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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MENASource

Aug 4, 2026

Ł‡Ł„ ŁŠŲŖŁ…ŁƒŁ† Ų§Ł„Ų²ŁŠŲÆŁŠ Ł…Ł† ŁŲµŁ„ Ų§Ł„ŲÆŁˆŁ„Ų© Ų¹Ł† Ų§Ł„Ų·Ų§Ų¦ŁŲ©ŲŸ

By Munqith Dagher

Ł…Ł†Ł‚Ų° ŲÆŲ§ŲŗŲ± Ł„ŁŠŲ³ Ų®Ų§ŁŁŠŲ§Ł‹ ŲŖŲ£Ų«ŁŠŲ± Ł…Ų§ ŁŠŲ¬Ų±ŁŠ ŁŁŠ Ų§Ł„Ų¬ŁˆŲ§Ų± Ų§Ł„Ų¹Ų±Ų§Ł‚ŁŠ Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų³ŁŠŲ§Ų³Ų© ŁˆŲ§Ł„Ł…Ų¬ŲŖŁ…Ų¹ ŁˆŲ§Ł„Ų§Ł‚ŲŖŲµŲ§ŲÆ ŁŁŠŁ‡. ŁˆŲ¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų±ŲŗŁ… Ł…Ł† Ų§Ł† Ų§Ł„ŲŖŲŗŁŠŲ±Ų§ŲŖ Ų§Ł„ŲŖŁŠ Ų­ŲµŁ„ŲŖ ŁŁŠ Ų§Ł„Ł…Ł†Ų·Ł‚Ų© ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ Ų£ŁƒŲŖŁˆŲØŲ± 2023 Ų§Ł†Ų¹ŁƒŲ³ŲŖ Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų§Ł„Ų¹Ų±Ų§Ł‚ ŲØŲ·Ų±ŁŠŁ‚Ų© Ų§Łˆ ŲØŲ£Ų®Ų±Ł‰ŲŒ Ų§Ł„Ų§ Ų§Ł† Ų§Ł„ŲŖŲ£Ų«ŁŠŲ± Ų§Ł„Ų£ŁƒŲØŲ± Ų¹Ł„Ł‰ Ų³ŁŠŲ§Ų³ŲŖŁ‡ Ų³ŁŠŲøŁ‡Ų± Ł†ŲŖŁŠŲ¬Ų© ŲŖŲÆŲ§Ų¹ŁŠŲ§ŲŖ Ł…Ų§ ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ 28 ŁŲØŲ±Ų§ŁŠŲ±(Ų“ŲØŲ§Ų·)2026 ŁˆŲ§Ł„ŲŖŁŠ ŲŖŲŖŁƒŲ“Ł ŁŠŁˆŁ…Ų§Ł‹ ŲØŲ¹ŲÆ Ų§Ł„Ų¢Ų®Ų±. Ł„Ł‚ŲÆ Ų£ŲÆŁ‰ Ų§ŲŗŲŖŁŠŲ§Ł„ Ų§Ł„Ų³ŁŠŲÆ […]

Arabic Conflict

MENASource

Aug 3, 2026

Can al-Zaidi separate the sects from the state in Iraq?

By Munqith Dagher

The biggest challenge facing Iraq's prime minister is how to curb the role of sectarian institutions in shaping Iraq's state decisions.

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Jul 31, 2026

US dollar shipments to Iraq are a molehill, not a mountain

By Ahmed Tabaqchali

The impact of the recent pause in US dollar shipments to Iraq is far less severe than many assume, because Iraq's economy has modernized.

Dollar Dominance Economy & Business
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

In the News

Feb 17, 2021

Lipner quoted in Norra Skane on the recent Biden-Netanyahu meeting
Israel Middle East

In the News

Feb 17, 2021

Nasr joins The All Virtual Lahore Literary Festival 2021 to discuss his literary works

By Atlantic Council

Central Asia Indo-Pacific

MENASource

Feb 17, 2021

What it takes for MENA to be the next leading venture capital opportunity

By Amjad Ahmad, Christopher Schroeder, and Allison Holle

Investing in venture capital in the Middle East is not merely an opportunity to gain financial dividends, but also to impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people by adding value and creating local wealth that can then address manifold social challenges. This will allow talent to rise and strengthen the ecosystem further.

Economy & Business Middle East

Arab Spring

Feb 17, 2021

Ten years ago, Libyans staged a revolution. Here’s why it has failed.

By Borzou Daragahi

Ten years on, itā€™s important to dispel myths about why Libya went so wrong so as not to draw the wrong lessons.

Middle East North Africa

In the News

Feb 17, 2021

Ashford quoted in Defense News: Can the Biden administration break the cycle of marathon naval deployments to the Mideast?

By Atlantic Council

On February 17, Emma Ashford was quoted in a Defense News article by David Larter, focusing on the strategic implications of stationing a U.S. carrier group in the Persian Gulf. “After showing signs of improvement following two deadly collisions in 2017, the Navy is again under pressure to provide aircraft carrier presence to the Middle […]

Maritime Security Middle East

In the News

Feb 16, 2021

Azodi in Next Generation Nuclear Network: What does the history tell us about Iranā€™s nuclear intentions?
Iran Middle East

In the News

Feb 16, 2021

Mezran in ISPI: Libya 10 Years After the 2011 Revolution: A Democratic Transition Unfulfilled
Civil Society Libya

In the News

Feb 16, 2021

Shaffer in Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Iranā€™s Latest Wave of Electricity Outages
Energy Markets & Governance Iran

IranSource

Feb 16, 2021

Iran-Taliban growing ties: Whatā€™s different this time?

By Fatemeh Aman

Regional cooperation might be the only solution to reach a lasting peace for Afghanistan and, in that regard, Iran may be able to help.

Iran Middle East

In the News

Feb 16, 2021

Emadeddin Badi quoted in the New York Times on the interim Libyan government
Libya North Africa
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Experts

Active affiliation

Reem Salahi

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Nathan Sales

Distinguished fellow, Middle East Programs

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

Extremism Human Rights

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Staff

Nushin Sarkarati

Deputy Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights

Fellow

Joumana Seif

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Staff

Kayra SenerĀ 

Program Assistant, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
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