Dr. Ali BAKIR (علي باكير)

🚨🚨 My new scholarly article: 📚📝 #Turkey's #Security Role in the #Gulf Region: Exploring the case of a newcomer ➡️ (Q1) Journal: Turkish Studies ✅ Open access: Funded by QNL 🤲🏻 10x: #Khaleeji, #Turkish, & #American officials/invaluable insights 👇 tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

HE @MBA_AlThani_ , Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the joint press conference with HE Mr. @HakanFidan , Minister of Foreign Affairs of the brotherly Republic of Türkiye: We addressed the attack that took place yesterday on the energy complex in Ras Laffan. Regrettably, this act of sabotage reflects an aggressive and irresponsible policy, and constitutes a dangerous escalation by the Iranian side, despite the fact that the State of Qatar, from the very first moment of the Israeli attacks on Iranian energy facilities and infrastructure, condemned those actions. The Iranian response to that Israeli attack was, however, to directly target the State of Qatar. #MOFAQatar

@hxhassan @kshaheen @newlinesmag Most welcome Hassan. Don't expect me to write my article here though... You will read it soon :)

@AliBakeer @kshaheen @newlinesmag That’s very persuasive, thanks for the insights.

A clear shift in the Gulf states’ position on the Iran war in the past few days. Our Middle East editor @kshaheen takes a close look in his new piece in @newlinesmag newlinesmag.com/running-notes/…

تقرير خاص من #الخليج_أونلاين.. 🇸🇦🇶🇦🇦🇪🇰🇼🇴🇲🇧🇭🌍 ❓- ما الهدف من الدعوات لتأسيس "#ناتو_خليجي"؟ تعزيز الردع وبناء منظومة دفاع جماعي. ❓- ما أبرز تحرك دفاعي جديد في #الخليج؟ اتفاق الدفاع الاستراتيجي بين #السعودية و #باكستان. khaleej.online/V1e7Ne | #ناتو_الخليج #الناتو_الخليجي | @hamadjjalthani @AliBakeer

This is wild. People in *every single one* of the top US allies now think it's better to depend on China than the US. The global balance of power is clearly tilting away from the US and toward China.

Turkey has announced plans to build eight nuclear reactors as part of efforts to expand its energy capacity and diversify its power sources. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Wednesday that the country intends to construct four reactors in the northern province of Sinop and another four in the Thrace region. Read: middleeastmonitor.com/20260319-turke…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan: We reject all kinds of actions that target regional geographies, and we believe that Israel’s attempts to whitewash its own crimes and its expansionist, occupying policies should never be allowed under the guise of this regional conflict, such actions must not be permitted.

Qatar’s Prime Minister: This war needs to stop immediately. The aggression needs to stop immediately. Because everyone knows who the main beneficiary of this war is, and dragging the whole region into this conflict is.

Pay your debts first to the #Syrians, #Iraqis, #Lebanese, and #Yemenis among others. Your endless chatter reveals your defeat. At the current rate of infiltration, the Israelis likely spare you so that you create discord and incite hatred and sectarianism, which has served their interests well until now. They have been using you and you will continue to serve them. No one has benefited #Israel more in recent decades than #Iran, its leadership, and its #IRGC, people like you.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_, will hold today a joint press conference with His Excellency Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye @HakanFidan, at 5:00 PM Doha time. #MOFAQatar

📚🔖 Two days ago, I had the pleasure of delivering a lecture at #Georgetown_University in #Qatar on the defense strategies of #small_states, using the current #US-Israel #war on #Iran and the small #GCC states in the #Gulf as a case study.

ويؤكد أستاذ الشؤون الدولية والأمن والدفاع الدكتور علي باكير، أن التهديدات الإيرانية المتزايدة، إلى جانب التغيرات العميقة في موازين القوى الإقليمية، تبرهن على الحاجة الملحة لإرساء منظومة دفاع جماعي مشترك في #مجلس_التعاون_الخليجي تتجاوز أنماط الرد التقليدية. ويوضح لـ"الخليج أونلاين" أن البيئة الأمنية الراهنة تشير إلى بروز تحديات معقدة لم تعد تقتصر على طرف واحد، خاصة بعد التحولات التي شهدها عام 2025 والاعتداءات التي طالت المنطقة، مما يستوجب تفكيراً استراتيجياً في طبيعة الشراكات الإقليمية والدولية المطلوبة. ويرى باكير أن هناك عوائق بنيوية وعملياتية، فضلاً عن طبيعة التنافس الداخلي، تحول دون تفعيل نظام دفاعي موحد بشكل كامل، رغم توفر النوايا السياسية التي تعكسها البيانات الرسمية الصادرة عن دول مجلس التعاون بين الحين والآخر. ويلفت الخبير الأكاديمي إلى أن بناء تشكيل دفاعي مشترك بين الخليج، سيزيد من الاستقلالية السياسية والأمنية لدول المنطقة ويحد من المخاطر المحيطة بها. ويعتقد بضرورة بحث إمكانية انخراط هذا التشكيل الدفاعي في تحالفات أوسع مع قوى إقليمية وازنة مثل تركيا وباكستان، بهدف خلق منظومة أكثر استقراراً وقدرة على الردع في مواجهة التحديات القادمة من داخل الإقليم وخارجه. تفاصيل alkhaleejonline.news/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D…

