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.

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The latest pieces from MENASource:


MENASource

May 8, 2026

New avenues for Syria-EU cooperation are forming amid conflict in the Middle East

By
Marie Forestier 

The May 11 EU-Syria High-Level Political Dialogue marks a step toward a closer partnership.


Energy & Environment

European Union


MENASource

May 7, 2026

Egypt’s bet on land monetization

By
Amir Asmar

There’s little doubt that Egypt's land development efforts will have measurable economic benefits, but they are unlikely, by themselves, to put the country’s economy on a solid footing.


North & West Africa


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

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.

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Content

MENASource

Feb 4, 2014

What Libya Can Learn from Yemen

By Danya Greenfield

Libya-watchers should be encouraged by the initiation of the country’s National Dialogue last month and an election date set for the constitution-making body on February 20, both of which give much-needed positive momentum to lift Libya out of the cycle of violence and recrimination.

Libya Yemen

MENASource

Feb 4, 2014

Egypt’s Silenced Youth

By Rana Muhammad Taha

A look at Tahrir Square on January 25 during the 2011 uprising’s third anniversary would leave one wondering where all the younger protesters who led the movement have gone. Not only was the square packed with army supporters and devoid of any slogans referencing the original revolutionary demands, it included demonstrators holding posters of ousted […]

North Africa
Libyan bomb armed with chemical agent

NATOSource

Feb 3, 2014

US and Partners Complete Destruction of Libya’s Chemical Weapons

By Eric Schmitt, New York Times

Even as the international effort to destroy Syria’s vast chemical weapons stockpile lags behind schedule, a similar American-backed campaign carried out under a cloak of secrecy ended successfully last week in another strife-torn country, Libya.

Libya United States and Canada

MENASource

Feb 3, 2014

YemenSource | Fresh Challenges Ahead As National Dialogue Ends

By YemenSource

Hariri Center acting director Danya Greenfield writes for BBC Online that “Yemen offers an inspiring and hopeful example with the recent completion of [the NDC]…however, “now Yemen’s leaders must start the even more  difficult process of translating it into meaningful action and incorporating the principles into a new constitution.”

Yemen
SACEUR Gen. Philip Breedlove, Feb. 17, 2011

NATOSource

Feb 3, 2014

NATO Prepared to Help Destroy Syria’s Chemical Arsenal

By Al Arabiya

Elements of NATO are ready to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal, after the United States expressed concern over the Syrian government’s slow efforts to transport the toxic arms to its Mediterranean port, U.S. European Command chief Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove told Al Arabiya News Channel

NATO Security & Defense
Secretary of State John Kerry sits with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, June 28, 2013

NATOSource

Feb 3, 2014

Palestinian Leader Seeks NATO Force in Future State

By Jodi Rudoren, New York Times

Six months into peace talks dominated by discussion about security, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has proposed to Secretary of State John Kerry that an American-led NATO force patrol a future Palestinian state indefinitely

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Feb 3, 2014

Libya: From Discordant Discourse To National Dialogue

By Lara Talverdian and Katherina Pruegel

Libya’s seemingly insurmountable challenges—from deteriorating security to a hampered economy to political paralysis—stem from the reality that, within Libya, there is no national conversation about the future of the country. Instead, there are multiple ongoing conversations, as various stakeholders assert (and in some cases forcefully impose) their niche demands in the absence of a shared […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2014

Iran: Rethinking the Endgame

By Robert A. Manning and James Clad

It is with no small amount of trepidation that US and EU negotiators gear up for new talks on a final nuclear deal with Iran later this month. Fierce US congressional criticism of the “5+1” nuclear deal with Iran is missing the point, and promise, of an accord. One need not buy President Rouhani’s self-serving assertion […]

Iran

MENASource

Feb 3, 2014

Syria: What Next for Geneva II?

By Frederic C. Hof

The idea of convening warring parties to negotiate peace is, under normal circumstances, honorable, praiseworthy, and practical. Yet there is nothing normal about the Geneva II initiative. These parties—Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the Syrian National Coalition—have been convened as if there are misunderstandings to clear up and compromises to reach. Getting the parties […]

Syria

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 31, 2014

This Week in South Asia: January 25-31

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. India: Following Japan’s Prime Minter Shinzo Abe’s visit to India last weekend, India and Japan have signed agreements on cooperation in areas including energy, telecommunications, and tourism. The two countries also agreed to hold […]

Afghanistan India
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Tim Carlton Jones

Head of International Affairs, UK, Edelman

Millennium Leadership Program

Education Middle East

Staff

Elina Carpen

Associate Director

Global Energy Center

Americas Energy & Environment

Board director

Ahmed Charai

Board Member

International Norms Media

Fellow

Lesley Chavkin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Danny Citrinowicz  

Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Cybersecurity
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