The Biden administration needs to tread carefully in engaging Algeria, since preserving UN negotiations on Western Sahara and protecting Morocco’s crucial relations with Washington and Israel are paramount to U.S. regional interests

Nov 22, 2023

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• Sabina Henneberg
• Amine Ghoulidi

The antiaircraft system poses a manageable risk to Israeli operations along its northern border, but Washington must show Moscow and its associates that any benefits to such escalation are not worth the costs.

Nov 3, 2023

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• Andrew J. Tabler
• Anna Borshchevskaya

Although the Persian Gulf region is far from being fully self-sufficient, countries are gradually diversifying their partnerships—and doing so on their own terms.

Nov 2, 2023

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• Nickolay Mladenov
• Narayanappa Janardhan

While Washington can do more diplomatically, the most glaring gap in U.S. regional engagement is economic, leaving Beijing unchallenged and American allies unsupported.

Nov 1, 2023

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• Michael Singh

A former Treasury Department official testifies on how this longstanding policy imperative should be approached at a time when terrorist groups like Hamas are bringing the Middle East to the brink of regional war.

Oct 26, 2023

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• Matthew Levitt

An in-depth look at Hamas's numerous means of financing terrorist operations like the October 7 assault on Israel, including recommendations for shutting off this flow of illicit funding.

Oct 25, 2023

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• Matthew Levitt

The war triggered by the shocking Hamas assault will be the first zero-sum conflict in the Arab-Israeli arena since 1948, and U.S. policymakers should prepare accordingly.

Oct 23, 2023

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• Robert Satloff

The Russian leader and Hamas share the goal of undermining liberal democracies, as correctly pointed out by President Biden.

Oct 23, 2023

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• Anna Borshchevskaya

Beefing up U.S. naval deployments is not enough to boost deterrence—Washington must also respond decisively to proxy attacks on its forces and increase economic pressure on Tehran.

Oct 23, 2023

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• David Schenker

Video

A panel of experts discuss the status of the crisis after nearly two weeks of fighting, focusing on President Biden’s visit, the contours of humanitarian assistance, ongoing de-escalation efforts, and more.

Oct 20, 2023

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• Zohar Palti
• David Makovsky
• Grant Rumley
• Ghaith al-Omari
• Neomi Neumann

The United States must underscore the risks that such action would incur and incentivize Tehran to rein in its proxies and partners.

Oct 13, 2023

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• Michael Eisenstadt
• Michael Knights

The depth of the president’s commitment greatly impressed Israelis, though a protracted Gaza war could test sentiments on both sides.

Oct 13, 2023

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• David Makovsky

The October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel represent a turning point that should bring home oft-overlooked realities about the Middle East and compel U.S. policymakers to rethink preconceptions about the region and America's role and interests in it.

Oct 13, 2023

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• Robert Satloff
• Dennis Ross
• Michael Singh
• Patrick Clawson

The Biden administration views its defense support to Israel as sufficient at the current level of hostilities, but that may change as the war progresses and, potentially, expands.

Oct 12, 2023

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• Grant Rumley

Fikra Forum

Recent developments will require the U.S. to expand its objectives in Syria and to reevaluate its approach to local alliances if it hopes to shape a positive outcome to the bubbling frustrations in Syria.

Oct 6, 2023

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• Ammar Musarea

Video

In the opening panel of a special three-day anniversary event, experts and former officials from Egypt, Israel, and the United States discussed the conflict’s enduring lessons for peacemaking and statesmanship today.

Oct 5, 2023

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• Mohamed Anwar E. al-Sadat
• David Makovsky
• Efraim Halevy
• Abdel Monem Said Aly
• Martin Indyk

◆ The October 1973 War Redux

Historians continue to debate “what if” scenarios about the pivotal conflict that reshaped the Middle East.

Fall 2023

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• David Makovsky

◆ The October 1973 War Redux

Video

Three experts discuss how the Islamic State branch’s capacity to operate globally has evolved in troubling fashion since the coalition withdrawal.

Oct 2, 2023

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• Amira Jadoon
• Andrew Mines
• Aaron Y. Zelin

In discussing a potential deal with Israel, Riyadh is pressing Washington for expedited access to more advanced U.S. weaponry.

Sep 25, 2023

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• Grant Rumley

The long-delayed meeting should clarify the contours and possible requirements for normalization with Riyadh, though Israel’s ongoing domestic turmoil and policy toward the Palestinians may necessitate some difficult political choices.

Sep 19, 2023

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• David Makovsky