What the Iranian Attack on Qatar Means for the Future of Gulf Security

This handout picture released by the UAE Presidential Court shows Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) received by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani upon arriving at Hamad International Airport in Doha on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Ryan CARTER / UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Iran’s ballistic missile attack on the Qatari airbase at Al Udeid was viewed by many international analysts and media strictly through the lens of the confrontation between the U.S., Israel and Iran. Widely seen as a symbolic move, the attack’s lack of casualties allowed U.S. President Donald Trump to pursue his preferred option of de-escalation… Continue reading What the Iranian Attack on Qatar Means for the Future of Gulf Security

How Israel’s Dangerous New Grand Strategy Has Set Mideast on Fire 

HEBRON, WEST BANK - JUNE 18: Missiles fired from Iran are seen streaking across the skies over the city of Hebron in the West Bank on June 18, 2025. Iran, which Israel continued to attack, launched a new retaliatory attack with around 25 missiles in two successive attacks. Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu (Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun / Anadolu via AFP)

For more than a decade, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the world of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He repeatedly accused Tehran of being on the cusp of acquiring a bomb, condemned diplomatic overtures as capitulation, and vowed Israel would never allow Iran to become a nuclear power. Yet despite the endless threats, leaked war plans,… Continue reading How Israel’s Dangerous New Grand Strategy Has Set Mideast on Fire 

The Islamic Republic’s Existential Crisis

A man looks at a billboard featuring the portraits of (Left to Right) Hassan Nasrallah, the slain former leader of Hezbollah, Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran's slain commander Qasem Soleimani, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on June 17, 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with ABC News, states that killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would end the conflict between the two countries. He also defends Israel's ongoing military actions against Iran, adding they aim to end the conflict rather than escalate it. His remarks come after reports that US President Donald Trump previously vetoed an Israeli plan to target Iran's Supreme Leader, fearing it could worsen the conflict. Israel continues its strikes across Iran since June 13, targeting nuclear and energy facilities, and a state television building in Tehran. In response, Iran launches waves of retaliatory missiles and drones toward Israel. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto) (Photo by Firdous Nazir / NurPhoto via AFP)

Israel’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military should have come as no surprise following a year of devastating setbacks for the Iranian regime and its proxy network in the region. For almost a decade, the two sides have engaged in a shadow war and tit-for-tat military exchanges across several conflict theaters.… Continue reading The Islamic Republic’s Existential Crisis

Trump’s Gulf Visit Marks a Recalibration of Ties

US President Donald Trump (front row-L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (front row-R) pose for a group picture during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. Saudi Arabia on May 13 promised billions of dollars in deals with the United States from defence to artificial intelligence as it threw a lavish welcome for President Donald Trump on the first state visit of his second term. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Donald Trump’s return to the Gulf in May, the first overseas trip of his second term as U.S. president, was no normal diplomatic visit. It was a strategic encounter shaped by mutual interests and shifting global dynamics. For Gulf leaders, the visit offered an opportunity to reposition themselves not just as regional actors in the… Continue reading Trump’s Gulf Visit Marks a Recalibration of Ties

Syria Needs Full Sanctions Relief to Truly Rebuild 

TARTUS, SYRIA - MAY 14: Syrians celebrate as the United States announces it will lift sanctions on the country in Tartus, Syria on May 14, 2025. In the western city of Tartus, crowds gathered to welcome the decision. U.S. President Donald Trump said he made the decision after consultations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Tamam Jerbi / Anadolu (Photo by Tamam Jerbi / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

On May 13, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria. The announcement, made during his historic visit to Saudi Arabia, was a miraculous reprieve for the people of Syria, who had been struggling to rebuild their country after a devastating 14-year civil war. On May 20, European Union… Continue reading Syria Needs Full Sanctions Relief to Truly Rebuild 

Can the U.S. Keep Its Military Edge in Saudi Arabia?

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 24: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomes Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman with an official ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, United States on February 24, Fatih Aktas / Anadolu (Photo by Fatih Aktas / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

During U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Washington and Riyadh inked a landmark $142 billion defense agreement, heralded by the White House as the largest of its kind in history. The agreement forms part of Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion investment pledge for the U.S. economy and represents a considerable deepening of Saudi-U.S… Continue reading Can the U.S. Keep Its Military Edge in Saudi Arabia?

