As the Arab Gulf states transition away from reliance on hydrocarbons and seek to diversify their economies, governments are fostering industries that complement the oil sector, like mid- and downstream industries, logistics and increasingly, sectors less related to hydrocarbons, like tourism and finance. This pivot is underpinned by a digital transformation.

This policy note was completed by the author in August 2025 and therefore preceded the resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in September.  Introduction Since the turn of the millennium, the politico-economic nexus between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and East Asia has significantly grown. Japan’s… Continue reading Reinvigorating Japan-GCC State Ties: The Case for Enhancing Top-Level Diplomacy

Relations between Algeria and Morocco are passing through a critical phase of instability, fueled by deep-seated distrust, historical grievances, skewed perceptions of escalation, a rapid arms race, and competing regional ambitions. As a result, both are increasingly relying on military deterrence over diplomacy. This situation is further exacerbated by their antagonistic views on numerous issues, particularly the Western Sahara dispute