GRC Team
Houda Barroug
Biography
Latest Papers
NATO-GCC Engagement: A Question of Appetite
The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, or ICI, was initiated by NATO during the Istanbul Summit in June 2004, inviting all six GCC member states to engage in tailored, operationa ...
From Border Management to Geopolitical Leverage: The Limits of Europe’s Migration Partnerships
On July 30th, 2026, the border between Morocco and the Spain-administered, North African city of Ceuta experienced a complete collapse. Over 50,000 people crossed within 24 hou ...
Three Summits in One: Burden-Sharing, Disruption, and the Gulf Question.
The 36th NATO summit, held in Ankara between July 7th and 8th , convened heads of state and government to discuss an agenda with familiar themes: defense investment, industrial ...
Small States, Big Agenda: Ireland Takes the EU Helm
The Republic of Ireland assumes the EU rotating presidency from July 2026 to December 2026, operating within a trio program with Lithuania, from January to June 2027, and Greec ...
Between Moscow and Tehran: Brussels’s Chronic Energy Insecurity
The Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine in early 2022 and subsequent scrambling efforts in Brussels to address its energy reliance on Moscow were meant to close a chapter of vulnerabil ...
Trump 2.0, NATO, and EU Autonomy: Reconfiguration of Transatlantic Relations
Trump’s second mandate has positioned US-EU relations in uncharted territory, turning a pillar of post-war order into a theater of volatility defined by realpolitik rather than ...
The EU Between Fractured Responses, Security Recalibration, and Realignment Strategies
Executive Summary The implications of the decision of the United States and Israel to launch military action against Iran exceed issues of energy, economy, and regional stabili ...
Exporting Sustainability Norms: What the EU’s CSDDD Means for the GCC
On July 25th, 2024, the EU adopted the Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, also known as CSDDD or CS3D. It could be best described as an EU tool to h ...
Anchoring the South: NATO’s Untapped Maritime Frontier
A core element of NATO’s rhetoric is its commitment to a “360-degree vision of security.” The concept emerged in the mid-2010s and has been continuously reiterated throughout t ...
Adaptive Partnerships in Times of Uncertainty: EUGCC Security in a Post-2024 Global Order
Introduction The re-election of Donald Trump in 2024 represents a significant moment in the global governance landscape, ushering in a period of increased uncertainty and recal ...
Cyprus’s Presidency of the EU and Its Significance for the Gulf
On January 1, 2026, the Republic of Cyprus will assume the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Following the previous presidencies of Poland (first half of ...
The EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean: Between the Promise of Renewal and the Paradox of Repackaging
In October 2025, the EU officially unveiled its “New Pact for the Mediterranean,” outlining a new, broadly ambitious strategy that seeks to enhance the bloc’s cooperation with ...
Resolution 2797: Reframing Sovereignty and Reconfiguration of Regional Diplomacy
The UN’s endorsement of US-backed Resolution 2797 on Morocco’s autonomy plan on “Western Sahara” marks initial steps toward solving one of the long-standing territorial dispute ...
France’s Political Paralysis: A Stress Call for Europe’s Core Stability
France's ongoing political crisis is culminating into one of the most significant EU's core domestic crises in recent memory. Since early 2024, French administrations have face ...
Implications and Limitations of Western Recognition of Palestine
The international momentum recognizing Palestinian statehood reflects a growing acknowledgment of the dire situation in Gaza. With over 78 percent of UN member countries recogn ...
Values, Symbolism, or Strategy? Europe’s Fault Lines on Palestinian Statehood
European stances on the question of Palestinian statehood were never straightforward. For decades, the prospect of recognizing Palestinian statehood remained on the fringes of ...
Margins of Power: The EU's Crisis of Strategic Autonomy and Relevance
The past year has seen a major increase in tensions with a direct impact on European security. The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to test the effectiveness of the bloc whil ...
The Danish Mandate: Navigating Complexity in a Shifting European Landscape
As the European Union enters the second half of 2025, Denmark now assumes the rotating chair of the Council at a time when the Union faces a complex set of internal and ex ...
Rethinking Korea-Africa Relations: Toward Strategic Partnership for Shared Growth
The importance of addressing Korea's engagement in Africa has never been more evident, as both regions are actively pursuing new opportunities for robust, mutually beneficial c ...
