Libya
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French President in Beirut
Can Macron save Lebanon?
In the aftermath of the devastating explosions in Beirut, French President Emmanuel Macron is styling himself as Lebanon's saviour. Ultimately, however, the success of his efforts will depend on the goodwill of the regional powers in the Middle East. An analysis by Karim El-Gawhary
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A visual record of Tripoli
Libya's citizen-photographers find beauty in a war zone
In a novel response to Libya’s ongoing civil war, photographers in the capital, Tripoli, are building a vast archive of photographs highlighting the beauty that can be found despite the chaos and bloodshed. By Moutaz Ali
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Escalation or mediation in the Eastern Med?
Turkey and Greece at loggerheads over maritime sovereignty
Will German attempts at mediation avert the Eastern Mediterranean crisis? Greece has accused Turkey of conducting illegal explorations for shale gas close to the Greek islands. Yet Ankara maintains that the waters are part of the Turkish continental shelf. Ronald Meinardus reports from Istanbul
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Interview with political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel
How are Middle East countries coping with climate change?
Climate change, water scarcity and declining oil revenues: the Middle East and North Africa face huge environmental challenges. Political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel has published a study on how the region is dealing with these pressing issues. Interview by Christopher Resch
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Interview with Middle East analyst Stephan Roll
"Egypt's leadership feels markedly threatened by Turkey"
The dispute about maritime territories between Turkey and Greece is heating up. Egypt's involvement has added a new dimension to the conflict, says Middle East analyst Stephan Roll. Interview by Panagiotis Kouparanis
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Interview with Olivier Roy on the conversion of Hagia Sophia
"Islamising stones is easier than Islamising souls"
The photos of the first Friday prayers in Hagia Sofia in 86 years triggered passionate and diverse responses around the world. Surrounded by a coterie of ministers, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, led worshippers in prayer at the recently rededicated mosque. Eren Güvercin spoke to the renowned French political scientist Olivier Roy and asked him about the significance of the controversial reconversion
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Libyan civil war
Turkey versus France – a game of one-upmanship in Libya?
Relations between France and Turkey reached an historic low in June after Turkish ships allegedly targeted a French warship in the Mediterranean, resulting in France suspending its role in Operation Sea Guardian while accusing Turkey of violating an arms embargo against Libya. By Stasa Salacanin
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Libya's double tragedy
How domestic conflict and misguided intervention have destabilised Libya
Libya's plight resembles that of other war-torn countries in the Greater Middle East: internal conflict has spiralled out of control because of misguided foreign intervention. With Turkey and Egypt now locking horns in the country, Libya's agony is even less likely to be resolved at the ongoing UN talks in Geneva, writes Amin Saikal
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Mask diplomacy and power politics
Erdogan's foreign policy in the shadow of coronavirus
In the age of corona, Ankara's regional power strategy is twofold: on the one hand, Turkey is engaged in a charm offensive to revamp its political image, which has suffered lately in certain quarters. On the other, President Erdogan is pursuing a tough policy of interests backed up by military force. By Ronald Meinardus
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The collapse of Haftar's offensive
Is Egypt really preparing to jump into the Libyan fray?
With General Haftar's troops increasingly on the defensive, the Egyptian leadership recently threatened direct military intervention in Libya, now in its sixth year of civil war. Analysis by Karim El-Gawhary
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A truly international conflict
How can Europe help prevent the carving-up of Libya?
Having forfeited any real influence in Libya, Europe needs to look to the judicial use of sanctions. Curbing Russian influence and drawing support away from Haftar is essential if the unity of the country is to be preserved, writes Wolfram Lacher
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Conflict in North Africa
In Libya, Russia sinks its teeth into another proxy war
The United States has identified over a dozen Russia warplanes in Libya, marking Moscow's first direct venture into the North African country. Experts say it is part of a larger Russian plan to expand its influence in the region. By Lewis Sanders IV and Kersten Knipp