Could Trump’s Attack on Academia Be a Boon for the Gulf? 

Prior to Donald Trump’s historic trip to the Gulf seeking investments for the American economy, the U.S. president was busy taking a wrecking ball to his country’s universities and research institutions. The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was decimating everything from medical research to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and hundreds… Continue reading Could Trump’s Attack on Academia Be a Boon for the Gulf? 

How Trump’s Government Cuts Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy

(L-R) US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President Donald Trump, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick listen, during a cabinet meeting, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, of April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

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

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. 

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

By any standard of the American presidency, the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term have been eventful, to say the least. From the dismantling of government institutions to the imposition of protectionist trade policies to the launching of negotiations with Iran and Russia, the implications of Trump’s early agenda have been far reaching… Continue reading The First 100 Days: Trump’s Middle East Policy Revisited

U.S. Disengagement Spurs Turkish-European Defense Cooperation

ANKARA, TURKIYE - DECEMBER 18: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - DEFENSE MINISTRY OF TURKIYE / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Eurofighter Typhoon jet from the UK's Royal Air Force lands at Murted Air Base in Ankara for inspection by Turkish officials on December 18, 2024. Two Eurofighter jets, which recently participated in a drill in Qatar, arrived in Ankara for inspection by Turkish officials due to potential purchase. Turkish Defense Ministry / Handout / Anadolu (Photo by Turkish Defense Ministry / Hando / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

As the United States’ long-standing commitment to European security erodes under the Trump administration, the bloc’s defense partnership with Türkiye hit a new milestone in March, when a consortium of Europe’s leading arms companies submitted a formal bid to sell Ankara 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets.   The fighters have seen active service in the air forces… Continue reading U.S. Disengagement Spurs Turkish-European Defense Cooperation

As Europe Adjusts to Life Without U.S. Security Umbrella, Lessons for GCC Abound 

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell observes during the press conference of the EU - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels, Belgium, on October 16, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto) (Photo by Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

The Trump administration’s decision in early 2025 to suspend military aid to Ukraine—resuming it only after Kyiv agreed to negotiate with Moscow in March—marks a turning point in transatlantic security. It has forced Europe to reassess its strategic posture amid a conflict that began with Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale… Continue reading As Europe Adjusts to Life Without U.S. Security Umbrella, Lessons for GCC Abound 

Trump is back. Should Gulf States accelerate decoupling from the U.S.?

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 17: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'SAUDI ARABIA FOREIGN MINISTRY / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) US Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio (L) meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (R) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2025. Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry / Handout / Anadolu (Photo by Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry / / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

Eight weeks into the second Trump presidency, the world’s governments—including those in the Gulf—are still trying to make sense of the chaos in Washington. Domestic politics aside, the new administration’s economic policies have sparked fears of a “Trumpcession” amid an escalating trade war and a falling dollar and stock market. Both consumer and business confidence… Continue reading Trump is back. Should Gulf States accelerate decoupling from the U.S.?

Abu Dhabi’s Quiet Engagement in Afghanistan May Ease Taliban Isolation

This handout picture provided by the UAE Presidential Court shows UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (R) meeting with Sirajuddin Haqqani (2nd-L), interior minister in Afghanistan's Taliban administration, at al-Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Abdulla AL-BEDWAWI / UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT- NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===

For nearly a decade, international diplomacy concerning Afghanistan was mainly mediated by Qatar. Yet since the Taliban rolled into Kabul in August 2021, leading figures from the movement have made a string of high-profile visits to another key Gulf powerbroker, the United Arab Emirates. Their warm reception by the Emirati authorities suggests that Abu Dhabi… Continue reading Abu Dhabi’s Quiet Engagement in Afghanistan May Ease Taliban Isolation

Trump’s Aid Cuts Sever Stalwart of U.S. Soft Power in the Middle East 

A protestor holds a sign as people gather outside the Ronald Reagan Building during a "clap out" in support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) fired staff who received word to retrieve their personal belongings from USAID headquarters in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. Most employees at USAID have been placed on leave or fired by midnight on February 23, the aid agency said, as President Donald Trump's administration plows ahead in slashing government spending. (Photo by Ting Shen / AFP)

Amid the whirlwind of executive orders and major policy shifts coming out of the White House, President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which administers most U.S. foreign assistance, threatens to have a wide impact around the world. If prolonged, many programs in countries across the… Continue reading Trump’s Aid Cuts Sever Stalwart of U.S. Soft Power in the Middle East 

Is Russia Entering U.S.-Iranian Nuclear Negotiations?  

