Having preserved the [nuclear deal] framework so far into the Trump administration, it would be unwise for Europe to risk blowing it up now
Media mentions – Middle East and North Africa
From the UAE viewpoint, this was a long term insurance policy for times when the relationship with Saudi Arabia comes to a halt
Visiting Fellow Helen Lackner quoted on Saudi and UAE cold war in Yemen
Europe needs to face the reality: a political transition in Syria is not in sight. This is why the societal resilience and capacity needs to be strengthened
The oil price collapse happens just on top of a much broader and deeper crisis that has been caused by the corona virus. It is devastating for the regional economies that will now have to deal with huge budget deficits
It’s a “carrot and stick” policy … and what we now see from the revolutionary guards is the stick
Junge Welt refers to ECFR commentaries on secondary sanctions
Riyadh could be satisfied, having achieved its goals and consolidated its leadership in the global oil market. But the episode is not over, and the risks for Saudi Arabia remain very high
[The coronavirus is] just one crisis on top of multiple crises — economic, political, conflict — and it raises the question: Is this just one other element that pushes the region over the edge’?
Deepening state failure in Syria is likely only to lead to further instability and entrench Assad’s warlord-like hold on the country as he defends the organs of state needed to maintain power
Crucially, this strategy will mean not just moral support, but also carefully directing increased resources to Syrians on the ground, including in government-controlled Syria where most of them live