As the region enters another period of rising tensions, the capabilities of the Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Force (RSSRF) may become a bigger feature of strategic calculations. The secretive service’s ballistic missile capability has been maintained as a strategic deterrent for decades. Its potential upgrades and deployments will be closely watched as the RSSRF looks to diversify from its core Chinese-built capability to counter a potential Iranian threat.
Issue 1117 - 07 January 2021
Saudi Arabia
Defence & security
GSN’s year-end Perspective/Agenda feature provides a look back – and forwards – at key events across the region in 2020-21. It gives an opportunity to update the Risk Grades included with each of our regular Risk management reports. After another year of tragedy, Yemen is effectively a failed state (rated F6, the bottom political and financial grades). Qatar has shown itself to be robust in the face of its neighbours’ boycott, its finances warranting an upgrade to 1, putting it on a par with the UAE. Iraq’s political standoffs and financial woes remain deeply troubling, but the situation is improving rather than deteriorating and the prospect of higher oil prices next year should help further; it has been upgraded from E5↑ to D4↓. Oman’s fiscal challenges continue to mount, prompting a downgrade of its economic rating to 3.
Issue 1116 - 10 December 2020
Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Qatar
Politics, Royals watch, Defence & security, Energy & industry, Finance & business, Diplomatic brief
Jon Marks
Editorial director
Dominic Dudley
Editor
Harry Randle Marsh
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