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shake hands during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Evgenia Novozhenina / POOL / AFP)

A three-way dance is developing between Washington, Moscow and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter directly to Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, asking to enter negotiations, while indicating to the media separately that the alternative would be military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Khamenei responded… Continue reading Is Russia Entering U.S.-Iranian Nuclear Negotiations?  

As Trump Imposes Tariffs, What Will U.S. Protectionism Mean for MENA and the Global Economy?

Shipping containers are stacked high at the Port of Long Beach on March 4, 2025 in Long Beach, California, as US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect. US President Donald Trump could announce a compromise tariff arrangement with Canada and Mexico on March 5, his commerce secretary said in an interview, shortly after sweeping 25-percent levies went into effect. "I think he's going to work something out with them," Howard Lutnick told Fox Business on Tuesday. "Somewhere in the middle will likely be the outcome, the president moving with the Canadians and Mexicans, but not all the way." (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)

The United States has long been the world’s leading advocate for free trade, promoting it as a means of expanding global commerce and specialization in production that links economies into diversified supply chains. This has led to an unprecedented period of economic growth and poverty alleviation, a period anchored largely in an international rules-based order… Continue reading As Trump Imposes Tariffs, What Will U.S. Protectionism Mean for MENA and the Global Economy?

The Art of Disruption: How Trump’s Foreign Policy is Impacting MENA

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on February 10, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

Since returning to office on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump has issued 67 executive orders, more than double any other president in American history. Given that some of those orders have serious implications for the Middle East and North Africa, Afkār has compiled views from Middle East Council on Global Affairs scholars to analyze some… Continue reading The Art of Disruption: How Trump’s Foreign Policy is Impacting MENA

Will Trump Remove Syria’s New Rulers from America’s Foreign Terrorist List?

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 26: Roadside vendors in Damascus sell gasoline and diesel to drivers due to fuel production failing to meet demand in Damascus, Syria on December 26, 2024. In the new era, energy emerges as a priority in Syria, with lifting sanctions and utilizing oil resources among key issues. Following the fall of the 61-year-long Baath regime and the 53-year Assad family rule, the interim government continues efforts to improve living conditions for citizens. Hasan Belal / Anadolu (Photo by Hasan Belal / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

Since 1997, the U.S. State Department has compiled a catalog of organizations it considers foreign terrorists. The FTO list, as it is known, has become a powerful tool in Washington’s “war on terror,” by subjecting parties on the list to the weight of American delegitimization and economic sanctions. Moreover, the qualification and threshold for being… Continue reading Will Trump Remove Syria’s New Rulers from America’s Foreign Terrorist List?

Could the Russia-Iran Comprehensive Partnership Treaty Challenge Gulf Security?

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sign a strategic partnership treaty during a ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP)

On January 17, the presidents of Iran and Russia met in Moscow to sign a 20-year “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.” The agreement, which focuses primarily on enhancing trade and security cooperation, comes as each country indirectly confronts the United States in conflicts with Ukraine and Israel, and on the heels of the abrupt toppling of… Continue reading Could the Russia-Iran Comprehensive Partnership Treaty Challenge Gulf Security?

Maximum Pressure on Iran, Minimal Results

Among the top foreign policy issues Donald Trump faces in his second term are the perceived challenges and threats posed by Iran. To this end, Trump revived the “maximum pressure” campaign that characterized his approach to Iran in his previous term. At the same time, hawks in Washington are calling on the administration to support… Continue reading Maximum Pressure on Iran, Minimal Results

Why Trump’s Presidency Could Mean Closer EU-GCC Ties 

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) and European Council President Charles Michel (R) greet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he arrives to attend a EU - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels on October 16, 2024. - Avoiding a "general conflagration" in the Middle East will be top of the agenda when European Union and leaders of countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, meet in Brussels on October 16, 2024. (Photo by JOHANNA GERON / POOL / AFP)

The arrival of Donald Trump for a second term in the White House raises critical questions for the Middle East. Trump took office just days after a ceasefire deal aimed at ending a catastrophic 15-month war between Israel and Hamas, which had come close to dragging the region into an all-out conflagration. Now the president… Continue reading Why Trump’s Presidency Could Mean Closer EU-GCC Ties 

TikTok Is Back, but for Whom?

