Political Risk

The Yemeni government currently faces two major domestic challenges: the Shi'a Houthi rebellion in the north; and an upsurge in secessionist sentiment among southerners. The military... 2009-10-02

The revelation that Iran is secretly building a second uranium enrichment facility near Qom will further reinforce views held in Washington and in European capitals that Iran's nuclear... 2009-09-28

We are highly doubtful that the October 1 meeting between Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany) will see the Western nations coming away satisfied.... 2009-09-17

BMI View: A number of populist concerns will keep the government from pursuing a purely pro-investment agenda, but stability will remain in place, with very little to threaten the... 2009-09-16

BMI View: Yemen is facing a prolonged and serious deterioration in its security situation as the country's southern and northern insurrections gather pace, and Jihadist militancy... 2009-09-15

BMI View: Saudi Arabia and the US are likely to become increasingly involved in Yemeni politics, amid concerns at rising Iranian influence in the north.

BMI View: With much of the country's policy effort focused on external affairs, the only pressure points are in the social realm - dealing with human trafficking and tackling swine... 2009-09-14

BMI View: Qaboos has become Iran's main interlocutor with the outside world, a controversial policy that plays to Oman's strategic interests and may afford the sultanate a more prominent... 2009-09-14

Qatar is likely to remain politically stable for the foreseeable future and we see no change in the al-Thani family's continued rule. Internationally, Qatar's growing economic power... 2009-09-11

BMI View: Recent events in Yemen threaten not only the stability of the country, but that of the wider Middle East, and will be a headache to US President Barack Obama, with more... 2009-09-02