Featured commentary & analysis

President-elect Joe Biden can help end the war in Yemen

MENASource Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from the Gulf: Finding middle ground amid Israel-Iran war

By Allison Minor

Congressional delegation visit coincided with Israel and Iran squaring off in a direct military confrontation.
Iran Israel
President-elect Joe Biden can help end the war in Yemen

MENASource May 28, 2025

Mickey goes to the Gulf: The UAE’s wish upon a soft power star

By Amit Yarom

In a region often defined by hard power rivalries, Abu Dhabi has chosen to compete through visibility, credibility and imagination.
Media Middle East
President-elect Joe Biden can help end the war in Yemen

MENASource May 23, 2025

The Gulf is emerging as Washington’s new strategic anchor

By Joze Pelayo

The so-called US “Golden Age for the Gulf” is one rooted in strategic utility, equal footing, high-stake deals, and fewer strings.
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

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

Dec 18, 2020

President-elect Joe Biden can help end the war in Yemen

By Khaled H. Alyemany

If President-elect Joe Biden commits to putting an end to the war in Yemen, he can prevent Yemen from falling into the hands of warlords and Iran’s proxy network—namely the Houthis and Lebanese Hezbollah—as well as other terrorist groups like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS.

Middle East
Yemen

In-Depth Research & Reports

Dec 15, 2020

A guide to illicit Iranian weapon transfers: The Bahrain file

By Tim Michetti

A new report by illicit weapon flows expert Tim Michetti offers a comprehensive, field-based case study on illicit Iranian weapon flows. The report is based on a confidential assessment of the materiel procurement networks of militants operating inside Bahrain.

Iran
Middle East

In the News

Dec 11, 2020

Lipner quoted in CGTN on Morocco-Israel normalization
Israel
Middle East

MENASource

Dec 10, 2020

Experts react: What the Morocco-Israel deal means for the Middle East

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council experts react to the normalization of ties between Morocco and Israel and what it means for the wider region.

Africa
Israel

MENASource

Dec 9, 2020

The GCC’s digital economy is growing, but risks must be managed

By Dominik Treeck

Gulf Cooperation Council governments need to establish effective protections for the digital economy to gain scale and become sustainable.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 8, 2020

Fontenrose quoted in Reuters on US-imposed terrorism sanctions on Iran’s envoy to the Houthis
Iran
Politics & Diplomacy

Events

Dec 4, 2020

Wechsler joins ISPI to co-moderate a dialogue with Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia

This event was organized as part of the Rome MED 2020 Dialogues. Will and Lucia Annunziata posed questions to speaker Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

Events

Dec 3, 2020

Wechsler joins ISPI to moderate a panel on Regime-opposition dynamics in the MENA region

This event is organized in occasion of the joint report published by ISPI and Atlantic Council. Will was joined by Chris Murphy, US Senator and Ghassan Salamé, UN Former Special Representative for Libya.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Dec 3, 2020

Netanyahu and MBS are not done with Trump just yet

By Shalom Lipner

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are circling their wagons. Like other Donald Trump fans, they are hunkering down now to meet the challenges of the impending post-Trump era.

Israel
Middle East

Events

Nov 19, 2020

Fontenrose joins the National Council on US-Arab Relations to discuss the future of MENA policy under the Biden administration
Elections
Middle East
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Experts

Fellow

Eser Özdil

Nonresident Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Eastern Europe Energy Markets & Governance

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Staff

Joze Pelayo

Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives and Policy, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Intelligence

Fellow

C. Anthony Pfaff

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Daryl G. Press

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Fellow

Ali Bakir

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Conflict Defense Industry
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