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.
Rising regional escalation is exposing the limits of unilateral defense, pushing the GCC toward deeper coordination and collective air defense integration
Israel’s strike on shared Iran–Qatar gas infrastructure marks a significant escalation in the conflict, with implications for regional stability, global energy markets, and the Gulf’s environmental security.
The evolving U.S.–Iran confrontation is reshaping the Gulf’s security environment, as a shift toward gradual escalation and hybrid warfare places Gulf states at the center of a crisis threatening energy security, maritime stability, and regional deterrence structures.