The Horn Engaging the Gulf: Economic Diplomacy and Statecraft in Regional Relations

This book discusses theoretical perspectives of analyzing the relations between the states and non-state actors in the Horn of Africa and their counterparts in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. Crucially, these relations are examined primarily from the perspective of the diplomatic, economic, and strategic agency of the African states and societal actors. Here, domestic political dynamics and local power play a significant role.

Aleksi Ylönen provides a historically informed investigation of recent relations that involve the Gulf States and Türkiye’s resurgent interest in the Horn Africa. The analysis focuses on the post-Arab Spring period following the Iran nuclear deal and the war in Yemen. Featuring case studies from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea which highlight engagements of the Horn state and societal actors primarily with the Gulf States and Türkiye, the study provides an empirical analysis of the interactions and connections between the two regions.

Aleksi Ylönen is a Researcher at the Center for International Studies, Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon. He has held various academic positions and collaborated extensively with several research institutions in Europe and Africa. Aleksi has over two decades of experience in conducting research on politics and armed conflicts in the greater Horn of Africa and his work has been published widely in scholarly journals, books, and other scholarly outlets in various languages.