The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

A full-scale regional war could add new pressures in an already challenging environment. In a new article in Foreign Affairs, Assaf Orion explains why Israel should rethink its security strategy.

Israel and the Coming Long War To Defeat Iran’s resistance axis, the IDF needs a new strategy—and a unified country.

If the U.S. believes UNIFIL can contribute to deferring or preventing another Hezbollah-Israel war, then it needs to take several steps to improve the force's usefulness, write Institute experts David Schenker and Assaf Orion. These include:

➡️Pressure Beirut
➡️Hold the LAF to a higher standard
➡️Rebuild trust in UNIFIL
➡️Add capabilities
➡️Reduce the force
➡️Improve the reports
➡️Review the mandate more frequently

The Pros and Cons of Salvaging (or Ditching) UNIFIL Given the current lack of viable security alternatives on the Israel-Lebanon border, Washington may try to patch up UNIFIL’s many deficiencies—but it must do so with a clear understanding that the force has repeatedly failed its mission and squandered its credibility.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the signing of C-SIPA. Watch as two veteran ambassadors discuss bilateral efforts in the security, economic, and technology sectors, noting the agreement’s potential as a template for other countries in the region.

U.S.-Bahrain Ties One Year After the Strategic Partnership Agreement Two veteran ambassadors discuss bilateral efforts in the security, economic, and technology sectors, noting the agreement’s potential as a template for other countries in the region.

Israel’s current approach seems to be playing into Khamenei’s hands. A new Foreign Policy article by Amb. Dennis Ross explains what Netanyahu should do instead.

Netanyahu Is Playing Into Khamenei’s Hands Iran’s leaders are playing a long game; Israel’s leaders are not.

Tomorrow will mark one year since Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Bahraini crown prince and prime minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa signed C-SIPA, offering a fresh model for future U.S. cooperation with other Mideast countries in the security, economic, and technology sectors., writes Institute expert Elizabeth Dent.

One Year of the U.S.-Bahrain C-SIPA: Signs of Progress, Regional Potential The progress the two partners have made through C-SIPA offers a fresh model for future U.S. cooperation with other Middle East countries in the security, economic, and technology sectors.

Two decades ago, the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement was signed. The MAFTA was motivated by both strategic and economic interests. Due to the sectors Morocco has chosen to develop, the agreement may never truly fulfill its potential, but Washington can continue to use it to bolster the bilateral relationship, encourage reform, and open up other markets in Africa, writes Institute expert Sabina Henneberg.

The U.S.-Morocco FTA After Twenty Years The agreement has not led to the expected levels of economic growth, but Washington can still use it to bolster the bilateral relationship, encourage reform, and open up other markets in Africa.

The jihadist challenge has grown increasingly complex over the years, evolving from a focus on safe havens and alternatively governed spaces to actual governance and statecraft. Tune in on Wednesday, September 18 at 11am EDT for a must-watch webcast with Matthew Bamber-Zryd, Devorah Margolin, and Aaron Zelin on the current jihadist landscape.

Understanding Jihadist Governance: Contending with a Diverse Problem Set Join us for an expert webcast exploring the complex and varied set of challenges facing jihadist groups that govern territory and the established states that oppose them. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

While U.S. officials continue their efforts to broker Israeli-Saudi normalization, the clock keeps ticking for a potential byproduct: a U.S. defense agreement with the kingdom. Andrew Clemmensen and Abdullah Hayek explain why despite the uncertainty of an Israeli-Saudi deal, Washington and Riyadh should still seek ways to enhance military and defense cooperation.

U.S.-Saudi Defense Cooperation: Next Steps Even if an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal proves unattainable for now, Washington and Riyadh should still seek ways to enhance military and defense cooperation in order to advance common interests and prepare for future security challenges.

What can we learn from from the Sounion salvage crisis in the Red Sea? Institute expert Noam Raydan explains that the Sounion incident holds several immediate lessons for the United States and other actors:

➡️ Avoid salvage delays and grant sanctions exemption
➡️ Prepare for technical and force-protection challenges
➡️ Prevent the Houthis from “returning to the scene”
➡️ Counter the Houthi spin
➡️ Consider escorts for Israel-linked ships

Five Lessons from the Sounion Salvage Crisis in the Red Sea The United States and its partners should take several immediate steps to avoid an environmental disaster, counter the Houthi spin about the incident, and prevent the group from creating other hazmat emergencies in the Red Sea.

Washington, DC – Souhire Medini, a diplomat in the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MFA), and Lt. Col. James E. Shepard, an active-duty officer in the U.S. Air Force, have joined the Institute as Visiting Fellows for the 2024-2025 year.

Read the full press release: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/press-room/press-release/air-force-officer-and-french-diplomat-join-institute-visiting

In the short term, a second Tebboune presidency would be a win-win for Washington and Algiers. In the long-term, however, this could raise bilateral bumps down the road. In particular, issues that have challenged the partnership for decades could continue, including Algeria’s unwillingness to admit that Russia’s actions in North Africa and the Sahel have a negative impact in the country and the region, write Sabina Henneberg and Souhire Medini.

What Would Another Tebboune Victory Mean for U.S.-Algeria Relations? The incumbent president is set to win another term, but shifting opposition politics at home and geostrategic realities abroad could raise bilateral bumps down the road.

On September 10, Jordanians will go to the polls to elect the kingdom’s twentieth parliament. This election, as Institute expert Ghaith al-Omari describes, was envisioned as showcasing the seriousness of Jordan’s political modernization.

Jordan’s Election Is a Positive Sign Amid Gaza War Tensions Despite wartime security and economic challenges, the kingdom is holding its first election since a modernization plan was formulated in 2021.

