Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
The failure of military force to resolve a confrontation presents the danger that nuclear weapons might be employed under the guise of a “limited strike.” In the Gulf, such a scenario would have grave implications for regional security and the future of the international order.
For months, pending U.S. midterm elections have acted as both a restraint on military force and a point of leverage to be exploited. With the vote soon in the books, how will that calculus change and how can mediators secure important gains before it does?
As conflict puts multiple maritime routes under pressure at once, the value of infrastructure is no longer measured by efficiency alone. Pipelines, railways and roads are increasingly important for the redundancy they provide when established trade routes fail.