How the UAE projects power across the Gulf and beyond

How the UAE projects power across the Gulf and beyond

Author: The Hindu September 9, 2026 Duration: 56:30
The UAE has emerged as one of the most influential powers in West Asia, using diplomacy, trade, investment and strategic partnerships to extend its influence far beyond the Gulf. But its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel have grown increasingly complex, while the Iran war has tested its carefully calibrated regional strategy. At the same time, Abu Dhabi is deepening its strategic partnership with India. In this episode, we examine the UAE’s rise, its regional ambitions and the changing alliances shaping its foreign policy. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Produced by The Hindu, Global Faultlines is for those who feel the daily headlines only scratch the surface. This international affairs podcast digs into the tectonic shifts happening beneath the day's events, seeking out the historical grievances, economic pressures, and ideological battles that truly explain why conflicts ignite and borders tense. Each episode is built not just on reporting, but on conversations with researchers, diplomats, and analysts who provide context often missing from the noise. You'll hear detailed examinations of power struggles in regions defining our century, from the South China Sea to the Sahel, unpacking how decisions in distant capitals ripple across the globe. The aim is to replace confusion with comprehension, offering a clearer picture of the forces sculpting our shared future. Tune in for a thoughtful, sustained look at the world’s most pressing divisions, where the analysis prioritizes depth and clarity over quick takes. This is a podcast dedicated to understanding the 'why' behind the 'what,' making sense of a complex geopolitical landscape one deep dive at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

Global Faultlines
Podcast Episodes
Part 2: From the invasion of Iraq to the war on Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:37
The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq marked a decisive break in the country’s modern history. It removed the regime of Saddam Hussein, but also dismantled the institutions that had held the state together. In the aftermath…
Iraq Part 1: How was the modern Iraqi state created? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
Modern Iraq was not born in 2003. Its origins lie in the aftermath of the First World War, when the collapse of the Ottoman Empire led Britain to assemble a new state. The borders were drawn quickly. Building a stable po…
ISIS explained: How the Islamic State rose, ruled, and evolved [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:59
The Islamic State emerged from years of war, political collapse, and sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria. Shaped by the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the chaos of the Syrian civil war, the group evolved fro…
Syria after the war: How the civil war redrew power in the Country [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
By 2015, Syria’s civil war had reached a turning point. Russian military intervention reversed the regime’s fortunes, Iran entrenched itself through militias and economic networks, and the armed opposition steadily lost…
Understanding the Syrian crisis: What led the country into civil war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:26
On March 15, 2011, a small protest in Daraa ignited what would become one of the 21st century’s deadliest conflicts. But Syria’s crisis didn’t start overnight. Decades of authoritarian rule, sectarian tensions, and polit…
Afghanistan Part 2: The rise and rule of the Taliban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:32
The Taliban emerged in the mid-1990s amid the instability that followed the Soviet withdrawal and the civil war that devastated Afghanistan. Promising to restore order and justice, the movement drew support from war-wear…