Analysis Report
The Middle East Analysis Report is a detailed analysis of a specific issue in the Middle East by a Middle East Research Institute researcher or an outside author.
- No.R24-05 2025/04/21
- Uzbekistan’s Approach to Afghanistan--As a Precedent for Engagement with the Taliban by Other Countries Three years have passed since the restoration of the Taliban to power, and domestically, there have been many challenges in the political, economic, and social fields. In terms of external relations, not a single country has recognized the Taliban as a government, and building relations with foreign countries is an important issue. How should other countries engage with Taliban? Using Uzbekistan’s policy toward Afghanistan as a case study, Kenta Aoki, an executive research fellow, analyzed and evaluated the situation.
- No.R24-04 2025/04/21
- A Year After the Gaza Crisis in the Middle East: The Response of Major Regional Countries and its Impact on the Energy Situation The Gaza crisis, which began in October 2023, has now reached its first anniversary. Casualties continue to rise and the war continues to escalate, with minimal effective action by the countries involved, including extraterritorial powers such as the United States. Considering this, our scholars have compiled an analysis and assessment of the current situation from three perspectives, focusing on developments in Iran, the energy situation, and how Turkey, which has opted to respond in its own manner, can be assessed.
- No.R24-02 2025/04/21
- The impact of the LNG production increase plan in Qatar and the situation in the Middle East As European countries have worked to reduce their Russian fossil fuel imports in the wake of the war in Ukraine, Qatar is being considered as an alternative source of natural gas. Qatar is currently working on a plan to increase its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and is seeking to expand its influence in the international gas market. Takahashi, Senior Research Fellow analyzed the importance of Qatari gas to the international community, the objectives of the plan to increase LNG production, and the trends within the Middle East that affect Qatari gas exports.
- No.R23-12 2024/06/20
- Impact of the Gaza Crisis on the Middle East and Gulf Region: Focusing on the “Axis of Resistance,” energy situation, and the refugee crisis The so-called Gaza crisis, which began in October 2023, has dragged on as Israel predicted shortly after the crisis began. There are fears that its effects will widen and deepen. The report is a summary of the various possible outcomes of the Gaza crisis and possible end-of-war and post-war scenarios, compiled by our researchers for your perusal.
- No.R23-10 2024/06/20
- Review of the Situation in the Middle East in 2023 and Future Outlook In 2023, the Middle East continued to experience a variety of political upheavals and clashes, which have had a major impact both within and outside the region. The Middle East Institute of Japan has reviewed the year 2023 and compiled the following summary of the Middle East region for your perusal.
- No.R23-03 2024/06/17
- India’s growing presence in the Middle East --Regional strategy seen from I2U2 and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)-- As the US influence in the Middle East declines, extra-regional powers such as China and Russia are playing an increasingly larger role. However, the moves made by India, which is also referred to as the third great power, in strengthening its political and economic relations with Middle Eastern countries cannot be overlooked. What are the ripple effects both within and outside the region as India enters the Middle East as a new player? Our researchers have compiled a report focusing on trends in India amidst the current re-shuffling of intra-regional relations, which we present here.
- No.Progress Report 2024/04/26
- Progress Report 2023: The Role of Japan’s Diplomacy in the Middle East/Eurasia In this paper, we provide a progress report on the first year of the project “The Role of Japan’s Diplomacy in the Middle East/Eurasia: Understanding the Reality of Great Power-led Connectivity Strategies and Regional Order Restructuring in an Era of Competition among Nations,” analyze the realities of the regional order transformation in the Middle East/Eurasia from each country's perspective, and comprehensively examine the state of connectivity strategies led by great powers in the region.
- No.R22-12 2023/01/23
- Review of the Situation in the Middle East in 2022 and Future Prospects Overview: The political and economic effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- No.R21-11 2022/01/06
- A Retrospective of the Middle East Situation in 2021 In 2021, the Middle East had experienced various political upheavals and clashes, significantly impacting the region and beyond. The Middle East Institute of Japan has compiled the following overview to provide a general picture of the Middle Eastern region in 2021.
- No.R20-12 2021/01/13
- A Review of the Situation in the Middle East in 2020 Various conflicts and clashes occurred in the Middle East throughout 2020, and this had impacts inside and outside the region. The Middle East Institute of Japan has put together the following retrospective overview of the fundamental situation in the Middle East in 2020.
- No.R20-10 2020/10/20
- Developments in Iran-China Relations and Future Outlook While Iran is under severe economic sanctions from the United States, the growing closeness between Iran and China is attracting attention. For Iran, which is struggling with both sanctions and the spread of COVID-19 infections, a stronger relationship with China could be a godsend. Meanwhile, the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China involves expansion into the Middle East, which is causing some concern in the international community. Research Fellow Kenta Aoki analyzes the current state of Iran?China relations, the challenges related to these relations, and the future outlook.
- No.R19-04 2019/08/23
- Iran’s Hardline Posture Regarding the Iran Nuclear Deal —The context and other aspects, with a focus on domestic factors– In May 2018, the US withdrew unilaterally from the Iran nuclear deal and imposed extremely severe economic sanctions on Iran under their “maximum pressure” policy. Conversely, in July 2019, Iran embarked on the partial suspension of the deal. From the recent movements on the Iranian side, it appears as if they will inevitably be isolated by the US, but the situation can be seen differently by thinking from the Iranian position. Researcher Aoki analyzes the problem and its context.
- No.R19-03 2019/07/25
- Saudi Vision 2030 As a Form of Ideological Control Currently, “Saudi Vision 2030” has attracted attention as a plan that exceeds the framework of economic reforms and aims to change the status of traditional Saudi society, such as by empowering women and expanding the entertainment industry. However, Vision 2030 has aspects of ideological control wherein the government exerts increasing pressure on dissidents. Researcher Takao analyzes the issues dealt in this movement and its context.
- No.R19-01 2019/04/10
- The Decline of the Islamic State Through the Perspective of Food The Islamic State, which transformed into a global safety and security threat from 2011, has recently lost much of its military, political, and social influence. Considering the attributes of the Islamic State, which possessed a large number of military personnel, massive amount of ammunition and equipment, and vast occupied territory, it is possible to analyze, evaluate, and predict the rise and fall of the Islamic State through observations of its logistical activities and the lifestyles of its frontline fighters. In this paper, Chief research fellow Takaoka provides an analysis based on the results of the study by the Middle East Institute of Japan Islamic Extremist Monitoring Team.
- No.R18-08 2019/01/30
- A Review of the State of Affairs in the Middle East in 2018 A variety of disputes and conflicts have continued in the Middle East in 2018, which have had a significant impact both within the region and outside of it. The Middle East Institute of Japan, looking back on the 2018 year, has surveyed the fundamental situation in the Middle East region and this is summarized below.
