Programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our 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.

Libya

Content

MENASource

Jan 31, 2025

Libya’s de facto partition demands a solution designed for it—not for outside contenders

By Hani Shennib

Libya needs new ideas and a national and international will to reset a realistic path toward a modern state.

Democratic Transitions Elections

MENASource

Jan 30, 2025

The roots of recent Algeria-France tensions are deeper than it may seem

By Karim Mezran and Nicola Pedde

Algeria’s fear of growing international isolation, coupled with growing internal tensions in French domestic politics, risk aggravating misunderstandings between the two countries.

Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights

Report

Jan 23, 2025

Turkey and Egypt want better relations. But will Libya doom the rapprochement?

By Alia Brahimi

One major effect of the war in Gaza was to accelerate a rapprochement between rival regional hegemons, Turkey and Egypt.

Libya Middle East

MENASource

Jan 13, 2025

Turkey’s Syria and Libya strategies add up to a Mediterranean power play

By Emadeddin Badi and Abdullah al-Jabassini 

By aligning its strategies in Libya and Syria, Turkey seeks to consolidate influence and amplify its leverage across both theaters.

Defense Policy Drones

MENASource

Jan 2, 2025

Russia is making a fragile pivot from Syria to Libya. The West should beware falling into a new trap.

By Emadeddin Badi

Moscow’s rising influence over the Haftar family’s operations underscores its role as a key arbiter of its survival as a political dynasty. By controlling critical military assets and logistical networks, Russia wields significant leverage over the LNA’s future.

Arms Control Conflict

MENASource

Dec 19, 2024

2024: A year in the Middle East

By Leila Ouhri, Kate Springs, and Yaseen Rashed

2024 was a year of consequence for the Middle East and North Africa, with metastasizing conflict, human tragedies, and major elections across the region.

Conflict Crisis Management

MENASource

Dec 13, 2024

To advance Saudi-Israeli relations, let the private sector lead

By Mark Donig and Tally Zingher

With the right policies in place, the US private sector can play a critical role in advancing US-Saudi-Israeli economic relations, creating a reality that will make normalization more achievable in the coming years.

Conflict Economy & Business

MENASource

Dec 3, 2024

With Trump back, King Abdullah is thinking about ‘Jordan First’

By Aaron Magid

The Hashemite king is again looking to adopt a “Jordan First” policy despite domestic outrage over US support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Economy & Business Middle East

MENASource

Nov 27, 2024

What Congress has in mind for the future of the Abraham Accords

By Adam Kozloski

The National Defense Authorization Act has become one of the most potent legislative vehicles for policy related to national security.

Defense Policy Middle East

MENASource

Nov 27, 2024

War, peace, or a perpetual state of crisis—three possible paths for the Middle East’s future

By Kristian Alexander

The ongoing debate between escalation and de-escalation reveals the complexity of the region’s geopolitics and the different perspectives on future conflicts.

Conflict Middle East

Experts