Trump and MBS have big ambitions for the Middle East. Bold action must follow.

New Atlanticist Mar 18, 2025

The Gaza cease-fire is over. What’s next from Israel, Hamas, and the US?

By Atlantic Council experts

In the early hours of March 18, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending the two-month cease-fire. Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the resumed conflict.
Conflict Israel
Trump and MBS have big ambitions for the Middle East. Bold action must follow.

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Trump and MBS have big ambitions for the Middle East. Bold action must follow.

Issue Brief Mar 13, 2025

Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement

By Jonathan Fulton

Despite economic advancements and high-profile diplomatic engagements, China’s influence remains largely economic rather than political, Jonathan Fulton argues.
China Economy & Business

Content

Inflection Points

Nov 20, 2025

Trump and MBS have big ambitions for the Middle East. Bold action must follow.

By Frederick Kempe

Beneath all the deals and agreements that will be announced this week, US and Saudi officials are quietly conjuring plans that could be transformative.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Nov 20, 2025

China’s new five-year plan should be a wake-up call for the United States

By Robert Hormats

The United States now faces the most formidable economic and technology competitor it has encountered in nearly a hundred years.

China
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 20, 2025

China’s new five-year plan should be a wake-up call for the United States

By Robert Hormats

The United States now faces the most formidable economic and technology competitor it has encountered in nearly a hundred years.

China
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 19, 2025

How we women of Afghanistan are defying Taliban repression

By Sara

Recounting her own ordeals with the Taliban, an Afghan woman shares how each new restriction pushes women and girls further into confinement.

Afghanistan
Human Rights

Issue Brief

Nov 19, 2025

Why Ankara’s rising power in the Sahel could benefit the West

By Alp Ozen, Haley Nelson

Turkey offers a rare channel in the Sahel that the West could use to recalibrate its approach to the region.

Africa
Energy & Environment

Dispatches

Nov 19, 2025

How we women of Afghanistan are defying Taliban repression

By Sara

Recounting her own ordeals with the Taliban, an Afghan woman shares how each new restriction pushes women and girls further into confinement.

Afghanistan
Human Rights

UkraineAlert

Nov 18, 2025

Vladimir Putin fears entering Russian history as the man who lost Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

Throughout his reign, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin has become increasingly obsessed with the idea of erasing Ukrainian independence, but his decision to invade has backfired disastrously, eroding centuries of Russian influence and accelerating Ukraine’s European integration, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

TURKEYSource

Nov 18, 2025

Two revealing Washington visits will set the course for Syria’s future

By Rich Outzen

Syria is a key foreign policy priority for Trump, with Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkey now playing an inevitable role in how the US approaches the country.

Conflict
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Nov 18, 2025

The Trump-MBS meeting comes at a pivotal moment for Vision 2030

By Frank Talbot

Saudi Arabia is looking to attract more international investors, keep supply chains running, and maintain a consistent stream of visitors.

Economy & Business
Middle East

MENASource

Nov 18, 2025

Peace, pacts, and recognition: Saudi Arabia at the forefront of a new Middle East

By R. Clarke Cooper

Trump and other US officials remain eager to add Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accords rota and to strike a defense pact.

Middle East
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
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Experts

Fellow

Yerevan Saeed

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Expert

Gregory Waters

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Democratic Transitions Middle East

Fellow

Phyllis Berry

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia France

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Eveline Debora Nuta

Founder & CEO, Kollabrix

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Education

Staff

Sam Rothbardt

Program Assistant, Digital Communications

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Media
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Events

Online Event Fri, December 19, 2025 • 3:00 pm ET

Where Honduras stands three weeks after the vote
Americas Central America Democratic Transitions Elections
Public Event Wed, January 7, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

The future of humanitarian assistance
Africa Americas Freedom and Prosperity Middle East
Public Event Thu, January 8, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Cosmic coordination: Space diplomacy in an era of strategic competition
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Space