James M Dorsey
Commentator
James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and commentator on foreign affairs who has covered ethnic and religious conflict and terrorism across the globe for more than three decades.
UAE recognition of Israel dents Emirati religious soft power
The setback raises questions about the UAE’s strategy of co-opting prominent Muslim scholars with financial incentives to project the Gulf state as a model of tolerance that seeks to promote a…
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Resolving the tug of war in the Middle East amid coronavirus crisis
Like the Gulf states, China has long relied on the US defence umbrella to ensure the security of the flow of energy and other goods through waters surrounding the Gulf
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Chinese policy towards Sri Lanka tells a cautionary tale
China is using liability as a diplomatic tool.
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How big power rivalry is likely to unfold in the Gulf region
The real litmus test of the United States’ ability to counter China's growing footprint is likely to be in the Gulf.
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Growing rift between US and China creates a significant opportunity for Turkey
Criticism of China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has widened the gap between Washington and Beijing and sparked calls for diversification of China-centric global supply chains.
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Fragile big power ties add to uncertainty in the Middle East
The fragility of relationships between Turkey, Russia, Iran, and China, has significantly shaped Middle Eastern and North African geopolitics.
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Europe caught between coronavirus and economic hardships
Europe is struggling to control a pandemic and reverse its economic fallout.
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China shows greater interest in Syria amid coronavirus pandemic and deteriorating ties with the US
Syrian officials have sought to drive home China’s competitive advantages and perceived interest in taking a lead in the reconstruction of their country.
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Middle East struggles to contain coronavirus spread and tackle its economic fallout
For Middle East leaders, neither containing the coronavirus spread nor economic recovery is a straight shot
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Iran's expanding naval presence in Caspian Sea puts spotlight on great power rivalry
Iran’s strongest trump card is that by linking the Caspian to the Arabian Sea it can provide what the Gulf states cannot: cheap and short access to the Indo-Pacific.
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China can no longer rely on US defence umbrella for security in the Gulf region
China’s increased security engagement in Central Asia may well be an indication of how it hopes to proceed in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.
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Israel caught in the middle of intensifying rivalry between US and China
Mike Pompeo’s trip to Tel Aviv solidified Israel’s position at the cusp of the widening US-Chinese divide.
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Poor relations between UAE and Turkey have further complicated conflicts in the Middle East
The UAE-Turkish rivalry has escalated military confrontations in Libya and Syria.
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Lessons Gulf states have learned from coronavirus pandemic
Trust in Gulf states’ handling of the current pandemic was bolstered by transparency maintained in daily updates while reporting the number of casualties and fatalities.
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What do Donald Trump and ultra-conservative Pakistani clerics have in common?
Trump and Pakistani religious scholars share the kind of opportunism and worldview that serve their short-term interests
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