New York Times columnist Friedman said Sky News Arabia chief ‘helped him see contrast in Middle East’

LONDON: Renowned New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman acknowledged the “opening” insights provided by Nadim Koteich, the recently appointed general manager of Sky News Arabia, in shedding light on the complexities of the current situation in the Middle East.

In a column titled “A Titanic Geopolitical Struggle Is Underway,” published in NYT on Thursday, the three-time Pulitzer Prize winner delved into the intricate geopolitical dynamics of the region, identifying a “contrast between two axes struggling to shape the Middle East.”

Friedman highlighted Koteich’s analysis of the “Resistance Network,” which is “orchestrated by Iran, Islamists, and jihadists” rallying under the banner of the “unity of the battlefields.”

According to Koteich, this network has actively tried to forge connections between militias, rejectionists, religious sects, and sectarian leaders, forming what he describes as “an anti-Israel, anti-American, and anti-Western axis.”

This stands in contrast to the “Inclusive Network,” championed by the US and its allies, which prioritizes economic collaboration over traditional battlefronts but maintains the potential “to redefine power structures and create new paradigms of regional stability.”

Koteich, a journalist and TV presenter with two decades of experience, has recently assumed the role of general manager at Sky News Arabia under the Abu Dhabi-based International Media Investments.

While continuing to host his own show, “Tonight with Nadim,” he will also introduce several new programming initiatives on the network.

In response to the announcement, IMI CEO Rani R. Raad, who joined the company in September, emphasized Koteich’s mission to deliver the “highest standards of editorial integrity” as the company aims to strengthen relationships with audiences and usher the network into a new era of digital technology.