MENASource brings you up-close to a region at the epicenter of geo-political headlines. It is the Atlantic Council’s hub for in-depth commentary about breaking news, key topics, and trends from our team of experts on the Middle East and North Africa.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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Iraq lacks strategy on many governance fronts. It’s never too late to rectify this unforgivable deficiency.

MENASource Dec 7, 2025

One year after Assad’s fall, here’s what’s needed to advance justice for Syrians

The second year of a post-Assad Syria requires structural reform, victim-centered leadership, and international reinforcement.

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Iraq lacks strategy on many governance fronts. It’s never too late to rectify this unforgivable deficiency.

MENASource Nov 20, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s next horizon: Building human capital beyond Vision 2030

By Khalid Azim

Riyadh still needs to take fully support small and medium-sized enterprises—the true engines of job creation.
Economy & Business Middle East
Iraq lacks strategy on many governance fronts. It’s never too late to rectify this unforgivable deficiency.

MENASource Nov 10, 2025

The Nile at a crossroads: Navigating the GERD dispute as Egypt’s floodwaters rise

By Alessia Melcangi

The latest escalation between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia coincides with a diplomatic shift from the United States.
Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

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Content

MENASource

Nov 7, 2022

Iraq lacks strategy on many governance fronts. It’s never too late to rectify this unforgivable deficiency.

By Abbas Kadhim

Post-2003 Iraq has shown a gross lack of strategy on many governance fronts. It’s never too late to rectify this unforgivable deficiency.

Iraq
Middle East

MENASource

Nov 4, 2022

Iraq has a new government. The United States would benefit from broad engagement with all Iraqi stakeholders.

By C. Anthony Pfaff

Such an approach will typically yield modest results, but these results can accumulate and place the United States in a better position.

Iraq
Middle East

Event Recap

Nov 3, 2022

Turmoil and transition: Iraq twenty years after the invasion

By Madeline Hart and Nour Alhajjeh

An Atlantic Council conference on Iraq's security, environment, economy, and democratic institutions brought together high-level officials from across the region and the United States to explore innovative solutions.

Corruption
Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Nov 2, 2022

Experts react: Bibi is back—back again for now

By Middle East experts

We asked our experts to weigh in on what's in store for Israel's democracy, its ability to balance opposing domestic forces, and its relations with regional partners.

Elections
Israel

MENASource

Nov 2, 2022

As the election fog clears, Netanyahu poised to ride a hungry, far-right tiger

By Shalom Lipner

Whichever scenario materializes, it’s not impossible that Israelis could yet find themselves summoned to vote in a sixth election before 2023 is up.

Elections
Israel

MENASource

Nov 1, 2022

The startup industry is struggling. Here’s how founders can navigate the current funding environment.

By Mahmood Abdulla

Founders who can adapt to the current economic climate and survive long periods without their equivalent of food and water—VC funding—will be able to weather the current uncertainty.

Economy & Business
Resilience & Society

MENASource

Oct 28, 2022

The Israel-Lebanon maritime deal is an example of successful US-led mediation. Can it be copy-pasted to other Middle Eastern arenas?

By Ksenia Svetlova

Despite the obvious sense of relief among all those who supported the maritime agreement, there is no doubt that the success of the agreement will be measured solely by its performance in the future.

Israel
Lebanon

MENASource

Oct 27, 2022

It’s time to salvage US-Saudi relations. And no, it’s not just because of oil.

By Hani Findakly

The US-Saudi alliance is ninety years old and, while nations act in their perceived interests, a breach of this alliance has potential negative consequences for both sides and the region.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Oct 27, 2022

The UAE is making a precarious shift in its Libya policy. Here’s why.

By Emadeddin Badi

As an influential actor in the Libyan landscape for over a decade, it comes as no surprise that changes in Emirati policy have had a direct impact.

Libya
Middle East

Event Recap

Oct 27, 2022

UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Al Mheiri: Middle East at the heart of new climate reality

By Madeline Hart

An Atlantic Council conference on climate change and security in the Middle East brought together high-level officials from across the region to explore innovative solutions.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Energy & Environment
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