A recent Brandeis University survey found that almost one-third of college students feel hostility towards Israel. How can we put the Brandeis survey in context? What drives the unique animosity toward Israel? And how do some controversial academic theories play a role in shaping and informing these movements?

On this episode of Decision Points, Leonard Saxe and Uriel Abulof join David Makovsky to bring a layer of data driven insights and research analysis to the conversation.

Back to School: Lessons from New Study on Israel and Campus Narratives | Decision Points with Leonard Saxe and Uriel Abulof

TODAY: September 13 will mark the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement between the United States and Bahrain, intended to strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation across a variety of defense, economic, and technological sectors. Tune in at 11am ET for a fascinating webcast on C-SIPA and its impact on the U.S.-Bahrain relationship.

U.S.-Bahrain Ties One Year After the Strategic Partnership Agreement Join us for a conversation featuring the U.S. and Bahraini ambassadors to each other's countries as they discuss the bilateral security and economic relationships one year after the signing of a major agreement between the two nations. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Monday, Sept...

"Under a second Tebboune presidency, Algeria will likely be keen to continue deepening its engagement with the United States and positioning itself as Europe’s main energy supplier," write Sabina Henneberg and Souhire Medini.

What Would Another Tebboune Victory Mean for U.S.-Algeria Relations? The incumbent president is set to win another term, but shifting opposition politics at home and geostrategic realities abroad could raise bilateral bumps down the road.

On September 10, Jordanians will go to the polls to elect the kingdom’s parliament. While the results of the election will not change Jordan's foreign policy or security posture, they will provide Washington with an important indicator of the state of domestic politics in this important regional ally, writes Institute expert Ghaith al-Omari.

Jordan’s Election Is a Positive Sign Amid Gaza War Tensions Despite wartime security and economic challenges, the kingdom is holding its first election since a modernization plan was formulated in 2021.

On August 23, the government of Cyprus gave Chevron three months’ notice of expulsion from their arrangement to exploit the Aphrodite offshore natural gas field. How did the deal arrive at this potential dead end, and which proposals seem mostly likely to produce the best suitor for Aphrodite? Institute expert Simon Henderson explains.

East Med Politics May Further Delay Cyprus Gas The island has objected to Chevron’s export proposals with Egypt and might look for other partners.

"Instead of another civil war with armed groups, this war is being fought over Libya’s significant wealth—especially control of the central bank and oil production," writes Benjamin Fishman in Al Majalla.

Banks Not Bullets: A New War Front Opens Up in Libya Previous civil war combatants are now fighting a financial and resource war over the country’s vast wealth, but Washington and UNSMIL can still exert more leverage than other players if they so choose.

Check out Noam Raydan and Farzin Nadimi's map on the recent maritime attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including the attack on container ship Groton, oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, and the recent Saudi tanker incident.

Tracking Maritime Attacks in the Middle East Since 2019 Last updated: September 4, 2024

September 13 will mark the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement between the United States and Bahrain. Tune in on Monday, September 9 at 11am ET for a must-watch webcast on U.S.-Bahrain ties one year after their strategic partnership agreement.

U.S.-Bahrain Ties One Year After the Strategic Partnership Agreement Join us for a conversation featuring the U.S. and Bahraini ambassadors to each other's countries as they discuss the bilateral security and economic relationships one year after the signing of a major agreement between the two nations. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Monday, Sept...

On August 28, news emerged about a widespread political surveillance campaign involving the office of Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Institute expert Michael Knights explains why the surveillance scandal should come as no surprise given past warnings about the politicization of Iraq’s Iraqi National Intelligence Service.

Iraq’s Watergate and the Fallout for U.S. Relations The politicized corruption of the country’s best intelligence agency has exploded into a major eavesdropping scandal directed from the prime minister’s office, and Washington should adjust bilateral intelligence sharing accordingly.

Historically, weapons bans have proven to be a fickle tool for U.S. policy, but this time, the American ban on offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia worked. Why? According to Institute experts Elizabeth Dent and Grant Rumley, the ban worked because it was aimed at altering a specific behavior—in this case, ending the war in Yemen and preventing civilian casualties.

How the U.S. Used Arms Sales to Shift Saudi Behavior Weapons bans have proven to be a fickle tool historically, so why did they work in Riyadh’s case?

In 2004, the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement was signed in an effort to improve bilateral commercial relations. While the benefits of the deal are quantifiable, a persistent trade imbalance indicates that the agreement has not reached its full economic potential, writes Institute expert Sabina Henneberg.

The U.S.-Morocco FTA After Twenty Years The agreement has not led to the expected levels of economic growth, but Washington can still use it to bolster the bilateral relationship, encourage reform, and open up other markets in Africa.

On August 21, Houthi forces launched multiple attacks against the Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sounion in the southern Red Sea. To avert an environmental disaster, the ship needs to be moved away from its current location and into a safe port. Today, the salvage operation is facing challenges. Institute expert Noam Raydan explains that there are five lessons to be learned from this crisis.

Five Lessons from the Sounion Salvage Crisis in the Red Sea The United States and its partners should take several immediate steps to avoid an environmental disaster, counter the Houthi spin about the incident, and prevent the group from creating other hazmat emergencies in the Red Sea.

"Hamas efforts to set the West Bank ablaze have long been backed by Iran and Hezbollah," writes Neomi Neumann.

Prioritizing the West Bank Amid Escalation and Deterioration Israel’s most significant military operation in the territory since the second intifada highlights the growing danger of a new front opening alongside the Gaza war.