TikTok video streaming and sharing app is seen in this illustration photo on 20 January, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto)

U.S. users briefly lost access to popular social media platform TikTok earlier this week, following a legislative push to force the app’s Chinese-owned parent company to divest from its U.S. operations. While Donald Trump had endorsed the effort to ban the app during his first term, he recently reversed his stance, signing an executive order… Continue reading TikTok Is Back, but for Whom?

Will U.S. Sustain Pressure on Israel to Implement the Ceasefire Deal?

Residents of the Bureij camp watch news updates together on January 14, 2025. Displaced residents follow developments as they await signs of peace and a ceasefire. (Photo by Moiz Salhi / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP)

President-elect Donald Trump appears to have followed through with his promise to achieve a Gaza ceasefire before his inauguration on January 20. The incoming administration succeeded where the Biden administration failed, showing that U.S. pressure on Israel can lead to results. While many dismissed Trump’s threat that “all hell will break out” if the hostages… Continue reading Will U.S. Sustain Pressure on Israel to Implement the Ceasefire Deal?

MENA Outlook for 2025

With the December collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, 2024 came to a close in a dramatic and region-altering fashion. This, along with the numerous other major trend lines and points of conflict, likely makes 2025 a year that will be significant in reshaping the region’s future. Looking forward to what may be coming,… Continue reading MENA Outlook for 2025

Trump Must Focus on Rebuilding a War-Torn Middle East

An arial view shows destoyed buildings in al-Zahra city south of Gaza City on October 20, 2023 following Israeli bombardment overnight amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza on October 8. (Photo by Belal ALSABBAGH / AFP)

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has become the first Republican candidate in 20 years to win the popular vote. His historic win hands him control of the Senate, Congress and the Republican party, along with a strongly conservative-leaning Supreme Court. How will this power be deployed? If we take Trump’s election rhetoric literally, his “Maganomics” agenda will be… Continue reading Trump Must Focus on Rebuilding a War-Torn Middle East

Trump 2.0 and the Gulf’s Strategic Future

US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (R) arrive for a meeting on "World Economy" at the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. (Photo by Eliot BLONDET / POOL / AFP)

President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in office reshaped U.S.-Gulf relations. His approach focused on cultivating personal bonds with leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), signing massive arms deals, and for the most part not touching human rights issues. Gulf statesmen mostly welcomed this approach, which provided immediate defense assurances without challenging their sovereignty. However, with… Continue reading Trump 2.0 and the Gulf’s Strategic Future

Trump’s Return and Implications for the Middle East

On November 6, within hours of closing the polls, Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by a wide margin. Trump’s remarkable triumph, which will return him to the White House after his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, comes at a… Continue reading Trump’s Return and Implications for the Middle East

A Region Under Fire

Editor’s Note: There Are No Winners Here  Omar H. Rahman, Fellow and Editor of Afkār, Middle East Council on Global Affairs   The Israeli-Palestinian conflict did not begin on October 7, 2023. Decades of military occupation, colonial land theft and systemic deprivation had already pushed Palestinians into a state of constant struggle, laying the groundwork… Continue reading A Region Under Fire

Can China and the U.S. Cooperate in the Middle East?

US White House senior adviser and climate envoy John Podesta (L) speaks during a bilateral meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 6, 2024. (Photo by Andy Wong / POOL / AFP)

Cooperation between China and the United States in the Middle East has become a common topic of discussion between academics and experts these days. The two great powers have vested interests in the region that are jeopardized by its chronic instability and the growing threat of regional war. Cooperation between the two should be a… Continue reading Can China and the U.S. Cooperate in the Middle East?

