The Company Carries Influence Since It Would Bring a U.S. Major Into a Sector That Washington Has Viewed as Off-Limits ConocoPhillips’s reported plan to sign a contract with Syria’s transitional government would be a significant step in Syria’s return to international energy markets. If finalized, this deal would make ConocoPhillips the …
Read More »Turkey’s Hejaz Railway Revival and the Limits of a Hormuz Alternative
A Revived Line Would Connect Turkish Industry to Arab Markets, Boost North-South Trade, and Complement Other Projects Turkey is working to modernize and extend the historic Hejaz Railway as it seeks to transform this neglected Ottoman-era line into a tool for infrastructure diplomacy. Built in the early 20th century to …
Read More »Iran-Qatar Electricity Grid Interconnection Plan Shows Pragmatism in the Shadow of War
If Gulf-linked private capital participates in Iran’s reconstruction, it would show that regional actors are trying to shape Iran’s behavior and buy protection through economic incentivesTwo days after President Donald Trump announced agreement on a memorandum of understanding prolonging a ceasefire with Iran, Qatari Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said feasibility studies were …
Read More »France’s Eastern Mediterranean energy strategy: Between commercial pragmatism and geopolitical ambition
France has emerged as a significant actor in the Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape, combining commercial interests, geopolitical ambition, and European energy security priorities. Its approach rests on three pillars: support for French corporate activity, especially through TotalEnergies; strategic alignment with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel; and efforts to counterbalance Turkey’s growing assertiveness …
Read More »The Strategic Logic of Azerbaijan’s Absheron Phase 2
New Gas from Absheron Will Not on Its Own Transform Europe’s Energy Balance, but It Will Add Valuable Supply Diversity On June 1, 2026, during Baku Energy Week, Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company, TotalEnergies, ADNOC International, part of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and Turkey’s state pipeline company, BOTAŞ, signed a 15-year natural …
Read More »How Iran-Israel-U.S. Tensions May Reshape the GCC’s Energy Transition
The escalation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has renewed attention on the energy-security vulnerabilities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The conflict has affected maritime confidence around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most …
Read More »From presence to influence: India’s Arctic ambitions in a changing frontier
The trajectory of India’s Arctic engagement will depend on its ability to scale its efforts without losing coherence. Investments in research infrastructure, greater involvement from the private sector, and deeper partnerships with Arctic states will be critical India’s growing engagement in the Arctic reflects a deliberate expansion of its strategic …
Read More »From banks to blockchains: US opens new front in Iran sanctions
The Trump administration’s sanctions on Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange mark an escalation in Washington’s effort to disrupt the financial infrastructure Tehran uses to operate outside the formal banking system. The US Treasury designated Nobitex alongside Wallex, Bitpin and Ramzinex and sanctioned senior figures connected to Nobitex, including chairman, co-founder and …
Read More »Substituting Venezuelan oil for Persian Gulf oil: A geopolitical reality check
The idea of substituting Venezuelan oil for Persian Gulf oil has become more relevant as energy security is increasingly shaped by chokepoints, sanctions, and regional conflict. Persian Gulf producers remain central to global oil supply, but a large share of their exports depends on the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Energy …
Read More »Kazakhstan and the Iran-Israel war: Navigating risks, opportunities, and strategic neutrality
Kazakhstan, a landlocked Central Asian state with a long-standing multi-vector foreign policy, has been indirectly affected by the 2025–2026 escalation between Israel, the United States, and Iran. The conflict has created both risks and opportunities for Astana. Kazakhstan has tried to preserve pragmatic neutrality while deepening ties with Israel, Gulf states, and …
Read More »