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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Nov 21, 2025

Syria joining the anti-ISIS coalition is a westward pivot—with opportunities and risks

By Merissa Khurma and Giorgio Cafiero

The decision is a shift in the country’s alignment—from Russian and Iranian spheres of influence to one in NATO and GCC regional orbits.

Democratic Transitions
Middle East

MENASource

Nov 20, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s next horizon: Building human capital beyond Vision 2030

By Khalid Azim

Riyadh still needs to take fully support small and medium-sized enterprises—the true engines of job creation.

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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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

In the News

Jul 12, 2022

Shapiro quoted in Fox News on Biden’s trip to Israel

By Atlantic Council

Israel
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 12, 2022

Panikoff interviewed on Bloomberg radio on Biden’s Middle East trip goals

By Atlantic Council

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 12, 2022

Panikoff quoted in US News and World Report on Biden’s Middle East trip

By Atlantic Council

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2022

Biden’s big chance to build a new coalition in the Middle East

By Daniel B. Shapiro

A regional coalition is emerging of US partners who face common security threats and share similar social, economic, energy, and climate-related challenges.

Israel
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2022

How to rescue and rebuild the US-Saudi relationship

By Jonathan Panikoff

The United States cannot ensure its economic and national security as successfully without Saudi Arabia as a key ally.

Geopolitics & Energy Security
Politics & Diplomacy

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Shifting priorities: The US and the Middle East in a multipolar world

By Jonathan Panikoff

Middle Eastern leaders view the bipartisan progression of US disengagement across the region as an abandonment of its allies and security commitments. However, in Washington’s view, deprioritizing the Middle East is not the same as declining to prioritize it.

Democratic Transitions
Middle East

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Risk or opportunity? How Russia sees a changing MENA region

By Mark N. Katz

Putin has assiduously courted all the United States’ traditional allies in the MENA region. However, if the war in Ukraine continues to go badly for Moscow, it is possible that Russian influence in the region will decline even if that of the West does not increase.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Evolving MENA power balances: What is next for US engagement in the region?

By Karim Mezran, Valeria Talbot, Jonathan Panikoff, Sanam Vakil, Maha Yahya, Mark N. Katz, Gangzheng She, and Julien Barnes-Dacey

US President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s upcoming visit to the Middle East provides an opportunity to assess what role the United States will play in the Middle East and North Africa in the future. With the war in Ukraine further diverting US attention from the region, the big question is whether the region is entering a ‘post-US’ era.

Energy & Environment
Middle East

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

The rise of complex ‘intermediate zones’: the Ukraine War and China’s opportunity and dilemma in the Middle East

By She Gangzheng

Middle Eastern leaders are closely watching the United States’ strategic rivalry with China and Russia, worrying the region would remain vulnerable to the spillover effects of extra-regional great-power politics.

China
Economy & Business

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

Washington and the Gulf: A new opportunity to engage differently

By Sanam Vakil

Rather than unequivocally supporting the West’s position on the war in Ukraine, Gulf monarchies have hedged, revealing their deep frustration with Washington and their profound concern over Iran’s aggressive regional posture.

Middle East
North Africa
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Experts

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Fellow

Danny Citrinowicz  

Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Cybersecurity

Fellow

Gavin Clough

2023-24 Senior US Navy Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

Fellow

Ariel Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

R. Clarke Cooper

Distinguished fellow, Middle East Programs

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

Africa Defense Policy

Fellow

Scott Cooper

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Civil Society
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