Middle East Watch
The Middle East sits at a strategic crossroads, connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia. Ongoing challenges, including Iran’s nuclear program; Saudi-Israeli normalization; rapid population growth; conflict and upheaval in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan; and a changing climate are shaking geopolitics far beyond these sun-scorched lands.
In this space, we will chronicle and assess the events that are shaping the region as well as discuss what role America and its allies should play in the twenty-first century.
The High Stakes of U.S.-Iran Talks
Should diplomacy collapse, Washington and Jerusalem would be positioned to justify military action against Iran as a last resort.
Stories from Middle East Watch
An America First Approach to Syria
We should accept that we cannot solve Syria’s problems, at least not right now, and so should not waste precious time and resources on local politics.
Understanding Turkey’s Role in the Russia-Ukraine War
Turkey sees the conflict as a test case for its ability to act independently of both Russia and the West while shaping major geopolitical outcomes. On the chessboard of Middle...
What Trump’s Latest Houthi Strike Really Means
The administration has a broader geopolitical agenda—one that includes countering China’s economic leverage, particularly Beijing’s reliance on Iranian oil. President Donald Trump, in his first week in office, pledged to...
Is Turkey Playing Both Sides of Sudan’s Civil War?
Ankara’s involvement in Sudan indicates its foreign policy is bereft of any values and willing to ignore sanctions intended to deter continued bloodshed.
What Does Israel Want With Syria?
As Syria faces continued conflict, Israel may be planning a wider confrontation with the new government. Israel is increasingly focused on developments in Syria. Over the last month, Israeli officials...
Oman Is Supporting The Houthis: It Should Be Held To Account
Oman cannot have it both ways—it cannot benefit from American friendship and assistance while enabling a crisis in the Middle East. A showdown may be brewing in the Middle East....
Is A New Middle East Forming?
While the region remains a powder keg in many ways, it is clear that regional elites are ready to focus on cooperation and development. A substantial amount of ink and...
What’s In The Arab Plan For Gaza?
If the Arab world acts decisively to sideline Hamas, the organization’s financial, logistical, and public support may erode significantly. The highly anticipated Egyptian vision for the future of Gaza was...
Israel’s Merkava Tanks Are Back In The West Bank
The West Bank has seen a marked increase in violence since the Iranian-backed Hamas carried out its terrorist attack into southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Bidding Farewell to the Middle East and Europe
America’s withdrawal from regions capable of maintaining their own security has been a long time coming. American president Donald Trump challenged the post-Cold War international system by insisting that U.S....
Is Donald Trump On The Brink Of Middle East Peace?
No one in the Middle East likes Trump’s plan to “own” Gaza. That may be the whole point.
Tehran’s Trump Trap
Iran is seeking to gain leverage while hoping that Washington will misread its own weakness and fear as goodwill and restraint. Tehran is setting a trap for the Trump administration....