Strategic autonomy in Arab world’s sights

Outlet: Arab News

Language: English

Abstract: The Middle East and North Africa face unpredictable futures amidst internal and external challenges, including climate change, regional tensions, and socioeconomic pressures. Despite some macroeconomic optimism, disparities persist, with oil-importing countries in particular facing bleak outlooks. Governments struggle to address crises effectively, hindered by governance issues and lack of political will. Intensifying competition among actors further complicates the regional landscape, with conflicts in Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq serving as battlegrounds for rival interests. Turkiye's rivalry with Egypt and tensions between Algeria and Morocco add to regional instability. Amidst global power dynamics, the Arab world seeks strategic autonomy, aligning with various foreign powers, such as China and Russia, on transactional terms. However, this leaves them vulnerable to external influences and, in turn, instability.

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