Policy Analysis

As international court hearings begin over Qatari allegations against the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) actions during the Gulf crisis, it is worth examining the catalysts of this event, along with potential alternatives for settling the dispute. Despite relatively good relations with all sides, the Trump administration has played an ambivalent

Turkey’s decisive election results and shaky geopolitical situation could make it more amenable to addressing U.S. concerns about Russian weapons sales, Iranian adventurism, and other key security issues.

A look at the socioeconomic and political issues fueling Gaza's dilemma for the last seven decades and the policy options for addressing them.

An expert on Russian foreign policy explains how even a partial Cairo-Moscow alliance on specific security and energy issues could be inimical to U.S. interests.

Since the triple missile strike carried out by the United States in cooperation with France and Britain, Israel has escalated its attacks against Iranian military bases in Syria: airfields and Iranian bases in Damascus, the Syrian Air Force T-4 military airbase, and Hezbollah militia units in the Quneitra area have

The June 12 image of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un signing an “agreement on denuclearization” in Singapore has provided Arab political discourse’s two competing narratives new tools to push their diametrically opposed characterizations of the future awaiting the Middle East. One view hails the meeting

The formation of a large opposition block and other electoral dynamics are clouding Erdogan’s longer-term political future.

The cartel’s latest meetings may solidify a Saudi-Russian axis on oil, and could portend future diplomatic cooperation and military sales as well.

For too long, U.S. policymakers have tailored their approach toward Cairo as if Washington were the only player in the sandbox.

When asked at a March 28th press conference whether he still favored pulling U.S. troops out of Syria, President Donald Trump responded to the question with the statement “I want to get out. I want to bring our troops back home. I want to start rebuilding our nation.” At a

THE ISLAMIC STATE is now largely defeated militarily, with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces taking the eastern bank of the Euphrates River and a mosaic of largely Iran- and Russia-supported Assad-regime forces taking areas west of the river. As anti-IS operations wind down and the Trump administration considers its options

Three ascending candidates are whittling away at Erdogan's base, posing a long-term challenge to his rule even if they can't unseat him in this election.

The president will probably become even more authoritarian in the coming months, knowing that a majority of citizens would vote him out in a fair election.

David Pollock’s thoughtful item on Chinese views of the Middle East reminded me of my periodic discussions with Chinese officials over the years on the same subject. Overall, China has a negative opinion of the U.S. role in the region—though Beijing’s views are sometimes nuanced and occasionally outright positive. Why

Among accusations of elections fraud and the burning of a warehouse storing half of Baghdad’s ballot boxes, Iraq’s electoral process appears to have experienced a dramatic challenge to its credibility. However, Iraqi voters’ disaffection with the polling process is longstanding and was openly expressed through a major boycott of the

Encouraging more liberal policies remains difficult when America’s Gulf partners believe certain reforms run counter to their security interests.

Using the money cut from UNRWA to restore electricity, water, and sewage treatment in Gaza could help prevent another conflict and reopen peace diplomacy.

Pending policy decisions on reimposing sanctions will give Washington opportunities to calibrate its arsenal of measures against illicit Iranian financial activity.

With little risk for the United States, making the offer would provide an opportunity to restate important non-nuclear demands and show the Iranian people their leaders’ true priorities.

By securing regional buy-in for a new peace plan before making it public, Washington has a much better chance of getting the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.