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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

Jan 8, 2026

As Iran protests continue, policymakers should apply these key lessons

By Abram Paley and Nate Swanson

The Iranian people are bravely leading the current protests. It is essential to keep the focus on them.

Civil Society
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

MENASource

Jan 8, 2026

Iraq’s pathway to stability relies on transfers of power

By Yerevan Saeed

The key question is not whether Sudani is like al-Maliki but whether a second term would reduce competition and weaken institutions.

Elections
Iraq

MENASource

Dec 22, 2025

The potential of the Abraham Accords won’t be realized without Turkey

By Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi

Turkey seeks to ensure it is not pushed to the margins, while Israel and the Arab countries that signed the Abraham Accords fear excessive Turkish influence.

Europe & Eurasia
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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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

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

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

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
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 12, 2022

The Arab World and the Ukraine conflict: The quest for nonalignment

By Maha Yahya

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine serves as a reminder that employing military means to alter political realities is not a thing of the past. For countries in the MENA region, this truth is something with which they have lived for decades. Their response to the war in Ukraine has generally been to remain neutral and nonaligned.

Crisis Management
Human Rights
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Experts

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Staff

Kayra Sener 

Program Assistant, Realign for Palestine

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Realign For Palestine

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Fellow

Omer Rafiq

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Hindi

Fellow

Safwan Al-Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Fellow

Rza Aliyev

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Azerbaijani Central Asia
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