Featured commentary & analysis

Landmark UAE visit highlights President Aoun’s catch twenty-two

MENASource Sep 24, 2024

Do the Houthis really have a hypersonic missile?

By Emily Milliken

The claim is concerning for more than just the high speeds; Hypersonic missiles are difficult for missile-defense systems to intercept.
Conflict Iran
Landmark UAE visit highlights President Aoun’s catch twenty-two

MENASource Aug 22, 2024

Ensuring the UAE’s food security in an unstable region

By Hadi Fathallah

To safeguard its future, the UAE must urgently recalibrate its food security strategy while adapting to rapidly evolving global challenges.
Economy & Business Middle East
Landmark UAE visit highlights President Aoun’s catch twenty-two

Report Aug 9, 2024

What attacks on shipping mean for the global maritime order

By Elisabeth Braw

This report discusses the history of attacks on shipping, the rules implemented to keep shipping safe, and the new and serious threats posed by the Houthis and other actors. It also discusses steps Western governments and the shipping industry can take to reduce the harm posed by such attacks.
Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Counterterrorism Study Group

The Counterterrorism Study Group is a forum for former counterterrorism officials to review the latest threats, to understand emerging trends and future predictions, and to explore creative new proposals for improving the effectiveness of current policies and operations.

EXPLORE THE Counterterrorism study group

Podcast series

Listen to the latest episode of the China-MENA podcast, featuring conversations with academics, government leaders, and the policy community on China’s role in the Middle East.

Listen

Gulf Security Task Force

The Gulf Security Task Force is revisiting the question of how to best protect US interests in this sensitive, always relevant region. Our goal is to provide US decision-makers with an updated, fact-based strategy for protecting US interests in the air and maritime domain from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, and ensuring Gulf partners’ ability to assume this responsibility, with the assistance and leadership of the United States.

EXPLORE THE GULF SECURITY TASK FORCE

Content

MENASource

May 12, 2025

Landmark UAE visit highlights President Aoun’s catch twenty-two

By Jean-Loup Samaan

Modest outcomes from the Lebanese president's visit reflects that Abu Dhabi remains cautious towards Beirut.

Lebanon Middle East

Transcript

May 9, 2025

Press call: Our experts outline what to expect from Donald Trump’s first major trip abroad during his second presidency

By Atlantic Council

Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, the Atlantic Council held a press call on May 9, where experts discussed what to expect from the president's first trip abroad.

Iran Israel

MENASource

May 9, 2025

Why Trump’s Middle East trip should set sights beyond business deals

By Daniel B. Shapiro

By all accounts, US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Gulf will not prioritize major diplomatic breakthroughs.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2025

Trump’s Gulf gamble: Oil, conflicts, and opportunities in a high-stakes visit

By Racha Helwa

Trump’s trip to the Middle East is a pivotal opportunity to reimagine US–Gulf relations for a new era.

Macroeconomics Oil and Gas

In the News

May 7, 2025

Arnold Punaro on Fox Business on India-Pakistan tensions

By Atlantic Council

On May 7, Arnold Punaro was interviewed on Fox Business network regarding India-Pakistan tensions and the cessation of US bombing of Houthi sites in Yemen.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

May 6, 2025

Bakir in Amwaj Media: Deep Dive: How Qatar and Turkey will shape post-Assad Syria

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

May 5, 2025

How China turned the Red Sea into a strategic trap for the US

By Fatima Abo Alasrar

Beijing’s proxy warfare turns global trade routes into battlefields that the United States struggles to defend.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 26, 2025

In a normalization agreement with Israel, Saudi Arabia should settle for nothing less than Palestinian statehood

By Amir Asmar

Saudi Arabia should make full Palestinian statehood part of the asking price for normalizing relations with Israel.

International Norms Israel

In the News

Apr 10, 2025

Daryl Press interviewed for ABC News article on B-2 nuclear-capable bombers

By Atlantic Council

On April 3, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Daryl G. Press was interviewed for an ABC News article entitled, “Satellite images show multiple US B-2 nuclear-capable bombers deployed to Indian Ocean.” In the article, Press was quoted as saying, “The movement of the aircraft to Diego Garcia definitely sends a signal to Iran about the extent […]

Defense Policy Iran

MENASource

Apr 10, 2025

No, Iran didn’t abandon the Houthis. It just wants Trump to think so. 

By Fatima Abo Alasrar

Instead of interpreting Iran's narrative shift as a break from the Houthis, we might see it as tactical storytelling. And the story's working.

Defense Policy Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Staff

Allison Minor

Director, N7 Research Institute

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Amir Hayek

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Millennium fellow

Sharif Abdelrazeq

Sustainability and Innovation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Middle East
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