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

Apr 20, 2026

The Iran war has forced the US-Gulf alliance out of the shadows

By Eric Alter

The Iran war is testing whether the informal strategic system the United States has assembled with its Gulf partners and Israel is strong enough to hold up amid a regional conflict.

Defense Policy Iran

MENASource

Apr 20, 2026

‘They have been exposed’: The Iran war upends Gulf states’ security and business model

By Stefanie Hausheer Ali

The Iran war threatens the sense of security, prosperity, and opportunity that the Gulf states have spent years cultivating as they seek to diversify their economies away from oil.

Critical Infrastructure Policy Geopolitics & Energy Security

MENASource

Apr 15, 2026

The Iran war is not about China

By Jonathan Fulton

China is behaving like a normal external power with interests in the region, not like a crisis manager shaping outcomes.

China Conflict
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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

Jan 12, 2020

Warrick quoted in USA Today on US-Iran conflict

By Atlantic Council

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 12, 2020

Warrick quoted in USA Today on Iran’s missile attack on US air bases

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Iran

Global Energy Forum

Jan 12, 2020

Energy markets underestimate Middle East supply vulnerability

By Adal Mirza

Buoyed by ample supply, global energy markets continue to underestimate risks to output from the Middle East, despite the recent escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran.

Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Dagres joins Al Jazeera to discuss US-Iran tensions

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Wechsler quoted in StarTribune on US-Iran nuclear weapons proliferation

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Pathways to Net Zero

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum Pathways to Net Zero Speaker: Shaikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company Ahmed Ali Attiga, Chief Executive Officer, APICORP Meg Gentle, President and CEO, Tellurian, Inc. Adam Sieminski, President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center Moderated By: David Livingston, Deputy Director, Climate and Advanced […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

Delivering energy access and meeting demand in South and Southeast Asia

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum Delivering Energy Access and Meeting Demand in South and Southeast Asia Speaker: Mohamed Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar The Hon. Dr. Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister, People’s Republic of Bangladesh Alisa Newman-Hood, Senior Vice President, Excelerate Energy Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO, ACWA […]

Bangladesh Energy & Environment

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Livingston joins Emirates News Agency to discuss energy transitions in UAE

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Global Energy Forum

Jan 11, 2020

The role of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum The Role of the Oil and Gas Industry in the Energy Transition Conversation With: Musabbeh Al-Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum and Petrochemicals, Mubadala Investment Company Panel Discussion: Dr. Barbara Burger, President, Technology Ventures, Chevron Corporation Anatol Feygin, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Cheniere Energy Inc. Dr. Robert […]

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

Inflection Points

Jan 11, 2020

Abu Dhabi dispatch: The Soleimani earthquake and coming aftershocks

By Frederick Kempe

The conventional wisdom – underpinned by visuals from Iran – is that the US drone strike reinforced hardliners and shifted the internal Iranian dynamics from protests against the regime to angry demonstrations against the United States. Far harder to measure is the longer-term impact of Soleimani’s absence on the country’s revolutionary effectiveness and structure.

Conflict Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Kyle Atwell

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Colombia

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Olivia Azadegan

Senior Energy Manager, Global Methane Hub

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Staff

Khalid Azim

Director, MENA Futures Lab

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Middle East

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Ilker Baburoglu

CEO, MedTrade Energy & Commodities

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Economy & Business

Staff

Kiran Baez

Program Assistant

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
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