My longer read for @DAWNmenaorg on the flawed US/Israeli assumptions when fighting a networked militia with a state "Israel and America are now at war with the largest militia network in the world — a network of networks engineered to endure attrition indefinitely" I am looking at how networks evolve and reshape, and what this means for the potential metamorphosis of the IRGC moving forward dawnmena.org/america-is-bog…

🇩🇪 New: Germany officially withdraws support for Israel in legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against accusations of genocide brought by South Africa in December 2023. Germany announced in early 2024 that it would intervene as a third party in the case, formally rejecting South Africa’s claims as "baseless" and "political instrumentalization" of the Genocide Convention. Berlin argued that Israel has been exercising its right to self-defense following the October 7 attacks.

@GokTurk010010 Calculate the costs (total costs-not only financial) of absorbing the hits and the costs of joining the war. Asking as the later is more expensive, they are highly likely to stay defensive. The moment the calculations change, expect shifting the posture.

@AliBakeer When are these Arab countries men up and retaliate? Or are they just gonna sit back and take the beating ?

Iran targeted Qatar Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar's main site for production of liquefied natural gas

🇶🇦🇶🇦 #Qatar designates the Military Attaché and Security Attaché at the #Iranian Embassy in #Doha, and those working at those two Attaché Offices, persona non grata.

#Israel’s strike on the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural #gas reserve shared between #Iran and Qatar, was carried out in coordination with and approved by the #UnitedStates, according to Axios. The facility targeted is part of the Iranian side of the field, which forms the same reservoir as #Qatar’s North Field. Qatar has condemned the attack on facilities linked to the field, warning it poses a threat to global #energy security and regional stability.

🇸🇦🇶🇦🇦🇪🇰🇼🇴🇲🇧🇭 My latest: The Ultimate Leverage: How a #GCC Energy Embargo Could Halt the #US, Israel, #Iran War middleeasteye.net/opinion/how-gc… For the GCC, the pressure is dual; they must either absorb these mounting losses through heightened security measures and economic strain, or retaliate and risk deeper direct pro-active involvement in the war, which would be framed by Israel as joining the US-Israel coalition. Both paths plunge the region into chaos, drain resources, and increase defence costs without offering any clear benefits. Given the bleak outlook and the exhaustion of traditional options, a unified GCC decision to cease all #oil and #gas exports until the war ends emerges as a rational, albeit radical, measure under force majeure situation. The GCC has a clear and compelling justification for such an action. Their facilities are being targeted slowly and painfully without provocation. They are being dragged into the war by the US and Israel, paying more for defence and security while enduring Iranian attacks. The bloc has the right to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its infrastructure. While the costs of an embargo would be enormous for the Gulf countries, they are already incurring massive costs, while lacking control over the war's course. Ultimately, they may be forced to stop the flow of oil and gas anyway due to direct targeting or threats from the conflicting parties. By taking the initiative, the GCC can control the timing and narrative of the shutdown. Furthermore, the GCC states possess substantial financial buffers. Their sovereign wealth funds, holding trillions of dollars, could absorb short-term revenue losses. Swift steps to secure liquidity through the sale of assets or future investments prior to the embargo would help mitigate the initial shock. Additionally, the higher prices resulting from scarcity might offset reduced volumes once exports resume. As long as the primary belligerents face minimal costs or pursue strategies of attrition, the conflict will continue to drain Gulf resources and destabilise the region. In this dire context, a collective decision by the GCC to halt all oil and gas exports stands as the single most powerful, non-military measure available to end the war. By leveraging their unparallelled position in global energy markets, the GCC countries can force the international community to intervene and compel the warring parties to the negotiating table. While the decision carries significant risks and costs, it offers the GCC a chance to reclaim control over their destiny, shifting from passive victims to the architects of regional peace.