Rebuilding EU-UK Security Cooperation: A Case of Pragmatism Over Integration
In recent months, the shifting landscape of European security has undergone substantial recalibrations. The relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union has e ...
De-Risking or Drifting: Why The EU Needs to Look East
The implementation of US tariffs has created a highly hostile and potentially destabilizing climate for the EU, jeopardizing critical sectors and revealing flaws in the bloc's ...
Unlocking Global Connectivity: The Strategic Imperative of IMEC and The Global Gateway
In an era marked by geopolitical realignments and the quest for sustainable development, connectivity has emerged as a critical component of global economic strategy. The India ...
Turning East: Redefining the EU-Central Asia Relationship
The first-ever EU-Central Asia summit that took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 3-4, 2025, represents an important moment in the relationship between the two blocs. Th ...
Bridging Continents for Better Strategic Alliances at Sea
The convergence of global commerce networks and important waterways has brought the importance of maritime security in ensuring international stability to the forefront. Due to ...
Beyond the Stalemate: Rethinking EU-GCC Trade Engagement
For more than 20 years, the idea of a comprehensive FTA between the EU and the GCC has remained elusive. Despite occasional bursts of diplomatic initiatives and upbeat rhetoric ...
From Isolation to Engagement: Balancing Pragmatism and Principles in the EU’s Post-Assad Policy
Whether it be in Syria or Palestine, the political landscape of the Middle East has been witnessing dramatic changes over the past year. For the EU, this has meant a series of ...
Europe’s Moment of Truth in The Middle East
In a scenario when Palestine’s survival is at stake, US President Donald Trump's daring proposal to "take over" Gaza has sent shockwaves through the international community. Th ...
The Prospects and Implications of Poland’s “Security, Europe!” on EU-GCC Relationship
The Polish presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2025 could prove to be a watershed moment for the European Union and its worldwide partners, including the GCC. The ...
Between Rhetoric and Reality: Redefining EU Leadership
The EU is at a critical junction, faced with a slew of crises that jeopardize its prosperity, continuity, unity, and global influence. For years, the notion that the EU needs t ...
A Diplomatic Tightrope: Borrell’s Legacy in Retrospect
Joseph Borrell's term as the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ended on November 30, 2024. His tenure was characterized by major hurd ...
New Faces, Old Challenges: A Path Forward
European Parliament's hearings for the 26 nominated commissioners took place from the 4th until the 12th of November in Brussels. These hearings are a critical process in shapi ...
A Shift in Policy Towards Syria: How Far Should the EU Go?
The EU is at a turning point in its strategy towards Syria, especially as it considers a change to engagement with the Assad government. Discussions over the possible appointme ...
EU-GCC: Time Looks Ripe for Security and Defense Cooperation<br>Published in ISPI Dossier<br>On<br>Bridging Continents: The Future of EU-GCC Cooperation<br>By Aldo Liga and Chiara Lovotti
Original piece was published in ISPI’s dossier titled “Bridging Continents: The Future of EU GCC Cooperation” by Aldo Liga and Chiara Lovotti on October 15th, 2024.Increased te ...
The Changing Paradigm of the EU’s Institutional Foundations of Security
It has become evident that Europe is grappling with an unprecedented security crisis. On the one hand, the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and the human rights violations in Gaz ...
China’s Empire in Africa: Key Takeaways for GCC Countries
As of 2022, China has successfully delivered an estimated US$261 billion in trade value, US$1.8 billion in FDI, and US$3.11 billion in foreign aid to various African countries. ...
What Do the Statements by Pezeshkian, Ghalibaf, and Mojtaba Khamenei Reveal About Iran Six Months After the War?
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Iran Between the Naval Blockade and Trump’s Strategy of Choking
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U.S.–Iran Escalation: Between the Edge of Deterrence and the Reshaping of Regional Balances
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Strategic Shifts in U.S.–Iran Relations and Divergence with Israel
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The Dynamics of Conflict and Negotiation Between Iran and the United States Amid Regional and International Developments
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Iranian Proposals for an Agreement with Washington: What Is Iran Betting On?
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Iran and Washington in Islamabad… Managing the Conflict, Not Resolving It
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How Does Iran View Trump’s Initiative: A Path to Agreement or an Extension of War?
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Iran–Washington–Israel War: Shifting Objectives and Regional Repercussions
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The Oman Meeting Between Washington and Iran: Military Threats and Pressure Diplomacy
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