Foreign Policy Blogs

Middle East & North Africa

Iran’s Election Offers Voters Only a Rubber Stamp

Iran’s Election Offers Voters Only a Rubber Stamp

The Iranian president holds little real authority since the supreme leader remains the final authority on all matters of state.

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Israel PM candidate: “Biggest Crisis since the Time of Mohammad”

Israel PM candidate: “Biggest Crisis since the Time of Mohammad”

Former Israeli defense minister Ya’alon and Prime Minister hopeful outlined his view of the developments that shape the Middle East today.

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Partition Remains An Option Even After Aleppo

Partition Remains An Option Even After Aleppo

Neither a Putin-Assad hegemony nor an inclusive transitional government of a united Syria are solutions after Aleppo. Partition is the solution.

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Trump Administration Puts Iran “on Notice” & Issues Sanctions. What’s Next? 

Trump Administration Puts Iran “on Notice” & Issues Sanctions. What’s Next? 

What is the nature of Tehran’s aggressions and what are possible non-military policy options for containing the threat posed by the Iranian regime?

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Has the U.S.-Saudi Relationship Outlived Its Usefulness?

Has the U.S.-Saudi Relationship Outlived Its Usefulness?

A public radio debate raises questions about the nature of the U.S.-Saudi relationship and whether it is time for a change.

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Takeaways from the Trump-Netanyahu Meeting

Takeaways from the Trump-Netanyahu Meeting

Netanyahu and Trump met yesterday. Here are the takeaways from the main issues that were covered following their short press conference.

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The ‘Shia Crescent’ and Middle East Geopolitics

The ‘Shia Crescent’ and Middle East Geopolitics

Saudi Arabia and Iran project influence using their interpretations of Islam and the politicization of sectarian identities as instruments of foreign policy.

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Israel’s Impending Demographic Reality

Israel’s Impending Demographic Reality

Israel can be Jewish, it can be democratic, and it can be in control of Greater Israel. But it can only choose two out of three.

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Trump and al-Sisi Set to Launch Strategic Rapprochement

Trump and al-Sisi Set to Launch Strategic Rapprochement

Egypt’s strongman President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi could emerge as one of the potential winners of Trump’s foreign policy strategy in the Middle East.

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Despite a Neighborhood on Fire, Jordan Remains Stable

Despite a Neighborhood on Fire, Jordan Remains Stable

As the media focuses on the many crises in the Middle East, Jordan’s capacity to endure the instability next door is noteworthy.

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Libyan Oil: A Bittersweet Return?

Libyan Oil: A Bittersweet Return?

Libyan oil coming back online could jeopardize a fragile production cut deal orchestrated by producers cartel OPEC to rebalance the global oil supply glut.

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#IsraelIsBurning

#IsraelIsBurning

While fires raged, Palestinian firefighters stood alongside Israel in fighting the flames. On social media they were but a footnote.

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Yemen: A Regional Problem With Regional Consequences

Yemen: A Regional Problem With Regional Consequences

Militarily, NATO should stay out of Yemen. But the Alliance should mitigate the effects of the conflict at sea where international shipping could be affected.

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Sunni-Shia, or Saudi-Iran Discord?

Sunni-Shia, or Saudi-Iran Discord?

Toxic polemics disseminated mainly by those loyal to Saudi Arabia and Iran made a full-blown Sunni-Shia civil war across the Muslim world a matter of time.

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Middle East Christians and the 2016 U.S. Elections

Middle East Christians and the 2016 U.S. Elections

The new U.S. president will have to address the issue of religious minorities in the Middle East, from humanitarian and geostrategic perspectives.

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