The Gulf States and the Horn of Africa: Interests, influences and instability (Identities and Geopolitics in the Middle East)

The Gulf States and the Horn of Africa takes a deep dive into the complexities of power projection, political rivalry and conflict across the Red Sea and beyond. Focusing on the nature of interregional connections between the Gulf and the Horn, it explores the multifaceted nature of relations between states and the two increasingly important subregions. Bringing together scholars working on and in both regions, the book considers strategic competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and between the UAE and both Qatar and Turkey, along with other international engagement such as joint anti-piracy operations, counterterrorism cooperation, security assistance, base agreements and economic development. Drawing on a range of subject expertise and field research across case study countries, the volume adds to the sparse literature on the regional and international politics of the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, gleaning specific insights from contemporary reflections across the book. This is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the Horn of Africa and the evolving regional geopolitics of the Gulf. Front matter 1 Contents 7 Illustrations 9 Contributors 10 Acknowledgements 12 Introduction 13 Part I: The view from the Gulf 25 Patterns of external involvement in the modern political history of the Horn of Africa states 27 Pushing the envelope of national security and state influence at the margins: Saudi and Iranian competition in the Horn of Africa 48 Iran’s foreign policy and developmental activities in Africa: between expansionist ambitions and hegemonic constraints1 80 Extended states: the politics and purpose of United Arab Emirates economic statecraft in the Horn of Africa 111 The Turkey–Qatar alliance: through the Gulf and into the Horn of Africa 139 Interregional embedded security model: Turkish and Emirati engagement in the Horn of Africa 163 Strategic geography in jeopardy: Qatar–Gulf crisis and the Horn of Africa 183 Kuwait’s foreign relations with East Africa 211 Part II: The view from the Horn of Africa 239 Djibouti: bridging the Gulf of Aden? Balancing ports, patronage and military bases between Yemen’s war and the Horn1 241 Engaging foreign powers for regime survival: the relative autonomy of coastal Horn of Africa states in their relations with Gulf countries 261 Sudan’s foreign policy predicament in the context of the GCC diplomatic rift 284 Conclusion 307 Index 315 The Gulf States and the Horn of Africa explores the complex nature of interactions between states in the Persian Gulf and their counterparts in the Horn of Africa. Focussing on the nature of interregional connections between the Gulf and the Horn, it explores the multifaceted nature of relations between two increasingly important subregions. Bringing together scholars focussing on both regions, the book offers a rigorous analysis of the changing nature of relations between the different subregions and also the complexity of competition within each sub region. Considering strategic competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, along with international engagement such as joint anti-piracy operations, counterterrorism cooperation, shipping routes, and economic development, the volume provides valuable insight into the strategic importance of these interactions.0Drawing on a range of subject expertise and field research across case study countries, the volume adds to the sparse literature on the regional and international politics of the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, gleaning specific insights through contemporary reflections across the book. This is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the Horn of Africa and the evolving regional geopolitics of the Gulf This volume offers a timely analysis of interaction between states from the Persian Gulf and their counterparts in the Horn of Africa to reflect on the regional and international politics of the Horn of Africa and Red Sea areas. It critically reflects on the nature of inter-regional relations, contributing theoretical and empirical observations on a timely and important set of relations. This timely volume offers a critical analysis of the regional and international relations of the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, focussing on the role of states from the Persian Gulf in these developments. -- .