Trump Redux Could Bring in the Law of Unintended Consequences

JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 30: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally in the 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial on August 30, 2024 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Promising to cut energy bills in half, conduct the largest deportation operation in history and put a 200% tariff on foreign made automobiles, Trump rallied his supporters in the all-important battleground state of Pennsylvania. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

One hundred days ahead of elections in November, former U.S. president Donald Trump is polling strongly despite the emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat candidate. What would the implications be for us in the Gulf and around the world of a Trump presidency redux?   From public statements and his record in the… Continue reading Trump Redux Could Bring in the Law of Unintended Consequences

Gaza War Creates Dilemmas for Bahrain’s Leadership

People gather holding signs that read, 'flood Jerusalem' they protest in front of the Palestine Embassy in Manama on October 13, 2023, as thousands of protesters poured onto the streets of several Middle East capitals Friday in support of Palestinians amid Israeli air strikes on Gaza in reprisal for a surprise Hamas attack. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 8. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP)

Four years ago this month, Bahrain joined its ally the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in formalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. After signing the Abraham Accords at the White House on September 15, 2020, Bahrain and Israel opened embassies, signed numerous bilateral agreements, established business contacts and launched direct commercial travel. Yet Bahrain, like other Arab… Continue reading Gaza War Creates Dilemmas for Bahrain’s Leadership

Biden vs Harris on the Middle East: Same dance, different steps

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 10: Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz hold signs during a campaign rally at the University of Las Vegas Thomas & Mack Center on August 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kamala Harris and her newly selected running mate Tim Walz are campaigning across the country this week. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The 2024 US election year has been one of the most tumultuous on record. The past two months have seen a shockingly lacklustre performance from President Joe Biden on the debate stage and his subsequent withdrawal from the ticket, an assassination attempt on former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump, and the elevation of Vice President… Continue reading Biden vs Harris on the Middle East: Same dance, different steps

How Big a Role Will Gaza Play in the U.S. Election?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - AUGUST 6: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris (R) and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (L) on stage at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on August 6, 2024. US Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate in the 2024 presidential race. Kyle Mazza / Anadolu (Photo by Kyle Mazza / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

One of the great ironies of American politics is that despite the country’s immense power and influence in the world, U.S. foreign policy and international affairs hardly factor into the calculus of most American voters. The 2024 presidential race may be different, however.   Since October 7, 2023, the Hamas-led attack on Israel, and Israel’s catastrophic… Continue reading How Big a Role Will Gaza Play in the U.S. Election?

To Strengthen the Palestinian Authority, Stabilize Its Finances

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) greets Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, during a media briefing ahead of a vote on the national budget, on May 23, 2023, at the parliament in Jerusalem. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

As Israel carries out the latest stage of its devastating military assault on Gaza in the southern city of Rafah, pressure has mounted on its relationship with the United States. Yet it is in the West Bank where the Biden administration’s stalwart support for Israel’s right-wing government may face its most difficult test. A recent… Continue reading To Strengthen the Palestinian Authority, Stabilize Its Finances

The Importance of Diplomacy: How Qatari Mediation is Impacting Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the US-Arab Quint Meeting with representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian Authority, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, on April 29, 2024. (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL / AFP)

The ongoing Gaza war has showcased Qatar’s strengths as a mediator. Although Doha may not appear to be a major international player at first glance, it has nonetheless proven to be an invaluable actor in the United States’ attempts to end the war.   Despite its small size and population, Qatar plays an outsized role… Continue reading The Importance of Diplomacy: How Qatari Mediation is Impacting Gaza

A Succession of Coups Leaves the Sahel Prey to International Rivalries

Protesters react as a man holds up a sign demanding that soldiers from the United States Army leave Niger without negotiation during a demonstration in Niamey, on April 13, 2024. - Thousands of people demonstrated on April 13, 2024 in Niger’s capital Niamey to demand the immediate departure of American soldiers based in northern Niger, after the military regime said it was withdrawing from a 2012 cooperation deal with Washington. (Photo by AFP)

When Niger’s military rulers decided to put an end to the presence of American armed forces on the country’s territory in May, the move was met with dismay in Washington. Niger, in the heart of the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert, is host to two major bases the United States had long used… Continue reading A Succession of Coups Leaves the Sahel Prey to International Rivalries

