Liquid alliances in the Middle East
- Autores: Eduard Soler i Lecha
- Localización: Notes internacionals CIDOB, ISSN-e 2013-4428, Nº. 169, 2017, págs. 1-7
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
One-off events change the perception of what or who represents a threat, which is how temporary alliances that are limited to single issues proliferate.
Syria is a good example of the liquid nature of the rivalries.
The main local actors have been changing their definition of the threat, whether because of events on the battlefield or because of instrumental calculations.
The United States and Russia have a central role while, with the possible exception of the Maghreb, Europe is not seen as a potential ally.
The involvement of multiple actors suggested that Libya was becoming the setting for a regional confrontation based upon the level of antipathy or sympathy towards the Muslim Brotherhood In Yemen, the Saudis and Iranians have taken opposing sides but their level of involvement differs.
The relationship between Russia and Turkey is an example of liquid rivalry Algerian diplomacy has opted for the liquid in order to make itself a pivotal actor, a potential mediator and an indispensable interlocutor.
Although they see opportunities with Trump, all of the region’s capitals continue to wonder how solid the US commitment is to security in the region.
