Weekly Panorama: Middle East between power struggles and risk of regional escalation

Arab newspapers published over the past week examined the developments reshaping the Middle East, the implications of Iranian-Saudi tensions, and the future of the defense partnership between Riyadh and Washington amid growing security threats and overlapping international and regional interests.

The New Middle East and Conflicting Interests

London-based Al-Arab examined the concept of a new Middle East, reviewing visions and projects aimed at reshaping the region, from Shimon Peres's vision of economic peace to efforts by regional and international powers to expand their influence and prevent rival powers from emerging.

The newspaper noted that the conflict extends beyond military confrontations to include control over maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as competition over trade and energy corridors. These include the economic corridor linking India, the Middle East, and Europe, and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The newspaper argued that the wars in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and Libya, alongside tensions involving Iran and the Houthis, reflect the overlapping interests of the United States, Israel, Türkiye, Iran, and Gulf states, with China, Russia, and Britain also playing a role.

It warned that imposing facts on the ground through military force and rejecting political settlements that safeguard Palestinian national rights could prolong conflicts and turn battlefield gains into political losses. It concluded that the contours of the future regional order remain unclear amid conflicting interests and continuing crises.

The Saudi-US Partnership and Regional Security

The Al-Rai website examined the implications of the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the questions it raised about the effectiveness of defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States, as well as the ability of existing security arrangements to protect critical infrastructure.

The website emphasized that recent security developments are putting the partnership to a practical test, particularly regarding the ability of alliances to prevent attacks and reduce risks.

In the same context, Lebanon's Al-Sharq newspaper published an article titled "Mecca and Medina Are Protected by the Lord of the Worlds," addressing the escalation involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The article linked the kingdom's security to regional competition and tensions surrounding maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while criticizing Iran's role in the escalation.

Military Strikes and the Limits of Confrontation

Lebanon's An-Nahar newspaper argued that US military campaigns against Iran and the Houthis might achieve gains on the ground but would not guarantee an end to the threats or impose a political settlement on Washington's terms.

It warned that expanding the strikes could prompt Tehran to target ships and Gulf energy facilities, threatening maritime navigation and oil supplies.

The newspaper also noted that weakening the Houthis militarily would not eliminate their threats to Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. It stressed the need to combine military and political coordination with efforts to address the Yemeni crisis.

Iranian Support and Houthi Capabilities

On relations between Tehran and the Houthis, Independent Arabia examined the role of Iranian military and technical support in developing the group's capabilities, noting that the group uses these capabilities to expand its regional influence and threaten Saudi security and international maritime navigation.

The newspaper cited reports by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Yemen regarding the difficulty of the Houthis developing sophisticated military systems without external support. It also pointed to similarities between components of their weapons and components of foreign origin.

The newspaper concluded that relations between the two sides encompass political and economic dimensions that help sustain the group's capabilities and strengthen its regional influence.

ANHA