The Middle East in the Wake of October 7: Interview with Tarik M. Yousef Marking 100 Afkār Posts

We at Afkār are delighted to announce that we have reached a new milestone, our 100th post! To mark the occasion, we have recorded and transcribed a special interview with the Director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Tarik M. Yousef. The in-depth interview was conducted by our editor, Omar H. Rahman, and… Continue reading The Middle East in the Wake of October 7: Interview with Tarik M. Yousef Marking 100 Afkār Posts

Washington’s Dilemma over Hamas in Qatar

A handout picture released by the Palestinian president's office (PPO) shows Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (C-L) meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani (C) and Hamas exiled leader Khaled Meshaal (C-R) in the capital Doha on August 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ PPO / THAER GHANEM === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/ PPO / THAER GHANEM" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS === (Photo by HO / AFP)

“Tell Hamas that they must deliver on a hostage and ceasefire deal that would halt the war in Gaza or risk getting kicked out of the Qatari capital of Doha.” That was U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s message to Qatar in early March, according to a report by CNN five months into Israel’s war… Continue reading Washington’s Dilemma over Hamas in Qatar

Genocidal Starvation in Gaza and the Responsibility of Third-Party States

Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rule on emergency measures against Israel following accusations by South Africa that the Israeli military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw - RC2OP5A77N72

The extraordinary scene of U.S. military cargo planes dropping 38,000 ready-to-eat meals to beleaguered and malnourished Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, while 2,000 aid trucks queued, stranded, outside the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, recently underscored the desperate plight of Gaza’s civilians and the world’s willful failure to help them.   The airdrop represented a tiny… Continue reading Genocidal Starvation in Gaza and the Responsibility of Third-Party States

Regional Diplomacy Amid the War in Gaza 

RAFAH, GAZA - FEBRUARY 27: Dozens of Palestinian children and teens, taking refuge in Rafah from Gaza, hold banners as they gather to hold a protest the scarcity of food and water under the ongoing Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on February 27, 2024. The children marched in the streets of Gaza City holding banners with some written on them 'bread becomes my dream' and 'we want food,' among others. Abed Zagout / Anadolu (Photo by Abed Zagout / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

Over the past four months, Middle Eastern nations have been dismayed by the near-unconditional support from Western governments to Israel as it has bombarded and besieged the Gaza Strip and is now ramping up an assault on Rafah—a sliver of territory where more than a million displaced civilians have gathered. As a result, some have… Continue reading Regional Diplomacy Amid the War in Gaza 

US in the Red Sea: Security Concerns or Power Play?

Members of the Yemeni Coast Guard affiliated with the Houthi group patrol the sea as demonstrators march through the Red Sea port city of Hodeida in solidarity with the people of Gaza on January 4, 2024, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the militant Hamas group in Gaza. (Photo by AFP)

The waters of the Red Sea are heating up. In recent weeks, the United States has intensified efforts to clamp down on actions taken by the Houthis, a Yemen-based movement otherwise known as Ansar Allah, to disrupt maritime shipping believed to be connected to Israel as a retaliation for its near-total destruction of the Gaza… Continue reading US in the Red Sea: Security Concerns or Power Play?

Gaza and Its Impact Three Months On – Council Views

A Palestinian man is carrying the body of a child after it was unearthed from the rubble of a building following an Israeli strike on the Zawayda area of the central Gaza Strip on December 30, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Hamas movement. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto) (Photo by MAJDI FATHI / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is entering its fourth month with no end in sight and with the most devastating consequences imaginable for the 2.2 million Palestinian civilians living there, for which Israel is now facing charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice. The effects of this are also being felt well beyond… Continue reading Gaza and Its Impact Three Months On – Council Views

Washington Must Do More to Tackle West Bank Settler Violence

Israeli soldiers scuffle with Jewish settlers from the nearby Einav settlement, trying to storm the town of Deir Sharaf in the Nablus governorate of the occupied West Bank on November 2, 2023, after an Israeli was killed when his car came under fire. - For several months, the West Bank has seen increasing Israeli army raids, attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers and Palestinian assaults against Israeli settlers and security forces. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

