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.
Gulf security has become a daily test of the region’s ability to adapt to a turbulent regional order—one in which military power intersects with maritime corridors, American calculations with the concerns of Gulf states, and Iranian ambitions with global trade considerations.
Trump's and Mamdani's July 4 speeches on America's 250th anniversary reflected competing visions of the country's identity and global role amid the fallout from Washington's war with Iran.
Just weeks ago, Washington and Tehran appeared to be nearing a historic moment, as observers predicted a breakthrough between the two sides and the opening of a new chapter in the Gulf. The reality has, once again, proven otherwise.