No need to overread the Middle East’s marriages of convenience

There is a familiar ritual in Washington’s foreign policy think tanks whenever two Middle Eastern states sign a memorandum of understanding, launch a joint economic council or hold their first-ever ministerial dialogue: the announcement is instantly upgraded, in the retelling, into a “strategic partnership.” A defense-industry side deal becomes an “alliance.” A trade corridor becomes [...] The post No need to overread the Middle East’s marriages of convenience appeared first on Asia Times .
2026-08-09 16:44:30