While the world’s attention has rightly been focused on the tragedy underway in Gaza, another deadly drama has been playing out nearby in the occupied West Bank. Since October 7, Jewish settlers have significantly escalated violent attacks against Palestinians, displacing hundreds from their villages and claiming more land for Israel. In the first month and… Continue reading Washington Must Do More to Tackle West Bank Settler Violence

Myth-Makers Cannot Hide Palestine’s Truth

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / People search for survivors following Israeli bombardment on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on November 22, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

The latest round of the Palestine-Israel conflict has lasted more than three weeks and, judging by the reluctance on the Israeli side for a truce, will continue for a long time. Despite the uncertainties of the endgame, the implications are already visible, one of which is that the Palestine issue has come back to the… Continue reading Myth-Makers Cannot Hide Palestine’s Truth

Qatar’s Next Diplomatic Step in Latin America?

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA - SEPTEMBER 13: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'AMIRI DIWAN OF THE STATE OF QATAR' / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (3rd L) meets President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali (3rd R) in Georgetown, Guyana on September 13, 2023. Amiri Diwan of the State of Qatar / Handout / Anadolu Agency (Photo by Amiri Diwan of the State of Qata / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu via AFP)

Qatar has garnered significant global attention for its role in negotiating the release of hostages held by Hamas after its attack on Israel on October 7. The Gulf state’s recent mediation efforts have also extended beyond the borders of its own region, particularly in Latin America where its economic and diplomatic channels are widening.    On… Continue reading Qatar’s Next Diplomatic Step in Latin America?

Hamas’ “Al-Aqsa Flood” Will Leave Nothing Untouched

GAZA CITY, GAZA - OCTOBER 07: Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades enter the Israeli side of the fence in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Hani Alshaer / Anadolu Agency (Photo by Hani Alshaer / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)

*Editor’s note: At the time of publication, only 100 Israelis were reported to have been killed. This number would rise to 1,139.    In the early morning hours of October 7, scores of Hamas fighters launched a dramatic and unprecedented land, air and sea attack on Israel. Coming a day after the 50th anniversary of… Continue reading Hamas’ “Al-Aqsa Flood” Will Leave Nothing Untouched

Mediating Multipolarity: Qatar’s Role in U.S.-Venezuela Negotiations

In this handout picture released by the Venezuelan Presidency, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (L) is received by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, at the Royal Palace (Emiri Diwan), in Doha, on June 15, 2022. (Photo by Marcelo GARCIA / Venezuelan Presidency / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VENEZUELAN PRESIDENCY / MARCELO GARCIA " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VENEZUELAN PRESIDENCY / Marcelo GARCIA " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS /

In June, Qatar hosted secret talks between Venezuela and the United States. Doha has an extensive track record of assisting the United States in sensitive negotiations, including a recent prisoner swap with Iran and U.S.-Taliban backchanneling. Qatar’s emergence as a mediator in Venezuela has filled a void left by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and other regional… Continue reading Mediating Multipolarity: Qatar’s Role in U.S.-Venezuela Negotiations

MENA States’ Assertive Approach in the Era of Emerging Multipolarity

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 02: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - 'BRICS / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhanbir (R) attends the "BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting" in Cape Town, South Africa on June 2, 2023. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhanbir, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan also attend the meeting was hosted by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor. BRICS / Handout / Anadolu Agency (Photo by BRICS / Handout / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)

As American dominance of the Middle East and North Africa wanes and other world powers step up their efforts to win friends and influence there, long-time U.S. allies are becoming more assertive towards Washington and recalibrating their other ties to better secure their own interests.   The growing U.S.-China strategic rivalry will profoundly impact the region… Continue reading MENA States’ Assertive Approach in the Era of Emerging Multipolarity

Sudan Conflict: Regional Implications – Council Views

A man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2OP0AR0DBV

The eruption of violent conflict in Sudan on April 15 has cast the country into, perhaps, the darkest period yet in its five-year transition toward civilian rule, which began with nationwide protests in 2018 and the toppling of Omar al-Bashir a year later, after three decades in power. The recent outbreak of fighting between the… Continue reading Sudan Conflict: Regional Implications – Council Views