Bashar al-Assad’s regime has used the drug partly as a means of ensuring that Syria is reintegrated into the Arab world, allowing its leadership to reinforce its position after years of isolation and conflict.
Past peace processes in Israel and Palestine showed what makes negotiations work. This time, Arab governments are uniquely positioned to broker a lasting peace.
The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met in Dushanbe on September 14-15 at a time of great uncertainty in Central Asia.
In an interview, H. A. Hellyer explains the context of Egyptian-Iranian relations, which may be closer to normalization.
If the opposition wins, Washington and Brussels should be prepared to seize the opportunity.
Washington may be tempted to give up after Tunis’s democratic backsliding, but instead it should use targeted actions that have worked in other countries.
Beijing’s success will depend on the policies of regional actors—particularly Iran.
