Eritreaʼs External Relations: Understanding its Regional Role

and Foreign Policy

Ed. Richard Reid

Frequently misunderstood, and too often underestimated, Eritrea is crucial to the stability of the Horn of Africa region and beyond. Despite early optimism after the country gained its independence in 1993, today it has an undemocratic power structure, a low level of socioeconomic development and a highly militarized political system. It has fought wars

with each of its neighbours, including a particularly devastating conflict with Ethiopia which remains unresolved. As Eritrea faces the threat of sanctions, and the possibility of being listed by the United States as a state sponsor of terror,

its future hangs in the balance – and with it the future of a troubled region that occupies an increasingly strategic position in world affairs. What happens next may depend upon informed and sensitive decision-making by international

policy-makers, who until now have had limited sources of reliable information and analysis on this vital region. This

volume brings together the insights of international analysts and scholars in an effort to understand the nature of

Eritrea's foreign relations, both regionally and in the wider international arena.

Publication date: January 15, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-86203-200-2 (201-9)

Available from booksellers or at: www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications Contents

VOLUME 65 NUMBER 12

THE WORLD TODAY, founded in 1945, is published by The Royal Institute of International Affairs. The Institute is precluded by its Royal Charter from expressing an opinion of its own on any aspect of international affairs. Any views expressed in this publication are, therefore, those of the contributors. Copyright is normally owned by The Royal Institute of International Affairs. Articles and letters should be sent to: The Editor, The World Today, Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE. +44 (0) 20 7957 5712 email: wt@chathamhouse.org.uk gwalker@chathamhouse.org.uk Advertising and subscription enquiries: +44 (0) 20 7957 5712

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PAGE 9 NIGER DELTA

PAGE 23 NATO

4 PEOPLE SMUGGLING: Pirates, Bandits, Traffickers Gerrard Cowan 7 HORN OF AFRICA FOOD CRISIS: Perfect Storm Roger Middleton 9 DRAMA IN THE NIGER DELTA: Predators Circle Daniel Balint-Kurti 12 PAKISTAN: Clear, Hold, Build Gareth Price 15 DEMOCRATIC IRAQ: Election Fever Gareth Stansfield 18 IRAN, ISRAEL AND HIZBOLLAH: Stark Choices Anoushka Kurkjian 21 EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY: Faces for Europe Richard Whitman 23 NATO’S NEWSTRATEGIC CONCEPT: Going Nuclear Paul Cornish 25 KAZAKHSTAN AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY

AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE: Values Clash Alex Nice

EDITOR Graham Walker ASSISTANT EDITOR Alison Couldridge DESIGNER Martin Colyer DATABASE Michael Farrell INTERN James Bentley

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