The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is undergoing unprecedented, historic, complex, and rapid transformations. These changes, both violent and peaceful, are reshaping the relationships between state and society and among countries, shifting the regional balance of power and influence among regional rivals, and causing fragmentation and polarization.
Stimson’s MENA program, which was relaunched in 2021, is recognized for its role as a bridge-builder between conflicting parties. By providing a platform and safe environment for influential, well-connected experts and officials from the region and beyond to engage in confidential, complex and constructive conversations, the program helps find common ground and develop solutions to the crises that destabilize the region.
In addition to implementing Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy projects, the MENA Program provides thought leadership to policymakers and the media, and academic analysis of regional affairs.
The ISIS-K attack on Moscow reflects the group’s ambitions to hit closer and more vulnerable adversaries rather than focus on enemies abroad like the U.S.
March 25, 2024
The European focus on airdrops and sea deliveries risks shifting attention away from the leverage the EU has over Israel but declines to wield
March 22, 2024
Ebrahim Raisi is only the latest Iranian president to fall afoul of Supreme Leader Khamenei for poor performance in office
March 21, 2024
Syria is still too shattered by civil war to do much to bolster Hamas beyond using powerful rhetoric in support of the Palestinian cause
March 19, 2024
Nonproliferation experts are scrambling for new ideas to avoid what some have called a binary choice between bombing Iran and Iran with a bomb
March 15, 2024
An attack on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul signals a renewed threat from ISIS-K, which is seeking new targets outside Taliban-controlled Afghanistan
March 14, 2024
While Saudi Arabia may not be able to develop complex weapon systems, it could design and produce light arms, drones, and armored vehicles
March 11, 2024
Moscow is in need of missiles and might be more forthcoming in response to Iran’s requests for high-tech Russian weaponry
March 6, 2024
Copyright The Henry L. Stimson Center