A fragile Gaza truce offers hope, but it teeters on unresolved core issues: disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal, and Gaza’s future governance. The path forward remains dangerously uncertain.
Browsing: Middle East
When Iran was struck, its so-called “Axis of Upheaval” partners offered little more than rhetoric. Russia, stretched thin in Ukraine, provided “best wishes.” China prioritized its own economic interests. North Korea saw an unregulated opportunity. The crisis revealed these are not allies, but transactional partners—a dynamic that may empower Pyongyang as the new wildcard.
Russia’s friendship with Iran has limits. When crisis hit, Moscow offered rhetoric, not real support, revealing a partnership of convenience, not commitment.
Qatar leveraged the 2017 blockade by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to intensify lobbying, defend Al Udeid Air Base, secure arms sales, preserve its major non-NATO ally status, and strengthen military cooperation, successfully defeating congressional efforts that threatened U.S.–Qatar defense relations.
Trump’s 2025 strategy prioritises Gulf ties and transactional interests, reducing US commitments while reshaping Middle East responsibilities.