Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Sunni Muslims chant “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”, during an anti-government demonstration in Falluja, 50 km (31 miles) west of Baghdad April 26, 2013. (REUTERS/Mohanned Faisal)

Opinion: What happened to the Arab superpowers?

by Samir Atallah | Jun 16, 2013 | Opinion

In the Arab world, there were four historic superpowers: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria. These four states are split predominantly along two axes, namely the Islamic world and the Arab world. As for Egypt, it had a third sphere of influence in Africa. Iraq tried...

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In this image released by the Egyptian Presidency, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, center, meets with politicians at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, June 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt embarrassed as Ethiopia dam meeting broadcast live

by Mahmud El Shafey | Jun 5, 2013 | Middle East

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi found himself embroiled in an international scandal yesterday after a closed-door strategy meeting with senior leaders regarding Ethiopia’s decision to divert a portion of the waters of the Blue Nile was...

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Syrian protesters chant anti-President Bashar Assad slogans and wave a revolutionary flag in front of their embassy in Amman, Jordan, Friday, May 17, 2013 to condemn a May 10 massacre in Banias, Syria. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

Opinion: Syrian crisis leading towards open Turkey-Iran conflict

by Soner Cagaptay | May 26, 2013 | Debate

Soon after the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002, Turkey launched an ambitious foreign policy agenda to make itself a stand-alone regional leader. With this new vision, Turkey looked to cast itself as a central actor, wielding soft power to shape...

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Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad burn a Syrian independence flag, which is used by the opposition, during a demonstration at the Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis, April 20, 2013. Source: Reuters/Anis Mili

Opinion: Syrian crisis not leading towards open Turkey-Iran conflict

by Ahmed Lashin | May 26, 2013 | Debate

Despite the fact that the relationship between the two countries has recently become more complicated and ambiguous, the Turkish-Iranian—or if you prefer, the Ottoman-Safavid—struggle is well-rooted in history. Conflicts of interests between the two countries may have...

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A handout picture provided by Turkish Presidental Press Office shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (L) and Turkish President Abdullah Gul during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 21 May 2013. (EPA)

Opinion: Saudi–Turkish relations

by Emrullah İşler | May 24, 2013 | Opinion

Due to its expanding foreign policy over the last decade, Turkey has started giving increased attention to developments in the world and following its issues closely. Today, we see Turkey trying to develop its relations with most countries in the region, placing this...