Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

MENASource May 27, 2025

Beyond ceasefires: Reimagining stability and engagement in Libya

By Karim Mezran and Roberta Maggi

With all major political institutions mired in crisis, a renewed approach to peace enforcement is pivotal to building stability.
Libya Middle East
Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

MENASource May 14, 2025

Choppy waters: Egypt’s waning patience with President Trump

By Shahira Amin

The US president’s Suez Canal demands signal “a shift in US-Egyptian relations” which experts describe as “at their lowest ebb in decades.”
Middle East North Africa
Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

EnergySource Mar 11, 2025

The Mediterranean must work collectively to harness the power of renewables

By Karim Elgendy

The EU Commission’s recent release of its Clean Industrial Deal underscored regional commitment to decarbonization. To capitalize on this momentum, the Mediterranean must engage in cross-border collaboration to overcome geopolitical tension and limited finance to achieve its renewables goals.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

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.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Libya

Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

MENASource May 16, 2025

The killing of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli may be a turning point for Libya

By Karim Mezran and Dario Cristiani

The killing is considered to be part of a push to eliminate influential militia leaders and consolidate GNU loyalist control over Tripoli.
Libya Middle East
Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

MENASource Apr 30, 2025

From Tripoli to Tehran: Lessons from Libya in US-Iran nuclear talks

By Yaseen Rashed

Twenty-one years later, the nuclear disarmament of Libya serves as a model for the United States in current nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Iran Libya
Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

MENASource Apr 16, 2025

Solving Libya’s economic collapse will require confrontation—not consensus

By Emadeddin Badi

If the status quo continues, the next phase of Libya’s crisis will not be quiet erosion. It will be public revolt.
Africa Economy & Business
Read More on Libya

Content

In the News

Jun 15, 2022

Ashford in The New Arab: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

By Atlantic Council

On June 15, Emma Ashford’s new book, Oil, the State and War, was reviewed in The New Arab. The reviewer wrote, “Oil, the State, and War is a book that helps understand the times we live in. It will be a great addition to the library of both the general reader interested in global affairs […]

Corruption Defense Policy

In the News

Jun 8, 2022

North Africa program’s event mentioned in Jewish Insider

By Atlantic Council

Middle East North Africa

In the News

Jun 7, 2022

Melcangi quoted in the Huffington Post on the food crisis and military capitalism in Egypt

By Atlantic Council

Italian Middle East

In the News

Jun 7, 2022

Melcangi quoted in Agenzia Nova on Tunisia’s recent removal of Islam as the state religion

By Atlantic Council

Italian Middle East

In the News

Jun 1, 2022

Mezran in Newlines: Gulf Influence in Maghreb

By Atlantic Council

North Africa Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jun 1, 2022

Ashford publishes book Oil, the State and War: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates

By Atlantic Council

On June 1, Emma Ashford’s book Oil, the State and War: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates was published by Georgetown University Press. The book challenges prevailing understandings of the international implications of oil wealth and shows why it can create bad actors. In a world where oil-rich states are more likely to start war than their oil-dependent counterparts, […]

Corruption Defense Policy

In the News

Jun 1, 2022

Badi quoted in Al-Monitor on why Libya has responded to rising food prices with oil plant blockades

By Atlantic Council

Libya Oil and Gas

In the News

May 19, 2022

Katz quoted in Arab News on overlapping interests between Russia and authoritarian leaders in the Middle East

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Corruption

In the News

Apr 28, 2022

Badi quoted in The New Arab on Russia’s deployment of Libya-based Wagner Group mercenaries to Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

Apr 27, 2022

Mezran and Melcangi in the Italian Journal of International Affairs: “Truly a Proxy War? Militias, Institutions, and External Actors in Libya between Limited Statehood and Rentier State”

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Corruption
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Experts

Expert bio

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Staff

Amy Cowley

Program Assistant, Forward Defense

Forward Defense

Conflict North & West Africa

Fellow

Gabriele Natalizia

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Italian

Millennium fellow

Ramzi Abunemreh

Architectural Manager, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Asia Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Kirk Allen

Digital Communications Lead, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Middle East NATO Partnerships
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