The 2026 Iran War marked a major turning point for the Gulf region, exposing the fragility of its long-standing security–economic architecture and accelerating broader geopolitical and policy transformation. For decades, Gulf states evolved from energy exporters into critical global hubs linking energy, logistics, finance, technology, artificial intelligence, and supply chains. Yet the war demonstrated how rapidly this model could be destabilized under conditions of high-intensity regional conflict. Drawing on long-term fieldwork and direct observations in the Gulf, this lecture examines how the war reshaped regional security perceptions, economic strategies, foreign policy calculations, and governance priorities across the Gulf monarchies, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It also explores the broader implications of the war for East Asia, global energy security, supply chains, and great-power competition.
Dr. Tingyi Wang is a Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy of the UAE and a Senior Associate Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies of Saudi Arabia. His research focuses on Gulf politics, foreign policy, and economic transformation. Since 2014, he has conducted extensive fieldwork and teaching across the Gulf region.
Date: May 29, 2026 (Fri)
Time: 17:30-19:00
Venue: Building 3-306, Waseda University Main Campus
