DPG West Asia Review
Date: June 02, 2020
The COVID-19 induced economic crisis continues to impact the region. There has been 5 per cent decline in the Bahrain economy, while 7.5 percent in Abu Dhabi. Bahrain’s fiscal deficit is also increasing standing at 12 per cent of the GDP from 4.6 per cent in 2019. Simultaneously region faces major job loses largely impacting workers from Indian sub-continent. In Oman over 27,000 foreign workers lost their jobs this year, in addition the economic impact of COVID-19 is forcing job seekers in the UAE to take 15-20 per cent salary cut. Saudi Arabia in order to strengthen its investment capacity in the present exceptional circumstances has transferred $40 billion from its reserves to sovereign fund as economic stimulus.
In a major development that could impact regional security, the United States on May 27, 2020 terminated sanctions waivers that allowed countries to cooperate with Iran on civil nuclear projects under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In addition the US (Department of State) approved a possible $1.425 billion sale of Patriot air and missile defence system components to upgrade Kuwaiti Air Defence. The Trump administration is also considering selling new weapons to Saudi Arabia which includes precision guided bombs.
The Iranian leaders have strongly criticised racism in the United States in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. On May 31, 2020 Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted out his support to black Americans through #BlackLivesMatter.
The Cyber conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated dramatically in the past month. The head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate Yigal Unna on May 28, 2020 warned about a cyber-winter in the aftermath of an alleged Iranian attack on Israel’s critical water infrastructure. The Iranian government has also banned the use of Israeli (Zionist) technology such as computer hardware and software. In another development Iraq’s Military Spokesman Yahya Rasoul has stressed that Daesh (ISIS) has been vanquished and the terror organization no longer poses threat to Iraq.
Finally, Russia is planning to further strengthen its presence in Syria, through increase in its military facilities. Presently Russia operates an air base and a naval port in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Links to major developments in West Asia of strategic relevance to India, compiled from open source media, can be found below.
In a major development that could impact regional security, the United States on May 27, 2020 terminated sanctions waivers that allowed countries to cooperate with Iran on civil nuclear projects under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In addition the US (Department of State) approved a possible $1.425 billion sale of Patriot air and missile defence system components to upgrade Kuwaiti Air Defence. The Trump administration is also considering selling new weapons to Saudi Arabia which includes precision guided bombs.
The Iranian leaders have strongly criticised racism in the United States in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. On May 31, 2020 Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted out his support to black Americans through #BlackLivesMatter.
The Cyber conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated dramatically in the past month. The head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate Yigal Unna on May 28, 2020 warned about a cyber-winter in the aftermath of an alleged Iranian attack on Israel’s critical water infrastructure. The Iranian government has also banned the use of Israeli (Zionist) technology such as computer hardware and software. In another development Iraq’s Military Spokesman Yahya Rasoul has stressed that Daesh (ISIS) has been vanquished and the terror organization no longer poses threat to Iraq.
Finally, Russia is planning to further strengthen its presence in Syria, through increase in its military facilities. Presently Russia operates an air base and a naval port in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Links to major developments in West Asia of strategic relevance to India, compiled from open source media, can be found below.
