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

Insights & Impact

Nov 17, 2020

Warrick quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Biden’s approach to DHS
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In-Depth Research & Reports

Nov 16, 2020

US sanctions policy: Lessons learned and recommendations for the new administration

By Daniel Fried

WTO reform is especially important now since it would provide an efficient way to tackle Chinaā€™s unfair trade practices head-on. This paper proposes concurrent measures that the United States and European Union can take to revitalize the WTO.

China Economy & Business

MENASource

Nov 16, 2020

ICMP report highlights need to launch missing persons process for Syria

By Kathryne Bomberger

While the present Syrian government is unlikely to cooperate, much can be done in the short and medium term to lay the groundwork for a sustainable and credible process. Finding more than 130,000 missing persons will require investigations across Syria and beyond.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

Insights & Impact

Nov 15, 2020

Warrick quoted in the New York Times on Biden’s approach to the DHS
Middle East Security & Defense

IranSource

Nov 13, 2020

Optimism and obstacles for US-Iran relations under a Biden presidency

By Sina Azodi

The election of Joe Biden as the forty-sixth president of the United States has sparked optimism in many quarters that real diplomacy and engagement will be the preferred method of conducting US policy toward Iran after January 20.

Iran Middle East

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2020

How a Biden presidency could change US relations with the rest of the world

By Atlantic Council

We asked experts from around the Atlantic Council to preview what the election of Joe Biden as US president will mean for countries, big and small, all across the world. Hereā€™s a quick spin around the globe as we preview what lies ahead for US foreign policy under Joe Biden:

Africa East Asia

IranSource

Nov 13, 2020

A year after the November protests, human rights violators have not been held accountable in Iran

By Gissou Nia

Ideally, justice would be served by the Iranian leadership investigating violations and punishing perpetrators within their ranks. Unfortunately, that is not a realistic scenario.

Human Rights Iran

IranSource

Nov 12, 2020

A Biden-Rouhani agreement can positively impact Iranā€™s political future

By Mehran Haghirian

If he manages to reach an agreement with the United States, President Hassan Rouhani will undoubtedly garner the support of the majority of Iranians like he did after signing an interim agreement in 2013. This will allow him to position himself as the person who finally resolved the dispute with the US after forty-two years.

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Nov 12, 2020

VETERANS DAY 2020 film featured in multiple outlets

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council's premiere of "Veterans Day 2020," written by Nonresident Senior Fellow Michelle Kholos Brooks and produced by Senior Fellow Steven Grundman, was featured in a variety of news outlets, theater sites, and veterans service organizations.

Afghanistan Conflict

Insights & Impact

Nov 12, 2020

Fontenrose quoted in The Times of Israel on US-MENA policy in the final days of the Trump administration
Elections Israel
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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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