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.
The disruption of fertilizer exports through the Strait of Hormuz exposes vulnerabilities in global food systems and is pushing governments to prioritize resilience over efficiency.
As traditional diplomatic channels faltered, Qatar and Pakistan emerged as complementary intermediaries helping manage one of the region’s most dangerous crises.
Ankara’s handling of the Iran war has strengthened its foreign policy standing while helping deflect domestic criticism and portray political opposition as a liability in a volatile region. The risk is that Türkiye’s geopolitical leverage is used to consolidate political power rather than strengthen national capacity.