The recent actions of Tunisian President Kais Saied, including the suspension of parliament and dismissal of government officials, have sparked concerns among democracy and human rights advocates about the state of Tunisia's democratic institutions.

Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi was arrested last week and remains in detention, as part of an ongoing crackdown against critics of President Kais Saied. Ghannouchi’s arrest and Saied’s clampdown on political freedoms have major implications for Tunisia’s domestic affairs as well as its foreign relations.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Bahrain and Qatar announced last week that they will restore diplomatic relations after more than five years of estrangement, marking the final major milestone in the normalization of ties among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to which both belong. But despite the thaw, a lack of trust is likely to persist.

Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq receives Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s gradual emergence from diplomatic isolation has gained further momentum with his country’s reestablishment of official relations with Saudi Arabia. But Syria’s isolation may not be over quite yet, despite the seeming progress Damascus has made in engagement with its regional neighbors.