WPR Articles March 30, 2015 - April 3, 2015
Nigeria, Yemen Wars Mark New Era of Ad Hoc Crisis Management
By: Richard Gowan | Column
War is back in fashion. Across northern
and western Africa and in the Middle East, governments are resorting to
force to counter regional threats. This proliferation of regional
military actions potentially signals a trend toward an increasing
fragmentation of international crisis management.
To Meet Growing Demand, Jordan Turns to Nuclear Energy
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
Last week, Jordan signed a $10 billion
deal with Russia to build its first nuclear power plant. In an
interview, David Schenker, director of the program on Arab politics at
the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, discussed Jordan’s
nuclear energy policy.
As U.S. Nears Iran Deal, Traditional Middle East Allies Grumble
By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column
The U.S. efforts to secure a nuclear
agreement with Iran have exposed rifts with America’s long-standing
Middle Eastern partners, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. These
three countries are by no means fully aligned with the preferred
American vision for the region.
Singapore Faces Challenges Near and Far in Post-Lee Kuan Yew Era
By: Prashanth Parameswaran | Briefing
After Lee Kuan Yew’s death earlier this
month, questions remain about the durability of his legacy in Singapore.
While changes have been afoot there, particularly since Lee retired
from politics in 2011, they are likely to develop into larger economic
and political challenges amid growing regional and global uncertainties.
Buhari Will Need an Inclusive Team to Bring Change to Nigeria
By: Alex Thurston | Briefing
While Muhammadu Buhari’s election has
strengthened Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could bring a higher
level of competence to government, change could be slow to materialize.
Buhari’s first test will be to assemble an inclusive team to solve
Nigeria’s many challenges.
Hard-line Politics in India and Pakistan Stymie Deeper Trade TiesBy: Shehzad H. Qazi | Briefing
The elections of Prime Ministers Nawaz
Sharif and Narendra Modi in Pakistan and India had raised hopes for
better economic relations between the two countries. But once again,
trade normalization and greater economic integration have fallen victim
to nationalist politics and parochial interests.
As Greek Bailout Payment Stalls, Threat to Eurozone GrowsBy: Maria Savel | Trend Lines
Despite recent talks, Greece and its
creditors failed to agree on a list of reforms that Athens must
implement before the next $7.8 billion tranche of its bailout package is
released. Both sides are trying to stay optimistic, but the situation
is dire, with Greece rapidly running out of money.
Caspian States Boost Security, Economy With Trilateral PartnershipsBy: Richard Weitz | Column
Russia’s assertive approach to reclaiming a
sphere of interest in the post-Soviet space has highlighted the
security dilemmas facing the Caspian littoral countries. In response,
several Caspian states have turned to trilateral formats to pursue
targeted economic, energy and security collaboration.
End Game: Al-Shabab as a Model for the Islamic State’s DeclineBy: Clint Watts | Feature
What might the decline of the Islamic
State look like? The best recent historical model may be al-Shabab, the
terrorist group that once governed Somalia but which has now entered a
state of gradual decline. Such a comparison would be useful for dealing
with the implications of IS’ likely fall.
Saudi Arabia Risks Quagmire in Yemen CampaignBy: Peter Salisbury | Briefing
Despite almost a weeklong Saudi-led air
campaign in Yemen to dislodge them, Houthi rebels have continued to push
on into the south of the country. In the event of a ground invasion,
the Saudis could find themselves facing the same kind of challenges the
U.S. faced in 2003 after invading Iraq.
East Africa Trade Deal Another Step to Closer U.S.-Africa Economic TiesBy: The Editors | Trend Lines
In late February, the United States signed
a trade deal with the East African Community (EAC), the bloc of five
countries around Africa’s Great Lakes. In an interview, Nora Carina
Dihel, a senior trade economist at the World Bank, discussed U.S. trade
with the EAC and the rest of Africa.
France Doubles Down on Battle-Hardened but Overstretched MilitaryBy: BenoƮt Gomis | Briefing
On March 11, France unveiled an updated
version of its Military Programming Law for 2014-2019, a five-year
blueprint for the country’s force structure and defense budget. However,
in a climate of stagnant economic growth and fiscal constraints, doubts
persist about how sustainable the plan is.
Hopes for Democracy, EU Integration Fade in Erdogan’s TurkeyBy: Frida Ghitis | Column
It wasn’t very long ago that Turkey was
seen as a country in the midst of a great democratic transformation, but
there is a growing consensus that it is rapidly drifting away from
democracy. The driving force behind the country’s dramatic change of
direction is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Road to Iran’s Agreement on a Framework Nuclear DealBy: The Editors | Trend Lines
With Thursday’s
news that Iran and six world powers agreed on a framework deal to limit
Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon,
WPR is making background reading available for free. The articles cover
topics from leaps of faith in the talks to the U.S.-Israel split on
Iran.
Hard Choices Await Next U.S. President on Middle EastBy: Steven Metz | Column
In January 2017, a new U.S. president will
move into the White House. He or she will immediately instruct the
National Security Council to assess American national security strategy
and provide policy options. No assessment will be more complex and
important than the one dealing with the Middle East.
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