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 outbreak of full-scale war between Israel and Iran marks a reconfiguration of the regional order, following a year of devastating setbacks for Iran and its regional allies.
The U.S. president’s visit provided Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE with an opportunity to shape Washington’s policy toward the region on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and defense to regional diplomatic files.
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.