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.
Contact us at afkar@mecouncil.org.
Turki Algoblan
Head of the Daymuma Center for Studies and Researches
Bio
Head of the Daymuma Center for Studies and Researches
Recent developments around the Bab al-Mandab Strait reveal deep imbalances in the region’s security architecture and the dynamics of deterrence. The growing clout of armed actors in the Red Sea presents a test for regional states and their collective approach to safeguarding freedom of navigation.
The U.S.-Israeli war and economic blockade against Iran raise questions over how regimes survive crises or succumb to existential pressures. Historical examples suggest that internal fissures and the cost-benefit analyses of individual security personnel are often decisive in tipping a teetering regime over the edge.