The talks at the Manama Dialogue focused on the issue of Iran and the new direction of US foreign policy. That left me wondering if there was any session discussing the Gulf’s own foreign policy, particularly on crucial subjects of peace in the Middle East, which would have taken the whole spectrum of issues facing the Gulf countries.
Pillion riding is untenable, and not a pragmatic approach in international diplomacy. It has not worked in the past, and will not work in the future. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) is a glaring example of how the US and its Western allies can ditch us or trap us at the drop of a hat whenever it suits them.
The crux of the whole discussion is how we plan to stand in the international community with our heads high. It involves an array of subjects to discuss and focus on. That will make us evaluate our own performance in research and development, education, media, internationally recognized think-tanks and so on.
— Aslam Shahin, Dammam
Middle East foreign policy
