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.
While U.S. sanctions waivers provide a welcome reprieve, fully lifting all international sanctions on Syria is crucial to the country’s economic recovery and post-war reconstruction.
The recent U.S.-Saudi arms deal signals Riyadh’s strategic shift toward military autonomy and defense-sector localization through technology transfer and co-development.
A recent upsurge in violence in the Libyan capital portends a familiar and dangerous path for the war-torn country, and the urgent need for a political reset.
With many countries still reliant on dirty fuels like coal, LNG has a big role to play as a bridge fuel to a cleaner future. But will heavy investment in LNG production make the bridge too long?
An unprecedented close to decades of insurgency challenges Türkiye to navigate a delicate transition, balancing security, political reform and social reconciliation.