabad’s immediate and practical preference: using its […]
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, T+rkiye and Pakistan on 7 August 2026, is more than a reaction to immediate Middle Eastern instability. It represents an attempt by three influential regional powers to reduce their dependence on external security guarantees and exercise greater control over their strategic […]
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was not created by the US-Israeli war on Iran alone, but the war transformed it from a diplomatic possibility into a strategic necessity. Signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan on August 7, 2026, it declares that an armed attack on one member will be […]
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described Trump’s visit as a “performance to project strength”, condemning Washington’s pressuring of Iran under the guise of diplomacy. On May 16, 2025, Donald Trump concluded his three-day tour of the Persian Gulf. Global headlines focused on the staggering numbers: over USD 140 billion in […]
They seemed made for each other. A former reality television star, with dubious real estate credentials, a freakish alienation from the truth, and the various leaders of the Gulf States, who never found truthful assessments that worthwhile anyway. This was certainly no time to be frugal and modest. Many a […]
The delegation from Ukraine will have to tell the Americans why the agreements between Putin and Trump are not being respected. The next round of negotiations is currently taking place in Saudi Arabia. While the Europeans are trying to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and are doing everything to spur […]
What’s most important is that Putin and Trump trust one another, their representatives have excellent working relations with each other, and these two leaders are aware of the challenges posed by Ukraine and Europe. Russia and the US confirmed their mutual intent on Tuesday to revive the grain deal, though Russia’s statement conditioned […]
Comments