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

In the News

Oct 19, 2017

Hellyer Quoted in the Los Angeles Times on Crackdown of Egyptian Sexual Orientation Regulations

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

North Africa

MENASource

Oct 16, 2017

The UK’s balancing act between security, financial interest, and human rights

By Dalia Rabie

The United Kingdom has long employed a carrot and stick technique when dealing with Egypt, threatening to suspend aid and economic or military dealings in response to the country’s deteriorating human rights situation. However, such ultimatums are often fleeting, as the UK government places its own short-term interests over improvements in Egypt’s human rights record. […]

North Africa United Kingdom

In the News

Oct 5, 2017

Hellyer in ABC: The Once and Future Azhar: Counter-Extremism and the Credibility of Sunni Islam’s Preeminent Institution

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

North Africa

MENASource

Oct 4, 2017

A way forward for devolving local power in Libya?

By Elissa Miller and Andrea Taylor

Despite the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) in Skhirat in 2015, the political situation in Libya appears no closer to being resolved. Indeed, there is now a widening consensus within Libya and among concerned states that the LPA must be amended. Over the last two years, cleavages within Libya deepened amid exacerbating interference […]

Democratic Transitions Libya

In the News

Oct 1, 2017

Miller in The Arab Weekly: Challenges Face Salame’s New Blueprint for Libya

By Elissa Miller

Read the full article here.

Libya

MENASource

Sep 22, 2017

Gaza Jihadists undermine Egypt-Hamas cooperation

By Ahmed Salem

Even the most pessimistic political leaders in Hamas could not have foreseen the repercussions of the involvement of Gazan Salafi jihadists in an Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh) operation targeting an Egyptian security checkpoint at al-Barth (south of Rafah in Sinai) on July 7, 2017. The timing is critical because Hamas-Egyptian relations are experiencing […]

Extremism Middle East

MENASource

Sep 18, 2017

Al-Azhar and the battle of ideas against extremist Islamism

By Dr H. A. Hellyer

The subject of extremist Islamism, and refuting it, remains a live one—and it is unlikely that it will change anytime soon. If there is ever a comprehensive and thorough response to extremist Islamism, it will have to take on board the need to deconstruct religious arguments from within religion. Pre-eminent among institutions that are called […]

Extremism North Africa

MENASource

Sep 18, 2017

Factbox: Egypt and North Korea

By Margaret Suter

On September 12, during a visit to Seoul, South Korea, Egypt’s Defense Minister reportedly announced that Egypt would be severing military ties with the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea. The alleged announcement and subsequent speculation, which was not immediately confirmed by the Egyptian government, comes as the United States and other members of the […]

Korea North Africa

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2017

Libya’s Oil Recovery Over a Barrel

By Reed Blakemore and Elissa Miller

A recent series of militant attacks that forced the closure of three of Libya’s key oil fields represents the latest blow to the North African nation’s efforts to revive its energy sector while reigning in the chronic instability that has plagued the country since its 2011 revolution. Over the course of two weeks in late […]

Libya

In the News

Sep 14, 2017

Miller Quoted in The National on Libya

By Elissa Miller

Read the full article here.

Libya

Experts