Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
There is no question that Washington’s position in the broader Middle East was dented by the fiasco in Afghanistan. Ultimately, however, U.S. assets in the region are still unrivaled: the United States’ political and economic influence, hard power, soft power, embrace of multilateral diplomacy, and leadership of a rules-based global order continue to give it the upper hand over all its rivals.
Saudi Arabia’s refusal to deal with Lebanon represents a political opportunity cost in its rivalry with Iran.
Regional and international actors are accumulating cards to engage in a new Middle Eastern power game.
Mustapha al-Kadhimi’s promotion of regional dialogue allows him to address Iraq’s many vulnerabilities.
The ongoing Saudi-Emirati spat over oil output reflects a wider change in regional power dynamics.
A recent dispute at an OPEC+ meeting, has exposed the growing strains between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Border crossings and cross-border connections have become essential components in the growing regional contest for influence in Iraq.
Border markets on Yemen’s northwestern border with Saudi Arabia gave rise to a distinct economic system and bridged communities. Yet the war in Yemen has either destroyed them or forced their closure.
The complex relations between the state and Islamic institutions in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco shed light on evolving governance and have important implications for Western policies of countering violent extremism and conflict resolution.
Conflict and instability in the Middle East show no signs of abating. Join us for a discussion featuring Paul Haenle, Karim Sadjadpour, and He Wenping on recent developments in China-Middle East relations and their implications for the United States.
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