Global pitch: The World Cup, Gulf Arab states, and the Middle East’s losing sides
The World Cup in Qatar, with all its money and glitz, shines a light on the disconnect between winners and losers in the Middle East
Middle East and North Africa
From maverick player to crisis manager: What Qatar wants from its World Cup
Hosting the World Cup is the ultimate ‘soft power coup’. But Qatar could find the investment may not be worth the return
The Clash of Orders with Vali Nasr on Iran
Mark Leonard is joined by Vali Nasr to learn more about the Iranian perspective on global order
Climate of opportunity: Iraq’s new government as regional conciliator
Iraq’s new prime minister is well placed to negotiate both the pitfalls of domestic politics and to play a mediating role within the Middle East
No loitering: What Russia’s Iranian drones could mean for Ukraine
Russia is using Iranian-made drones to make up for its other shortcomings. Their use is unlikely to prove a game-changer – but Europeans should still assist Ukraine to defend against them
27 Oct
Iran’s “Generation No” protests: what lies ahead?
This Twitter Space will discuss important lessons from the ongoing protests in Iran and their implications for the country’s future
A new climate for peace: How Europe can promote environmental cooperation between the Gulf Arab states and Iran
European policymakers should back climate diplomacy to help improve relations between Iran and Gulf monarchies
Against the flow: Europe’s role in kickstarting Algeria’s green transition
The future of Europe and Algeria’s energy partnership lies in renewables – if Algerian leaders are willing to end their longstanding dependence on fossil fuels and join the green transition
Generation no: The Iranian uprising and how the West should respond
Young people in Iran have led mass protests after the death of a woman in police custody. The West should stand in solidarity with the protesters while keeping the diplomatic route open to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme.
Rogue NATO: The new face of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is often seen as the anti-NATO, but Putin will struggle to convince the other members – especially the Central Asian states – that his war is more important than Chinese investment