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.
Five states are quietly building a security partnership that could redraw the Middle East’s strategic map. Whether it solidifies into a genuine alliance or remains a present-threat-driven initiative is still an open question.
Gulf states have long held varying approaches to their relations with Iran, based on a number of factors. The ongoing war has reinforced the notion that this is unlikely to change.
Bilateral peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan were structurally flawed by excluding the Gulf states. If an agreement is to hold up in the long-run, it must incorporate the Gulf states and their interests.
Although Türkiye has not been subject to the same level of Iranian strikes as other countries in the region, Ankara feels threatened on several fronts. But it also has an opportunity to shape the regional order that emerges after the war ends.
Rising regional escalation is exposing the limits of unilateral defense, pushing the GCC toward deeper coordination and collective air defense integration