In the absence of dramatic new developments, it appears that the Trump era is likely to witness the continued unraveling of the dominance the U.S. has enjoyed since the mid-1970s and the rise of a multipolar great power competition for power and influence in the Middle East.
With natural gas projected to provide 68 percent of Israel’s electricity generation by 2040, Israel could fortify its domestic economy, enhance its national security, and transform the energy order and economic ties of the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
While G.C.C. military spending spiked largely in tandem with high oil prices, the current drop in oil prices has yet to result in a reduction in military spending. The cost of G.C.C. military development continues to rise as regional tensions soar, and is potentially unsustainable as Gulf governments attempt to diversify their economies.
Al-Qaeda has managed to remain entrenched in both Afghanistan and Pakistan and is poised to strengthen its position and expand its activities in the region.
No longer simply a military tactic to subdue opponents, sieges have also become a profitable enterprise, encompassing a complex web of businessmen, traders and armed actors, each of whom benefit at the expense of besieged civilians.
All candidates have thus far shared a reluctance in becoming too entrenched in the Middle East’s woes, but failing to address the dearth of democracy and personal liberties in the region, and pursuing a military-only approach, will not resolve the region’s instability.
The Sultanate of Oman is a beacon of tranquility in a tumultuous region, but the transition after Sultan Qaboos will test the country's ability to weather the storm and resist being dragged into the regional turmoil.