Great Power Competition

Policy Analysis on Great Power Competition

The Impact of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion in the Middle East and North Africa

A former Pentagon advisor testifies on how the war might affect Moscow's ability to sell arms to MENA governments and project power in the region.

May 18, 2022

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Grant Rumley

Saudi men read a newspaper - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Is the West Losing the Battle of Narratives in the Middle East?

Instead of leaving misinformation and whataboutism largely unchallenged, Washington and its allies need to express their perspective to Arab audiences more effectively while highlighting Russian and Chinese hypocrisy.

May 9, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Catherine Cleveland

In-Depth Reports

Countering Iran's Regional Strategy

A Long-Term, Comprehensive Approach

A coordinated response to Iran’s aggression can preserve U.S. and Western interests, reinforce Israel and America’s Arab allies, and promote regional stability.

May 8, 2022

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Eyal Zamir

Articles & Testimony

We Can’t Face Down Putin Alone

Some potential allies in the Middle East may not be democracies, but they're not revisionist states either, so the United States cannot afford to write them off.

May 6, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Arab Approval of UAE, Bahrain Peace with Israel

Video

Brief Analysis

New Arab Polls on Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and China: Analysis and Implications

Three public opinion experts discuss what March and April surveys in key states reveal about local attitudes toward U.S. policy.

May 3, 2022

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David Pollock
Catherine Cleveland
Munqith Dagher

Ukrainian soldiers pose with a captured Russian military vehicle - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Russia’s Move on Ukraine Polls Poorly in Arab Gulf

Most Saudi, Emirati, and Kuwaiti citizens appear to oppose Putin’s invasion, but their dim views of Washington’s reliability may limit the region’s willingness to counter Moscow.

Apr 30, 2022

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Global Food Insecurity:

Why Putin’s Battle for Ukrainian Farmland Is So Dangerous

In the Middle East, rising prices combined with growing populations could stir social unrest, as occurred during the Arab Spring period.

Apr 28, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Video

Brief Analysis

Decoding the "Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma" of Russia and the Emerging New World Order

Two veteran diplomats discuss what implications the Ukraine war holds for multilateral institutions, international law, and the global order they aim to uphold.

Apr 27, 2022

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Dennis Ross
Paula Dobriansky

A Turkish Bayraktor UAV on display at an airshow - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Turkey's Lethal Weapon

From Ukraine to Syria, drones are reshaping Erdogan’s foreign policy.

Apr 27, 2022

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Soner Cagaptay
Rich Outzen

Brief Analysis

French-Turkish Relations: Foes to Friends?

The Ukraine war has greatly boosted their diplomatic and military cooperation, but lingering friction over Syria, Libya, and Mediterranean issues will need to be handled carefully if this rapprochement is to endure.

Apr 20, 2022

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Louis Dugit-Gros
Pierre Morcos
Soner Cagaptay

Pakistani men watch a televised address by Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 31, 2022 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Clock Runs Out on Imran Khan as Pakistan’s Prime Minister

Things to watch going forward include Islamabad’s relationship with traditional cash source Saudi Arabia and its geopolitical posture toward Iran and Afghanistan.

Apr 11, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz - source: Israeli Ministry of Defense

Video

Brief Analysis

Defense Minister Benny Gantz Discusses Israel's Strategic Challenges

The country's top defense official shares his insights on recent terrorist attacks, the Iran nuclear talks, the Ukraine war, expanding cooperation with regional countries, and more.

Apr 11, 2022

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Benny Gantz

Articles & Testimony

Why Arab Allies Don’t Trust the U.S. on Ukraine

“This will not stand,” the president said after Iraq invaded Kuwait, but no such fortitude has been evident in response to Iran’s continued aggression.

Apr 9, 2022

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Robert Satloff

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in Beijing - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

West’s Weakness Led Putin into Ukraine—and Other Enemies Are Looking for Similar Signs

Moscow has provided a wake-up call about how actors like Iran interpret habitual demonstrations of U.S. inaction.

Apr 8, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

A Battle Over Oil Rages Alongside Russia’s War in Ukraine

The latest OPEC+ production decision is a clear statement that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other traditional American partners are still at loggerheads with Washington.

Mar 31, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

The Evolution of Russian Strategy Toward Israel: From Non-Recognition to Pragmatic Engagement

An in-depth look at how the two countries developed such a complex strategic relationship, and why Ukraine may present them with the most serious bilateral test of the Putin era.

March 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

There’s a Better Way to Sell American Weapons

The United States should use enticements as well as sanctions to deter friends from buying Russian arms.

Mar 29, 2022

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Grant Rumley
David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Ukraine Invasion Ushers in Algeria’s Return

Although the wave of Western overtures is understandable, Algeria is unlikely to make up for Europe’s energy supply gaps or take other actions that give the appearance of choosing sides.

Mar 28, 2022

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Geoff Porter

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

From Russia With Love? Sabereen's Ukraine Coverage

Alongside an apparent technical uplift, the militia network's coverage of the crisis has gone far beyond that of even the most pro-Russian outlets in Iraq.

Mar 24, 2022

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Crispin Smith
Hamdi Malik
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

NATO solderis with alliance and national flags

Articles & Testimony

How Putin and NATO Could Get Pulled Into a Disaster in Ukraine

Ukraine is no Syria, and Putin’s miscalculations are astonishing—but the West still faces grave risks of its own, including military escalation, mass refugee flows, and food shortages for Middle Eastern partners.

Mar 15, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Supported by the

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East focuses on the region as a setting for heightened competition between the United States and other world powers, such as China and Russia.

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Featured experts

Michael Singh

Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Anna Borshchevskaya

Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East.

Grant Rumley

Grant Rumley is the Goldberger Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he specializes in military and security affairs in the Middle East.

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Great Power Competition

Policy Analysis on Great Power Competition

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

Great Power Competition

Policy Analysis on Great Power Competition

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East

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Featured experts