Jacopo Spezia Depretto

Jacopo Spezia Depretto is a graduate student who is pursuing a master's degree in comparative and Middle East politics and society at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (Germany) and the American University in Cairo (Egypt). He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations from the University of Trento (Italy). Depretto is currently an intern at Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consulting firm. His research focuses on economic reform in the Middle East and North Africa, the political economy of Gulf oil exporters and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bombs, Then Food: Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Strategy in Yemen

Bombs, Then Food: Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Strategy in Yemen

Jun 20, 2019

Riyadh’s strategy of breaking down Yemen without allowing it to collapse entirely now provides the kingdom with more opportunities to lead its reconstruction. Yemen’s population is enduring extreme living conditions with little chance of a positive change on the horizon. According to the World Bank, output has contracted by 40% since the beginning of the … Continue reading ""

Enemies with Benefits: How Israel and Gulf Monarchies Work Together

Enemies with Benefits: How Israel and Gulf Monarchies Work Together

May 03, 2019

Amid public pressure, ties between Israel and Gulf monarchies will have to be limited to informal meetings, public denials, middlemen and foreign subsidiary companies. In 1967, when asked “what sequence of events you would like to see now in the Middle East?” Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud swiftly replied, “the extermination of Israel.” Since … Continue reading ""