Policy Analysis

Now that the operation has begun, bipartisan congressional threats to sever U.S. military assistance because of humanitarian concerns will be tested.

As the Iraqi Kurds reach out to Russia, the Kremlin’s sway over their politics and energy resources is growing.

Despite significant logistical and diplomatic challenges, liberating the port is vital to providing more humanitarian relief and meeting coalition war aims.

The regime’s most vulnerable point is its precarious banking system, whose persistent mismanagement, capital shortfalls, and lack of transparency have already sparked public protests.

A new government, delayed tax hikes, and extra Gulf aid can alleviate unrest for now, but such measures cannot mask the kingdom’s fundamental need for unpopular economic reforms.

Russia’s World Cup hospitality toward Egypt is the latest example of how Putin curries favor in the Middle East via Chechnya.

Pyongyang has long threatened U.S. regional allies and interests with military support for terrorists, militias, and hostile regimes. Can a potential bilateral deal sever these supply lines?

While a cabinet reshuffle in Tunisia would appease some parties and civil society groups, ushering in a new government would do little to address the deeper challenges facing the country’s democratic transition. In recent weeks, Tunisia's government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, has faced growing calls from

Curbing Iran's foreign meddling and ending the cycle of destructive fighting will require greater political engagement by the Trump administration.

According to one Kurdish proverb, “the Kurd loses at the negotiating table in hours what he has gained on the battlefield over years.” Indeed, although in recent years Syrian Kurdish organizations have demonstrated their military effectiveness in the war against the Islamic State, they have so far been unable to

As Washington mulls sanctions on Asaib Ahl al-Haq and similar groups, it should mind the volatility of Baghdad’s near-term political situation and the questionable efficacy of ‘wing’ distinctions.

As the Gulf's cohesion continues to erode, could a united political front composed of Saudi Arabia and the UAE be the glue the region needs?

If conducted in a transparent and accountable fashion, the process could infuse some much-needed confidence into the country’s democratic process, despite the risks.

Given Tehran’s threat to scale up its enrichment efforts, how far might its nuclear program go post-JCPOA, and what lessons might it draw from U.S. discussions with Pyongyang?

Today, Jordan’s government is facing backlash after a long period of corruption labeled a “deep state” system. Citizens are organizing demonstrations rejecting federal decisions to increase taxes and impose further strict rules on the people that would negatively affect their livelihoods. Recently, some political figures have used the term "deep

Political conflict in the Islamic world began between two schools headed by the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. A bloody fight for power led to a conflict that still persists today in the form of the Sunni-Shia divide and the Turkish-Arab-Iranian conflict. Defining the current

Next week, President Rouhani of Iran will visit China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the margins of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Two weeks ago, coincidentally, I spoke in Shanghai at a mid-sized meeting billed as “the first conference on Syria ever held in

Hezbollah is an organic part of the IRGC-QF, so its purported desire to distance itself from Iran would only mean its end.

The feuding NATO allies have apparently agreed on a concrete roadmap for rolling back the Kurds, but broader strategic cooperation would require them to overcome tall political obstacles.

The raft of new appointments reflects the crown prince’s vision of transforming the economy, but a simultaneous statement about recent arrests shows the limits on political freedom.