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

Nov 5, 2026

Washington should broaden its Shia outreach in Iraq. Muqtada al-Sadr is a case study.

By
Alfadhel Ahmad

Conversations with several Sadrists reveal a movement preparing to fill a leadership vacuum in Iraq—and engage with the US.


Elections

Iraq


MENASource

Oct 30, 2026

Libya’s maritime deal with Turkey may be the key to reunification

By
Mohamed Eljarh

The deal, and the rise of Saddam Haftar, represent a new approach to Libya’s divided domestic politics and foreign relations.


Libya

Maritime Security


MENASource

Oct 28, 2026

The Board of Peace for Gaza is not a commercial enterprise. It should stop acting like one.

By
Miroslav M. Zafirov

The Board of Peace is missing the infrastructure, funding, and security guarantees it needs to make progress on its mission.


Conflict

Israel

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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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Resources

Jun 26, 2012

Danya Greenfield and Other Experts Write Open Letter to President Obama on Yemen

By Jason Harmala

Twenty-seven leading foreign policy experts, including Danya Greenfield, deputy director of the Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, sent a letter to President Obama, calling for a broader approach on US policy towards Yemen that “expands beyond the narrow lens of counterterrorism.”

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2012

Turkey’s Prudent Management Ends Syria Crisis

By Ross Wilson

Four days after Syria’s downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter aircraft, the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought the crisis to a close by securing NATO support, reporting its views to the UN Security Council, complaining formally to Damascus, and altering the rules of engagement along the 500-plus mile border with its neighbor […]

Syria

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2012

Roundtable with US Ambassador to Bahrain

By Jason Harmala

The Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted a briefing on June 26 by US Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas Krajeski with prominent representatives from non-governmental and human rights organizations in the United States.

The Gulf

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2012

Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

By James Joyner

This week, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) will meet at Turkey’s request to discuss what NATO should do in response to Syria shooting down a Turkish F-4 last week. The short answer will almost certainly be: not much.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2012

Why Iran Shouldn’t Get the Bomb: The Limits of IR Theory

By Robert Manning

In an essay creating shock and awe amongst the chattering class, Kenneth Waltz, one of the nation’s most prominent International Relations (IR) scholars and the doyen of the “realist” school tries to make the case “Why Iran Should Get the Bomb” in the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs. While in some respects, this provocation is […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Plane Incident Increases Turkey-Syria Tensions

By Ross Wilson

The loss of a Turkish jet fighter off the coast of Syria signals a further escalation of tensions between Damascus and Ankara, raising the stakes for Turkish leaders who have heretofore limited themselves to diplomatic efforts and mostly quiet support for Syrian refugees and opposition leaders.  It is unclear what brought down a Turkish F-4 […]

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Syria: Ethnonationalism and the New World Disorder

By Robert Manning

As the horrific tragedy in Syria continues to unfold amidst calls for intervention and growing fears of a region unraveling, it is useful to recall that a troubling proportion of conflict and disorder in the world is driven by the powerful force of ethno-nationalism.

Syria

Event Recap

Jun 21, 2012

Is Egypt’s Transition On or Off the Rails?

The court-mandated dissolution of parliament and a supplementary constitutional declaration by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has thrown Egypt’s transition into uncertainty and possible unrest. On June 21, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) hosted a discussion on these alarming developments as […]

North Africa Political Reform

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2012

How the Moscow Talks Are Like ‘Seinfeld’

By Barbara Slavin

Not to be cynical, but it really doesn’t matter that the latest talks with Iran came up empty. Outnumbered six to one, Iranian negotiators did a classic job in Moscow earlier this week (June 18-19) of defending past positions, raising old grievances and demanding concessions that they knew they would not get. US officials offered little […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2012

Syrian Intervention Is Justifiable, and Just

By Anne-Marie Slaughter

Henry Kissinger recently argued against intervention in Syria [The perils of intervention in Syria,” Sunday Opinion, June 3] on the grounds that it would imperil the foundation of world order. His analysis was based on a straw man, one put forward by the Russian and Chinese governments, that outside intervention would seek to “bring about […]

Syria
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Experts

Fellow

Miroslav M. Zafirov

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

English International Organizations

Fellow

Martin Zuber

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Events

Online Event Wed, November 18, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Politics & Diplomacy Syria