Ron DeSantis, the man thought to pose the biggest threat to Donald Trump as he seeks the Republican nomination for president, officially entered the 2024 race on Wednesday.
The field is quickly growing more crowded, with Senator Tim Scott announcing his candidacy on Monday.
Other contenders include Mr Trump's former ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, and former vice president Mike Pence is widely expected to run.
Traditionally, US elections have centred on “kitchen table” domestic policy issues such as taxes, health care and education.
But some experts say Americans can expect foreign policy to play a more prominent role in 2024.
Victoria Coates, senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom, said the prevalence of national security issues this primary season will make for an “unusual race”.
One key issue is energy, and Ms Coates believes is an area in which “there is real room for vision” from Republican candidates on Middle East foreign policy.
“Anyone who is serious about energy policy realises they have to be serious about the Middle East,” she told The National.
“The engagement we traditionally would have sought from the Gulf and from the region, generally, is increased energy supply. That's not our goal now, we're one of the big three along with Saudi [Arabia] and Russia.
“So it's not simply a question of asking for more barrels per day to keep prices under control, which appears to be the approach of [the President Joe] Biden administration, that seems to be their only interest. But there's a real potential for a more visionary candidate who understands the strengths in the Gulf.”
Brian Katulis, senior fellow and vice president of policy at Washington's Middle East Institute, said any energy debate would be determined largely by the price of petrol next year.
“If consumers see inflation as a big problem heading into next year's polls, and they see gas prices as being a challenge for them, then you might see some Republican candidates trying to blame Biden for not having stable, smooth relations with some of these [Middle East] countries,” Mr Katulis told The National.
But even that, he argues, would rank low on the election totem pole.
“If a Republicans came out and basically said we should embrace the region a bit more, and we would have lower oil prices, it may not be all that compelling to have an argument for people, because they don't understand the dynamics of global energy markets,” he added.
US outlet Politico, citing sources close to Mr DeSantis, said he “is still soaking in information” and reading up on national security issues, noting he does not yet have a circle of foreign policy advisers.
Mr Katulis argued that, like that of Mr Trump, Mr DeSantis's regional foreign policy appears “confusing”.
“It's hard to see any clear division, or even a clear plan coming from of the Republican Party, whether it's Trump or DeSantis, on the Middle East,” he said.
But there are some signals from Mr DeSantis, who recently made a trip to Israel.
Mr Katulis said a speech by the Florida Governor in Jerusalem showed he is “pro-Israel from a very right-wing perspective”, despite Gallup polling showing Americans are pivoting away from those views.
“He walks and talks the talk that is expected from the far right in Israel, and then the far right of the GOP, but it's nowhere close to where mainstream US voter views are,” Mr Katulis added.
Having served in Iraq during his time as a Navy lawyer, Mr DeSantis has been a sharp critic of Iran and has advocated supporting the US relationship with its Kurdish regional allies.
While serving as a congressman in 2017, Mr DeSantis held a press conference with veterans of the Iraq War demanding that the US government “stand by the Kurds” to build strength against Tehran.
Mr Trump made the decision in 2019 to redeploy US forces from the Syrian-Turkish border, a move his critics characterised as “a shameful betrayal” of America’s Kurdish partners in the fight against ISIS.
Mr Katulis said it was among a series of Trump decisions that gave “mixed signals” on regional engagement.
Ms Coates, on the other hand, said Mr Trump “demonstrated that it is possible to engage with the region, but not necessarily promote an additional military adventure”.
She predicts the foreign policy issue that will dominate the Republican primary will be China, where relative cohesion exists across the conservative party.
The Biden administration has continued a “long goodbye” from the Middle East and a “pivot to Asia” in its defence priorities, centred on countering China and US disengagement in the Middle East region.
The administration's defence budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 included $9.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which is geared towards boosting Washington's regional competitiveness against Beijing, and $37.7 billion for modernising US nuclear capabilities.
Ms Coates said the Republicans running for president would take a tougher, “less conciliatory” stance towards Beijing, and would prioritise more engagement in the Middle East.
Pointing to the China-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran earlier this year, she said: “If the Saudis felt like they had a choice, and there was an American, strong presence and leadership on offer, they would have much preferred to have the Americans broker a deal like that.”
“But right now, that's just not on offer.”
Mr Katulis emphasised that this debate is unlikely to reach most American voters.
“The American public to a large extent, has moved on in the Middle East … you had a blip with the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq that drew us back in but by and large, ordinary American voters are pretty happy that we've sort of winnowed down our presence in the region,” he said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Poacher
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EEtihad%20Airways%20operates%20seasonal%20flights%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20Nice%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Azur%20Airport.%20Services%20depart%20the%20UAE%20on%20Wednesdays%20and%20Sundays%20with%20outbound%20flights%20stopping%20briefly%20in%20Rome%2C%20return%20flights%20are%20non-stop.%20Fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C315%2C%20flights%20operate%20until%20September%2018%2C%202022.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Radisson%20Blu%20Hotel%20Nice%20offers%20a%20western%20location%20right%20on%20Promenade%20des%20Anglais%20with%20rooms%20overlooking%20the%20Bay%20of%20Angels.%20Stays%20are%20priced%20from%20%E2%82%AC101%20(%24114)%2C%20including%20taxes.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Last five meetings
2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil
2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil
1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil
1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil
1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil
Note: All friendlies
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
