The Promise of Middle Eastern Swing States

The dispersal of power allows smaller states to take on bigger roles. There has emerged a new layer of ambitious small and midsize powers in the Middle east, each of which has sought to carve out an independent foreign policy profile and clout. These swing states — including widely diverse powers with often clashing interests, such as Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Egypt — can tilt the balance of power in the Middle East, for better or worse.

Europeans are ill-equipped to single-handedly exert meaningful influence over the regional policies of swing states - how can they strengthen their position and influence.

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