Faisal J. Abbas

Too many alliances, not enough deterrence? Well, I hate to disappoint cynics, but the reality is they are missing the big picture regarding recent announcements coming out of Saudi Arabia and the new realities taking shape in the region.

A few weeks ago, I took part in the Delphi Economic Forum and I was asked to predict the outcome of the tense geopolitical situation that has emerged in the Gulf and wider Middle East since the eruption of Operation Epic Fury in February.

It is often said that the first casualty of war is truth. On Wednesday, in a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump suggested the war with Iran may soon be over, while also threatening to send Tehran “back to the stone age.”

A famous proverb states: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

The Athens Policy Dialogues held recently in the Greek capital featured engaging and candid discussions with policymakers, think-tankers, and leading journalists from Greece, other European countries and the wider Middle East, including Egypt, Israel, and Turkiye.