Frankly Speaking: ‘Gulf economies will find ways to get creative, bounce back,’ ex-Biden adviser tells Arab News
RIYADH: Even as uncertainty over the Iran war’s endgame persists, Daniel Benaim, distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute, believes the Gulf Arab economic model, despite a significant setback, remains resilient and will bounce back after the Iran war — albeit at a slower pace than before Feb. 28.
At the same time, according to him, the conflict has strengthened the case for deeper US-Gulf ties, especially on defense and economic security.
While decrying “hyper-nationalism, extremism and exclusivism within the Israeli political structure,” he said the war has proved the destructive power of Israel’s air force is enough to set back an enemy but not enough to create “a new political reality” or “leave stability in its wake.”
Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Benaim said Gulf modernization has not gone off course so much as changed form. Before February, he said, it looked like a race car. Now, after months of war and disruption, it may look more like an armored car — slower, more heavily protected and built for a far riskier road. That adjustment, he said, reflects the extent of the shock the war has delivered to the region.
