In my debut piece for ORF Middle East, I argue that there are many parallels between the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the 2003 Iraq war, although Trump is still mulling over long-term governance. What the latest Latin American episode has demonstrated is America’s intent to govern the world “by force” without

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Quoted in Singapore’s Chinese media outlet, Lianhe Zaobao, on Gaza’s road to peace, as of 19 October, 2025. Highlights of my comments are as follows: (1): At the moment, it seems that the first phase of Gaza deal will hold — with US President Donald Trump playing a crucial role in keeping it intact. His

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I joined two morning segments of BBC Newsday on 13 October, 2025, ahead of the hostage release/prisoner exchange and US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East. In the studio, I discussed with Steve Lai how the ceasefire deal represents a momentous breakthrough, but major sticking points remain. Watch HERE.

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After the brazen Israeli strikes in Qatar, I waited to see what the response was. Not just Doha’s, but also the GCC’s, its Arab neighbours’, and most of all, Washington’s. Then I collected my thoughts and wrote this piece in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As I pieced the jigsaws together, the Gaza City offensive was launched,

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Positions may shift, for instance from the demands for a partial deal to a comprehensive agreement, but one trend persists: Israel sees no red lines in exercising its military power — as demonstrated by their latest operation in Qatar. Worse, all signs are pointing to Israel’s intention of shredding the idea and practicality of a

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I was on set on the morning of 9 September, 2025 (SGT) with Steve Lai at BBC News discussing the latest developments in Gaza, the shootings in East Jerusalem, and how these will frame the proceedings at the UN General Assembly later today. Watch HERE.

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In MEI Perspectives 47, I discuss the significance of France’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, and how these reverberations are meant not only for Europe, but also further abroad. This policy announcement also comes at a critical juncture as Israel intends to expand its military occupation. *************************** In early 2017, former French President François

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I was on BBC News to talk about President Macron’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state and why it goes beyond diplomatic significance. This runs on a momentum of disillusionment in Europe and beyond, following the signing of a joint statement by 28 countries calling for an end to the Gaza atrocities. But for the

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In my latest writing for CNA, I dissect the argument that war sustains Netanyahu’s political position. The Israeli prime minister is faced with both internal and external pressures, but is juggling the scales to his advantage.Certainly, despite nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Israeli leader has little interest in peace. Read the

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I spoke with Miranda Jeyaretnam of the TIME magazine about the Trump Administration’s growing frustration with Israel, noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was previously blindsided by Mr Trump several times before Israeli assault on Iran. Full article here and below. Israeli aggression appears to be vexing the Trump Administration. The White House said

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Quoted in a piece by Tom Hussain on the growing momentum of free trade and investment deals between ASEAN member states and the Gulf Arab countries. Full article below. Asean-GCC economic axis: the Global South’s answer to US volatility? The two blocs’ emerging alliance looks to leverage each other’s strengths to buffer both regions from

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Completing this piece in Saudi Arabia, not far off from Qatar where the Iranian response was targeted, I write that the symbolic missile attack on Al Udeid base hosted by the Gulf Arab state was an indication that a weary Iran is signaling for respite. A lasting truce, however, will depend on two questions. READ

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I write for the Middle East Institute-NUS on how US President Trump’s coercive diplomacy towards Iran should now focus on diplomatic efforts, following the exchange of blows between Tehran and Tel Aviv, which came to a head with US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Regime change, as the president threatened, will not be helpful as

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I was on BBC News earlier on the morning (SGT) of June 17, while the G7 meeting in Alberta was still transpiring, discussing how President Trump seems to rely heavily on coercive diplomacy to force Iran to negotiate — all that despite Israel’s initiation of the state-on-state actions (which had scuttled last Sunday’s nuclear talks).

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My latest write-up ✍️ for Middle East Institute – NUS reflects on Secretary of Defense Peth Hegseth’s remarks at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, but from a Middle Eastern/Gulf angle. I shared my thoughts on burden-sharing, hedging, and entanglements. READ HERE.

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