MENASource

As the MENA region continues to be the epicenter of news headlines, the Atlantic Council’s MENASource is a hub for thought-provoking and hard-hitting analyses about the latest trends, ideas, and debates. This online publication provides fast reactions and in-depth commentary on breaking news and key regional topics by a diverse team of experts and contributors.

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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<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-10T204422Z_1795338125_MT1ZUMA00046B6FD_RTRMADP_3_ZUMA-500x350.jpg" alt="No, Xi’s visit to Riyadh wasn’t because of bad US-Saudi relations. It’s about much more.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img”>

MENASource Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.

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<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-05-13T111448Z_1993894362_MT1EYEIM268073_RTRMADP_3_DONALD-TRUMP-MIDDLE-EAST-TRIP-500x350.jpg" alt="No, Xi’s visit to Riyadh wasn’t because of bad US-Saudi relations. It’s about much more.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img”>

MENASource Jan 28, 2026

Trump’s National Security Strategy doesn’t downgrade the Middle East, it redefines it

By Kristian Alexander

Trump’s strategy is a sophisticated refinement of “America First.” For the Gulf, the implications are significant, but manageable.

Middle East National Security
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-10T101147Z_1834240020_RC27YIASQPRA_RTRMADP_3_SYRIA-SECURITY-ALEPPO-500x350.jpg" alt="No, Xi’s visit to Riyadh wasn’t because of bad US-Saudi relations. It’s about much more.” class=”gta-horizontal-featured–img”>

MENASource Jan 13, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on the SDF’s withdrawal from Syria’s Aleppo

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts unpack why violence erupted, what it means for Kurdish safety and integration in Syria, and how Washington is engaging.
Civil Society Conflict

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MENASource

Dec 15, 2022

<strong>No, Xi’s visit to Riyadh wasn’t because of bad US-Saudi relations. It’s about much more.</strong>

By Jonathan Fulton

Given the bad state of US-Saudi relations, it is natural to see Xi’s visit in the context of geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing, but that framework misses the bigger picture.

China East Asia

MENASource

Dec 15, 2022

<strong>Cultural exchange can foster a peaceful coexistence in the Middle East</strong>

By Nureldin Satti

Cultural exchange is based on the will of individuals, groups, and nations to reach out to each other and better learn, or re-learn, to live together.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 14, 2022

<strong>Morocco’s World Cup victories are historical revenge for subaltern dreamers from the global south</strong>

By Sarah Zaaimi

The defeat-free journey of the Moroccan soccer national team, the Atlas Lions, is more than a simple sports score.

Africa Middle East

MENASource

Dec 3, 2022

How an organization is promoting non-violence, tolerance, and peace in school education across the Middle East

By Marcus Sheff

The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) brings a practical approach to the field of educational research and policymaking.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 2, 2022

Saudi Arabia lost at the 2022 World Cup. But its sports sector is winning.

By Lujain Alotaibi

The sports sector is one of the vital pillars of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Sport’s dedication is tangible in Saudi Arabia, where one can witness the enhanced facilities and increased citizen participation in sports.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Dec 2, 2022

Morocco is building bridges to connect its youth with its Moroccan Jewish cultural heritage. Here’s how.

By El Mehdi Boudra

Morocco’s continuation of decades-long efforts to safeguard the Moroccan Jewish heritage is integral to combating extremism and hatred and fostering interreligious dialogue.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 1, 2022

Rebel infighting foreshadows the next phase of the Syrian conflict

By Malik al-Abdeh and Lars Hauch

The resultant clashes would probably have been largely ignored as just another chapter in the endless saga of rebel factionalism. However, when Hayat Tahrir al-Sham directly intervened, the issue attracted considerable attention beyond the microcosm of Syria’s armed opposition landscape.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Nov 22, 2022

The Sudanese Bar Association drafted a transitional constitution. How can it be improved?

By Nasredeen Abdulbari and Mutasim Ali

The initiative demonstrates the importance of professional institutions and trade unions in bringing political organizations together and restoring the democratic transformation process. However, there are key issues that require further discussion and inclusion in the draft constitution.

Africa East Africa

MENASource

Nov 16, 2022

The UAE just received twenty drones from Turkey. What’s the backstory?

By Ali Bakir

On September 21, Turkey reportedly delivered twenty of its Bayraktars to the UAE. A senior Turkish official confirmed that his country had delivered some drones and that Abu Dhabi was indeed seeking more.

Europe & Eurasia Middle East

MENASource

Nov 15, 2022

A moment of opportunity: Can the UN’s new special representative for Libya break the country’s cycle of devolution?

By Emadeddin Badi

After two months into the job, Abdoulaye Bathily may be quickly realizing that Libya’s war never abated, and that it is now simply fought by other means in the halls of the United Nations and corridors of foreign capitals.

Libya Middle East
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