The First 100 Days:
Trump’s Middle East Policy Revisited

Afkār

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The US Energy Dominance Agenda
and the Future of Qatar-South Korea Ties

Policy Note

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Will China Engage More
on Middle East Security?

Afkār

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Recent
Publications

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May 7, 2025
Issue Brief -
Rivalry and Cooperation: Russia and Türkiye Navigate Libya’s Geopolitical Labyrinth

Russia and Türkiye have emerged as simultaneous geopolitical rivals and partners in conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and Europe. Despite being on opposing sides in Syria, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine, Moscow and Ankara have managed to maintain cooperation and effectively navigate these conflicts to their mutual advantage.

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April 23, 2025
Policy Note -
The US Energy Dominance Agenda and the Future of Qatar-South Korea Ties

The Trump administration increasingly views its foreign policy through a mercantilist lens, exerting pressure on long-term allies to buy more American products and services and invest in the United States. As part of the administration’s efforts to reduce its trade imbalances, Washington is stepping up pressure on allies and partners, such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), to purchase American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and invest in U.S. LNG projects

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April 16, 2025
Issue Brief -
The Wages of War: Yemeni Gunmen for Hire

Over a decade of relentless conflict, Yemen’s longest modern war, has fundamentally shattered the country’s social, economic, and political foundations. Famine, extreme poverty, and economic collapse have pushed Yemenis to make grim choices to survive, including joining smuggling networks, working illegally in neighboring countries, or signing up to fight for a wage in conflicts well beyond Yemen’s borders.

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May 7, 2025
Issue Brief -
Rivalry and Cooperation: Russia and Türkiye Navigate Libya’s Geopolitical Labyrinth

Russia and Türkiye have emerged as simultaneous geopolitical rivals and partners in conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and Europe. Despite being on opposing sides in Syria, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine, Moscow and Ankara have managed to maintain cooperation and effectively navigate these conflicts to their mutual advantage.

learn more
April 23, 2025
Policy Note -
The US Energy Dominance Agenda and the Future of Qatar-South Korea Ties

The Trump administration increasingly views its foreign policy through a mercantilist lens, exerting pressure on long-term allies to buy more American products and services and invest in the United States. As part of the administration’s efforts to reduce its trade imbalances, Washington is stepping up pressure on allies and partners, such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), to purchase American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and invest in U.S. LNG projects

learn more
April 16, 2025
Issue Brief -
The Wages of War: Yemeni Gunmen for Hire

Over a decade of relentless conflict, Yemen’s longest modern war, has fundamentally shattered the country’s social, economic, and political foundations. Famine, extreme poverty, and economic collapse have pushed Yemenis to make grim choices to survive, including joining smuggling networks, working illegally in neighboring countries, or signing up to fight for a wage in conflicts well beyond Yemen’s borders.

learn more
April 16, 2025
Issue Brief -
The Wages of War: Yemeni Gunmen for Hire

Over a decade of relentless conflict, Yemen’s longest modern war, has fundamentally shattered the country’s social, economic, and political foundations. Famine, extreme poverty, and economic collapse have pushed Yemenis to make grim choices to survive, including joining smuggling networks, working illegally in neighboring countries, or signing up to fight for a wage in conflicts well beyond Yemen’s borders.

learn more

Events

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11 May 2025
past event 9:00 am GMT - 4:15 pm GMT
The Future of China-MENA Cooperation: Navigating Uncertainty and Competition
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7 May 2025
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST
The Question of Syrian Refugee Return
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11 April 2025
past event GMT - GMT
Public Opinion Analysis in the Arab World: Understanding Societies and Shaping Public Policy
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11 May 2025
past event 9:00 am GMT - 4:15 pm GMT

The Future of China-MENA Cooperation: Navigating Uncertainty and Competition

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07 May 2025
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST

The Question of Syrian Refugee Return

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11 April 2025
past event GMT - GMT

Public Opinion Analysis in the Arab World: Understanding Societies and Shaping Public Policy

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Afkar

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May 11, 2025
How Trump's Government Cuts Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy

Spurred on by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the second Trump administration has embarked upon a campaign of massive disruption within the federal government that will have serious implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). One of the primary targets is the State Department.… Continue reading How Trump’s Government Cuts Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy

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May 6, 2025
In Engaging the Haftars, Türkiye Makes Pragmatic Shift in Libya 

Türkiye’s welcome of Saddam Haftar, son of eastern Libya’s de facto ruler Khalifa Haftar, was laden not only with ceremony but with implications for the North African country’s delicate balance of power. Walking down the red carpet in Ankara on April 4, the commander of land forces in his father’s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces… Continue reading In Engaging the Haftars, Türkiye Makes Pragmatic Shift in Libya 

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May 4, 2025
Trumponomics, Tariffs and the Global Flight From the U.S. 

The rise of “Trumponomics” has sharply heightened global trade tensions, economic uncertainty and market volatility.  It is no overstatement to say that the U.S. administration’s erratic tariffs and policies risk the dissolution of the “rules-based order” established by the U.S. and the West after the second world war, severely eroding America’s global credibility and geopolitical… Continue reading Trumponomics, Tariffs and the Global Flight From the U.S. 

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May 11, 2025
How Trump's Government Cuts Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy

Spurred on by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the second Trump administration has embarked upon a campaign of massive disruption within the federal government that will have serious implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). One of the primary targets is the State Department.… Continue reading How Trump’s Government Cuts Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy

learn more
May 6, 2025
In Engaging the Haftars, Türkiye Makes Pragmatic Shift in Libya 

Türkiye’s welcome of Saddam Haftar, son of eastern Libya’s de facto ruler Khalifa Haftar, was laden not only with ceremony but with implications for the North African country’s delicate balance of power. Walking down the red carpet in Ankara on April 4, the commander of land forces in his father’s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces… Continue reading In Engaging the Haftars, Türkiye Makes Pragmatic Shift in Libya 

learn more
May 4, 2025
Trumponomics, Tariffs and the Global Flight From the U.S. 

The rise of “Trumponomics” has sharply heightened global trade tensions, economic uncertainty and market volatility.  It is no overstatement to say that the U.S. administration’s erratic tariffs and policies risk the dissolution of the “rules-based order” established by the U.S. and the West after the second world war, severely eroding America’s global credibility and geopolitical… Continue reading Trumponomics, Tariffs and the Global Flight From the U.S. 

learn more