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

EconoGraphics

Apr 1, 2016

The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

By Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla

Asylum applications to the European Union (EU) set an all-time record in 2015, more than doubling the 2014 figure, according to EUROSTAT. After the recent agreement between Turkey and the EU, the influx of refugees is expected to decrease significantly.

Afghanistan Europe & Eurasia

SyriaSource

Apr 1, 2016

Enabling Syria’s Women Journalists

By Zuhour Mahmoud

The Syrian Female Journalists’ Network is a non-profit initiative that trains Syrian female journalists and promotes their role in the region’s media. Syria Deeply spoke to co-founder Milia Eidmouni about the network’s work and its plans for women working in Syria’s media

Syria

SyriaSource

Apr 1, 2016

Top News: April 1, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Death toll from east Damascus airstrikes rises to more than 30– Rebels drop leaflets over Syrian capital from drones– Canada to take in 10,000 more Syrian refugees– Syrian held for smuggling migrants to Cyprus– Turkey forcibly returned hundreds of Syrian refugees to war zone

Syria

In the News

Apr 1, 2016

Seznec Quoted by the New York Times on Saudi Arabia’s Investment in Global Energy Industries

By Jean Francois Seznec

Read the full article here.

Energy & Environment Iran

SyriaSource

Apr 1, 2016

Killing the Islamic State in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

One would think that massacres in Paris and Brussels would sufficiently motivate the West to inject real urgency into the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) in Syria by deploying professional ground forces to close with and kill the enemy. Air strikes and Kurdish militiamen inflict damage, no doubt about it. But decisive […]

Syria

In the News

Mar 31, 2016

Rudaw Covers Iraq Task Force Launch and Interviews Younis

By Future of Iraq Task Force

Rudaw covers the Iraq Task Force launch and interviews Senior Fellow Nussaibah Younis on Task Force consultations in Iraq. Watch the full coverage here.

Iraq

In the News

Mar 31, 2016

Eljarh Joins Al Jazeera English to Discuss Transitional Governments in Libya

By Mohamed Eljarh

Libya

SyriaSource

Mar 31, 2016

Top News: March 31, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Assad ‘willing to form new government’ with opposition– Russia and US ‘planning military coordination against ISIS in Syria’– ISIS commander killed in drone strike near Raqqa– Losing momentum in delivering aid to Syria, Egeland says– Turkish army ‘ready’ to shell YPG positions if it crosses Azaz-Jarablus line– Turkish army rules out ‘anti-Erdogan coup’

Syria

In the News

Mar 31, 2016

Mezran Quoted by La Stampa (Italy) on Situation in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here.

Libya

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2016

Poland’s President Seeks Stronger NATO Presence in Europe’s East

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘Real deterrence means real presence,’ says Polish President Andrzej Duda Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, wants an enhanced NATO presence—in the form of troops as well as infrastructure—in Central and Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression, but said his government does not want to isolate Russia or return to the Cold War. Noting Russia’s military buildup […]

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Nic Adams

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment Middle East

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Akeel Abbas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Human Rights

Millennium fellow

Hussein Al Baya

Partner, Wildcard

Millennium Leadership Program

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Saeed Al Nazari

Secretary General, Great Arab Minds

Millennium Leadership Program

Education Middle East

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
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Events

Public Event Mon, April 27, 2026 • 2:30 pm ET

The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Syria
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

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