U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

Israeli and UAE flags flying together in Abu Dhabi - source: Reuters

Axis of Abraham: Arab-Israeli Normalization Could Remake the Middle East

The accords may point to a future in which the United States can do less in the region—but to get there, Washington must first do more.

March-April 2022

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Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

A Goldilocks Approach to Sanctioning Yemen’s Houthis

Although the group undoubtedly merits FTO designation, issuing targeted sanctions with broader UN buy-in may achieve better results without the humanitarian complications.

Feb 18, 2022

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Katherine Bauer

Articles & Testimony

Israel’s New Strategy: Why a Post-American Middle East Means a Greater Role in Regional Security

In strategic terms, at least, the United States is increasingly shifting its attention to Asia, but this may represent an opportunity for Israel as much as a challenge.

Feb 18, 2022

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Amos Yadlin
Assaf Orion

Articles & Testimony

The Third Age of Erdogan’s Foreign Policy

Turkey has been forced to adopt a new approach abroad, presenting a valuable opportunity that the United States and Europe need to seize quickly.

Feb 17, 2022

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Rich Outzen
Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

As China Thrives in the Post-9/11 Middle East, the US Must Counter

The West needs to radically alter its strategy for competing with Beijing in the region, particularly when it comes to economic stimulation, allied security blocs, and human rights.

Feb 16, 2022

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Jay Solomon

Israeli Prime Minister meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, 2017 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Beyond Chastity Belt and Road

U.S.-Israel Relations in the Age of Great Power Competition

Israel’s ties to China have raised concerns in Washington, but select bilateral activity should be permissible in the context of an irreplaceable U.S.-Israel alliance.

Feb 6, 2022

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Assaf Orion

Articles & Testimony

Is It Time to Get Tough With Russia?

If Washington wants Putin to act differently, it must demonstrate less risk aversion, whether in Ukraine or in Middle East conflict zones like Syria and Iraq.

Jan 27, 2022

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Dennis Ross
Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

A Needed Warning for Yemen’s Rebels—and for Our Allies and Enemies Alike

Rarely has it been more important for Washington to show it will stand by a friend in response to an attack that could have resulted in many civilian casualties, including Americans.

Jan 24, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Police respond to a terrorist hostage-taking at a Texas synagogue - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Synagogue Hostage Crisis Reminds Us That Neo-Nazis Aren’t the Only Ones Targeting Jews

Although domestic extremism has emerged as a bigger homeland terrorist threat, the threat of jihadi violence from abroad remains acute.

Jan 19, 2022

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Matthew Levitt

A U.S. military helicopter evacuates personnel from the American embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan

Articles & Testimony

Trading Places

After two decades of direct U.S. involvement, what went so wrong in Afghanistan compared to the relative successes seen in Iraq?

Jan 7, 2022

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Law Enforcement Shuffle Reflects Concern About Protests

The Supreme Leader and the IRGC are asserting more control over the task of monitoring and managing protest movements, creating yet another intelligence agency in the process.

Jan 5, 2022

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Amir Toumaj

Articles & Testimony

Solving Syria’s Crisis Starts with Sanctioning Iranian Oil

Instead of quietly greenlighting the Assad regime’s diplomatic rehabilitation, U.S. officials should escalate economic pressure on its Iranian enablers to regain leverage at the negotiating table.

Jan 3, 2022

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Andrew J. Tabler
Matthew Zweig

US President Bush and Soviet leader Gorbachev shake hands at a Moscow press conference in 1991 - Source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

How the Death of the Soviet Union Transformed the Middle East

Reflecting on the thirtieth anniversary of the Soviet collapse makes clear that Moscow and its pragmatic anti-Western approach never fully left the region.

Dec 21, 2021

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Anna Borshchevskaya

In-Depth Reports

Soldiers of End-Times

Assessing the Military Effectiveness of the Islamic State

The IS military project led not only to the announcement of a “caliphate,” but to the proliferation of jihadist franchises that devastated countries, displaced millions, and killed tens of thousands.

Dec 21, 2021

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Ido Levy

In-Depth Reports

Power to the People?

Scrutinizing the U.S.-Arab Effort to Supply Energy to Lebanon via Syria

Residents of the beleaguered country desperately need electricity, but a U.S.-Arab scheme carries complications that could benefit Syria's Assad regime.

Dec 16, 2021

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Katherine Bauer
Ben Fishman
Hanin Ghaddar
Simon Henderson
David Schenker
Andrew J. Tabler

In-Depth Reports

Seasoned Skeptics

Why Syrian Kurds Have Resisted Political Islam

The historic role of Sufism, an inclination toward the secular left, and recent repression under extremists have all driven the Kurds away from religiously informed ideology.

Dec 13, 2021

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Sirwan Kajjo
Oula A. Alrifai

President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken host the Summit for Democracy. Source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Summit for Democracy Skips the Arab World

To address the region’s democracy gap, Washington needs to develop consistent messaging on reform objectives and help its partners focus on achievable goals such as protecting free speech, dissidents, and civil society.

Dec 8, 2021

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Ben Fishman

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Articles & Testimony

Tehran Won’t Tolerate a Reset with Washington—But Will Take a Deal

As the previous nuclear agreement showed, U.S. officials don’t need to change the regime’s mind about America’s supposedly nefarious intentions in order to cut a deal.

Dec 6, 2021

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Amir Toumaj

Video

Brief Analysis

Three experts discuss how Washington should shape its regional response to persistent protest movements, economic struggles, and democratic backsliding.

Dec 2, 2021

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Chiraz Arbi
Yasir Zaidan
Alberto Fernandez

Afghan women attend a photography class, 2013.

Articles & Testimony

The Taliban Remain the Same, But Society Has Changed

Years of U.S. involvement visibly advanced the dignity and prospects of Afghan women, but wholly abandoning them now would risk undoing much of this progress.

Dec 1, 2021

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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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Robert Satloff

Robert Satloff is the Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute, a post he assumed in January 1993.

Dennis Ross

Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Michael Singh

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

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U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

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

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

U.S. Policy

Policy Analysis on U.S. Policy

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

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