Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
As Gulf countries compete for regional leadership and global strategic importance in the AI space, they face the same regulatory predicaments as other countries spearheading the AI revolution.
As political tensions rise in southern Yemen, restraint, inclusive dialogue and preserving institutional coherence—not escalation—will determine whether the country stabilizes or slides into deeper fragmentation.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland marks a strategic shift aimed at expanding military reach into the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, intensifying regional instability while sidelining diplomacy.