EPOS Insights

Last October 2017, the Future Investment Initiative started. It was an event organized by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and sponsored by King Salman, in Ryiad, the capital of Saudi Arabia. In that occasion, Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of the Kingdom, gave a sensational speech in which he underlined the necessity for his country to go back to a moderate and open Islam. «Saudi Arabia wasn't like this before 1979. We need to get back to how we were before. We need to return to a moderate Islam that is open to the world, to all religions, to all traditions and to everybody». However, is this a sincere aim or a merely paying lip-service to reach other goals, such as a bigger economic development? In the following article by Ilaria Bertocchini, we try to answer these questions, analysing the context step by step

EPOS Insights

The war in Syria is not to be explained only by the political infighting in the country between the Alawites and the Sunni majority, but also by an important energy deal between Russia and Iran. Both the countries intend to steer the energy market in the Middle East and the Gulf region, substantially influencing the price of gas and crude oil on the world markets against other potential competitors in the sector. On the other hand, Turkey's strategy is to become an energy hub with Russia’s help too, also on the aftermath of its difficult relations with the US and the EU after the failed  military coup that has drifted the West and Turkey further apart. In the following exclusive article for EPOS, Gregorio Baggiani analyses the situation pointing out all the geopolitical implications and the economical strategies

EPOS Insights

After the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan government split into two factions, resulting in an armed conflict between both sides and their allies. The country is now experiencing a complete lack of security and escalation of violence due to the increasing number of actors aided by their private militias. Escalating violence, as well as the absence of security and governance, have had a detrimental impact on the country’s oil sector. Only a few oilfields are still operational and some of them are exposed to high levels of risk. How important and crucial is the oil sector in Libya from a gepolitical point of view? Can The oil sector be considered as an important source of stability in a troubled country like Libya? In the following exclusive article, Lorenzo Siggillino tries to answer these and other questions, giving EPOS' readers a thorough overview on the issues

EPOS Insights

Sultan Qaboos, pursued by peaceful demonstrations, has taken the path of reforms. He is supported by his subjects, the Gulf regimes and the United States of America, and he has just thrown down the gauntlet to Iran for oil in the Strait of Hormuz