An Analysis of Syria’s Parliamentary Elections

An Analysis of Syria’s Parliamentary Elections

Online Strategic Council – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that the first parliamentary elections in Syria during the interim government’s tenure, led by Ahmad al-Shar, were held while the appointed composition of seats, the absence of a national census, and the influence of foreign actors challenge the real legitimacy and freedom of these elections.

Seizure of the Samoud Flotilla: A Clear Violation of International Law

Seizure of the Samoud Flotilla: A Clear Violation of International Law

Online Strategic Council – Dialogue: A senior analyst of West Asian and Arab world affairs stated: The recent action by the naval forces of the Israeli regime in seizing the “Global Samoud” humanitarian ships has once again placed the world before a clear violation of international law and maritime laws.

A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime

A Regional Deterrence Umbrella Against the Threats of the Zionist Regime

Online Strategic Council – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated that recent developments in West Asia indicate that the region’s security equations have entered a new stage. The Israeli regime’s attack on Qatar, as a security shock, has made the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf aware of new vulnerabilities and forced them to reconsider their defense strategies. Now, relying on American security guarantees no longer seems sufficient, because emerging regional threats have become more complex and multi-layered than in the past. In this context, Pakistan, with its special position as the only atomic power in the Islamic world, has quickly found a strategic place in the security calculations of the Arab countries. The signing of the strategic defense agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad, followed by a military cooperation meeting between Bahrain and Pakistan in Manama, indicates an increasing trend in security convergence. These cooperations are defined not only to strengthen joint deterrence and counter potential threats, especially from the Israeli regime, but also indicate a shift in the balance of power in the region. Pakistan’s entry into the West Asian equations could have broader implications; on the one hand, it could reduce America’s monopoly on providing regional security, and on the other hand, it could create new axes of cooperation among Islamic powers. Thus, by moving closer to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are seeking to develop an indigenous defense shield which, in addition to guaranteeing their own security, sends a clear message to regional rivals: the power equations are being rewritten and new actors have entered the scene.

The Prospect of Global Recognition of the State of Palestine

The Prospect of Global Recognition of the State of Palestine

Online Strategic Council – Note: The process of recognizing Palestine by countries around the world, which has been met with opposition and anger from the Israeli regime, is noteworthy. The unprecedented move by various world countries to recognize the independent State of Palestine is entirely linked to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and its genocidal and racist policies.