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

Aug 8, 2026

The GCCā€™s wartime borrowing machine is helping counter the Iran war

By Eric Fine

An experienced investor in emerging market debt answers seven burning questions about GCC debt and borrowing.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

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
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

New Atlanticist

Sep 22, 2020

Five big questions as America votes: Disinformation

By DFRLab

Whether the mis- or disinformation is foreign or domestic in origin, an information environment rife with confusing, polarizing, and often false narratives can only serve to further divide an already tense nation.

China Disinformation

Insights & Impact

Sep 21, 2020

Slavin quoted in CNN on US sanctions on Iran
Iran Politics & Diplomacy

Report

Sep 21, 2020

Fulton in Asia Society: The United Arab Emiratesā€™ pivot to Asia

By Jonathan Fulton

China Middle East

In the News

Sep 21, 2020

Warrick calls for DHS reform in letter to Houston Chronicle

By Atlantic Council

In response to an article in the Houston Chronicle advocating for the dismantlement of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Forward Defense Non-Resident Senior Fellow Thomas Warrick writes that DHS can be reformed, including through the recommendations of the Atlantic Council’s Future of DHS Project. More about our experts:

China Coronavirus

MENASource

Sep 21, 2020

The Middle East is a growing marketplace, not just a war zone

By Amjad Ahmad

The region is vast and complex, and outsiders who do not fully understand its nations or peoples overlook the nuances of the nearly twenty countries that make up the Middle East.

Entrepreneurship Middle East

Insights & Impact

Sep 20, 2020

Fontenrose quoted in Financial Times on US-Middle East relations in a potential post-Trump era
Elections Middle East

Inflection Points

Sep 20, 2020

UAE, Bahrain deals with Israel offer the Mideast a historic chance for positive changeā€”if the region will build upon it

By Frederick Kempe

These deals present the region its best opportunity perhaps ever to bury its bloody, self-defeating past and embrace moderation and modernity. Yet that will only be true if the parties can work with international partners to protect the so-called Abraham Accords Peace Agreement from extremist assault and from Israeli hardliners bent on territorial expansion.

Conflict International Norms

Report

Sep 18, 2020

Wechsler in ISPI: The US and the Middle East in 2021: Disengagement or Re-engagement?

By Atlantic Council

China Middle East

Insights & Impact

Sep 18, 2020

Wechsler in the National Interest: Tomorrowā€™s Middle East is Emerging Today
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Sep 18, 2020

UAE-Israel accord will drive economic growth in the Middle East, says Emirati Minister of Economy

By Lucy Grathwohl

On September 16 empowerME Director Amjad Ahmad and Al Mari discussed how the historic signing of the Abraham Accords will facilitate the UAE and Israel to open their economies.

Economy & Business 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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