Middle East

Middle East

Stretching from the Western Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East continues to be a region struggling with violent conflict, political repression, and poor development. Numerous pro-democracy protest movements, a burgeoning youth population, and efforts to reform governments and lessen economic dependence on oil, however, are causes for optimism. The United States and the international community must remain engaged with the region to provide support for these positive moves and to address the many remaining challenges.

Explore

Stay Updated


The latest pieces from MENASource:


MENASource

May 5, 2026

Dispatch from Beirut: Israel-Hezbollah talks risk falling into a failed, decades-long pattern

By
Nicholas Blanford

As the war with Israel revives Hezbollah and divides Lebanon, the ongoing negotiations echo failed 1983 talks.


Conflict

Israel


MENASource

May 4, 2026

Syria needs a trustworthy digital ecosystem to support its revival

By
Nadia Farra

Robust digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and cybersecurity are no longer luxuries for high-income nations but fundamental requirements for national stability and economic resilience.


Freedom and Prosperity

Inclusive Growth


MENASource

Apr 20, 2026

The Iran war has forced the US-Gulf alliance out of the shadows

By
Eric Alter

The Iran war is testing whether the informal strategic system the United States has assembled with its Gulf partners and Israel is strong enough to hold up amid a regional conflict.


Defense Policy

Iran

READ More from MENASOURCE

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Learn more

Content

MENASource

Oct 24, 2014

Egypt’s Crackdown on Student Protests: The Last “Open Space”

By Rana Muhammad Taha

With a tumultuous academic year in 2013/2014 that left at least sixteen students dead, Egypt’s authorities have braced themselves for more upheaval. Weeks ahead of the start of the semester, measures have been put in place to control, or even eliminate, on-campus student activity.

North Africa

MENASource

Oct 23, 2014

Photo Essay: Countdown to Tunisia’s Parliamentary Elections

By Christine Petré

Tunisians will head to the polls to elect a parliament on October 26, the first election since the adoption of the post-revolution constitution earlier this year. After polarization intensified in 2013 on the heels of two high-profile political assassinations, the upcoming parliamentary elections mark a critical step toward consolidating Tunisia’s democracy.

North Africa

Event Recap

Oct 23, 2014

Parliamentary Elections 2014: Tunisia’s Political Landscape

By Atlantic Council

On October 26, Tunisians head to the polls to elect a parliament amid frustration and uncertainty in the transitioning country’s stability. Fear and distrust of political elites, a sluggish economy, high unemployment, and deteriorating security have tempered electoral enthusiasm, raising prospects for low voter turnout. Parliamentary elections, the first since the adoption of the new […]

Elections North Africa

Article

Oct 23, 2014

Column: Lessons of North Korea for Iran Nuclear Talks

By Barbara Slavin

Among the arguments marshaled by those wary of a nuclear agreement with Iran is that past efforts to negotiate away North Korea’s nuclear weapons program failed. Iran’s regime, they argue, is just as untrustworthy as North Korea’s and what’s more, Wendy Sherman, the chief U.S. negotiator with Iran, was also involved in talks with the […]

Iran Korea

In the News

Oct 23, 2014

Mardini on Challenges Facing Iraq’s Prime Minister

By Ramzy Mardini

Bloomberg Businessweek quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the limits of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s power:

Iraq

MENASource

Oct 23, 2014

Tunisia’s Elections Amid a Middle East Cold War

By Youssef Cherif

With the Tunisian elections mere days away, political parties face a skeptical population fed-up with politics after a turbulent three years since the revolution that ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Short of resources for their electoral campaigns, parties search for their appropriate patrons as the country tries to fend off a deepening economic crisis.

North Africa

Event Recap

Oct 22, 2014

Luncheon Discussion with Tunisian Presidential Candidate Mondher Zenaidi

By Africa Center

On November 28, nearly four years after the Arab Spring swept across much of North Africa and the Middle East, Tunisians will go to the polls to elect their first president since the adoption of a new constitution.

Africa North Africa

MENASource

Oct 22, 2014

Syria’s Role in the Battle Against ISIS

By Frederic C. Hof

For over three years the Obama administration viewed the struggle for Syria as something well worth avoiding. Even as Assad-regime atrocities piled the bodies high and drove millions from their homes—enabling an aggressively murderous caliphate to arise in the east while Iran, Hezbollah, and their Syrian client solidified a grip on the west—the administration focused […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 22, 2014

Turkey Moves Toward Helping Syria’s Kurds—and Calming Its Own

By Sabine Freizer

Ankara’s Handling of Syrian War Has Revived Its Own Kurdish Conflict Turkey’s promise Monday to let Iraqi Kurdish guerrillas cross its border to defend the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani against the Islamist army of ISIS provides a rare sign of hope for saving Turkey’s moribund peace process with its own Kurds. Turkey’s refusal until […]

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Oct 22, 2014

Libya: The Lesser of Two Evils

By Mohamed Eljarh

Benghazi has seen scores dead and many more injured during the third week of October in armed confrontations. Since October 15, the city has witnessed air strikes by air force jets loyal to retired General Khalifa Haftar, suicide bombings by Ansar al-Sharia against youth neighborhood night watch teams, and street fights between armed residents and […]

Libya
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Lama El Hatow

Nonresident Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Millennium fellow

Hamzeh El Jerbi

Estimation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Australia Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Said El Khoury

Senior Piping Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Middle East

Staff

Alex Elnagdy

Associate Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Ariel Ezrahi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Ali Faqeeh

Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Load More

Events

Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
Africa Americas Climate Change & Climate Action Critical Minerals