Radhika Lakshminarayanan

Articles by this Author
The India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border ceremony, a daily military drill held just before sunset.
Middle East Forum Observer
Are the Gulf Arab States Hedging Their Bets Between India and Pakistan?
The Gulf Arab States Increasingly Seek Relationships Based on Specific Capabilities, Rather than Exclusive Alignment
September 29, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
A busy market area of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at mid-day.
Middle East Forum Observer
Prioritizing Citizen Employment in the Gulf Arab States Creates Jobs, but Does Not Replace Migrant Labor
Despite Nationalization Policies, in Many Gulf Arab States Expatriates Perform Most Jobs That Sustain the Economy
September 26, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
The United Arab Emirates has completed its 560-mile Etihad Rail network, linking the seven emirates.
Middle East Forum Observer
Will Instability and War Jump-Start the Gulf Arab Railway?
The Gulf Arab States Realize the Need for an Alternative Route When Maritime or Air Connectivity Fails
September 19, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
People walk in downtown Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Middle East Forum Observer
Can Kuwait Protect Its Welfare State by Redefining Citizenship?
If Most Nationals Depend on the State, Kuwait Should Reform the Welfare System, Not Limit Those Who Benefit
September 17, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
A woman checks her smartphone while walking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March 2026.
Middle East Forum Observer
Beyond Driving, Has Saudi Women’s Transformation Gone Far Enough?
Legal Reforms Are in Place, but Institutional Reform, Administrative Procedures, and Enforcement Mechanisms Still Must Evolve
September 14, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
A flag of Bahrain flutters on a traditional dhow, as Manama's modern buildings create a dynamic cityscape backdrop.
Middle East Forum Observer
Is Bahrain the Weakest Gulf Cooperation Council Link in the Regional War?
Unlike Its Bigger Neighbors, Bahrain Has Little Strategic Depth to Absorb a Military Shock
September 4, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
The flag of Kuwait flies above Kuwait City.
Middle East Forum Observer
Kuwait’s Neutrality Trap
No Sovereign State Should Be Left to Manage the Consequences of Decisions Made by a Partner
September 1, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
An overview of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at sunset.
Middle East Forum Observer
Threatened by the Regional Conflict, Can Dubai Fight Back?
Dubai’s Geostrategic Position as a Regional Business Hub Is Both Its Strength and Its Vulnerability
August 27, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan
A Kuwait cityscape in the mid-day heat.
Middle East Forum Observer
As Kuwait Rebuilds Its Suburbs, Where Will Its People Go?
When Redevelopment Outpaces Resettlement, the Consequences of Displacement Are Devastating
August 19, 2026
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Radhika Lakshminarayanan