Gulf involvement in Sudan’s war is shaped by longstanding economic interests and relationships with Sudanese military elites, as well as competition over regional influence. Joshua Craze examines Saudi Arabia’s and the United Arab Emirates’ involvement within the wider context of American power, arguing that their interventions cannot be understood simply as a response to declining US influence.

Tracing these relationships through agricultural investment, gold trading and control over regional transport routes, the analysis explores how external support interacts with Sudan’s increasingly fragmented war economy. It questions diplomatic approaches centred on agreements between military leaders and their foreign backers, drawing attention to Sudanese demands for popular self-determination.

Read the full analysis At the Edge of American Empire: Understanding the Gulf’s Role in Sudan’s War.