Hana Elshehaby is a research assistant for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs’ Foreign Policy and Security Program. She received a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service with a specialization in International Politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar. She also holds a certificate in Media and Politics through a joint program between Northwestern University and Georgetown University in Qatar where she produced a digital project titled “Independent Filmmaking in Post-Revolution Egypt.” Her research interests include foreign policy, civil society, and media in the MENA region.
The arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Saudi Arabia marks an important moment in the historical relationship between the two countries and their respective regions. While the United States has recently been eager to drive a wedge between its partners in the Persian Gulf and its rival to the East, heads of state from… Continue reading China’s Xi travels to Saudi Arabia as Asia-GCC relations reach new heights
In a letter addressed to United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 29, U.S. Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) and 26 of her colleagues called for imposing sanctions on Algeria through the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The move is ostensibly connected to the war in Ukraine and the intensifying competition between… Continue reading Why the U.S. Congressional Effort to Pressure Algeria on Russia Could Backfire
Breaking the Cycle: How Can the MENA Region Tackle Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity has become a pressing issue worldwide. The repercussions of the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of COVID-19, amidst a global economic slowdown, have all intensified the global state of food insecurity. Food systems have been disrupted leaving many without access to sufficient nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 222 million people (2.8 percent of the global population) are currently suffering from acute food insecurity, and undernourishment currently stands at around 10 percent of the population. The situation is projected to worsen, with the United Nations (UN) estimating that by 2030, eight percent of the global population will face hunger.