Why Does the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement Matter for the Middle East?0

• Blog, Economic Security, Human Security, National Security
• August 28, 2026

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement matters for the Middle East because it could make an attack on Saudi Arabia, Turkiye or Pakistan more costly and give each country greater confidence that it would not face a crisis alone. The three have agreed that an armed attack on one will be treated as an attack onREAD MORE

The Rights of Lower Riparian States under International Law.0

• Blog, Economic Security, Human Security, National Security
• August 4, 2026

International law guarantees riparian states the right to equitable and reasonable utilisation of shared watercourses and protection from significant transboundary harm. Water is crucial to sustaining life, as its disruption can result in significant economic and humanitarian crises, potentially escalating to armed conflict. Hydrological geography determines whether a State is an upper or lower riparian,READ MORE

The Future of US-Iran Relations0

• Blog, Economic Security, Human Security, National Security
• August 4, 2026

The relationship between the United States and Iran has remained one of the most contentious rivalries in international politics. At the centre of this dispute lies Iran's nuclear programme. Washington concluded that diplomacy with Tehran was exhausted and wanted to degrade Iran nuclear program as it posed an unacceptable threat to regional and international security.READ MORE

How the Renewed Iran–US Conflict Differed from the Opening Campaign0

• Blog, Economic Security, Human Security, National Security
• August 4, 2026

The renewed Iran–US conflict was not simply a repeat of the opening campaign. Initially, it was based on the expectation that military destruction would weaken Iran’s political system and force change to bring a regime favorable to the US, while the renewed conflict became a struggle over bargaining power, maritime pressure and preferable settlement termsREAD MORE