Introduction  On June 18, 2026, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding, dubbed the Islamabad MOU, committing to negotiate a roadmap to end hostilities that had commenced in late February 2026. Over the course of roughly four months, the conflict rippled across the region, exacting significant costs on neighboring states, severely disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, and weighing… Continue reading The 60-Day Test: Fault Lines in the U.S.-Iran Deal

On April 11, 2026, Libya’s two rival governments approved the country’s first unified national budget since 2013, valued at nearly 190 billion Libyan dinars (approximately $30 billion). The agreement, sponsored by the United States through its envoy and Presidential Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos, was primarily a pact between Ibrahim Dbeibah, nephew of Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, and Saddam Haftar, son and presumed successor of the head of the eastern-based Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), Khalifa Haftar. Ten countries, including… Continue reading Libya: Trapped Between Internal Impasse and International Interference

Key Takeaways Ten years after the Paris Agreement, climate diplomacy shifts from ambition-setting to delivery pressures: While successive COPs have expanded participation, transparency, and financing, the persistent gap between commitments and implementation has placed pressure on presenting measurable outcomes. COP30 marks a shift from norm-setting to implementation credibility: COP30 in Belém prioritized delivery of climate… Continue reading Ten Years After the Paris Agreement: Outcomes, Implications, and Strategic Pathways for the Gulf