Middle East and North Africa

Lebanon: Locked into escalation?

  • Julien Barnes-Dacey
  • Commentary

The collapse of Lebanon’s government has thrust the country into a deepening political crisis. The war in Syria and recent actions by Hezbollah also suggest that internal conflict may return to Lebanon.  

Nice Speech, Mr. President

  • Daniel Levy
  • Commentary

Obama said all the right things in Jerusalem, but what next? The visit has offered nothing new on the programmatic side, no plan for going forward.  

21 Mar

Roundtable discussion on Iran

  • ECFR Rome

ECFR and IAI hosted a debate on the nuclear talks with Iran. Aniseh Bassiri, Lapo Pistelli and Riccardo Alcaro discussed the results of the latest round of negotiations and analysed the strategic implications for Europe, Russia, US and China and the role of Iran in the region.  

21 Mar

Iraq, 10 years on: Looking back, looking forward

  • ECFR London

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Dr Toby Dodge, Hayder al-Koei and Daniel Levy will reflect on Iraq’s journey over the past ten years, widening concerns at the country’s current trajectory, as well as its regional influence

EU troops can still help in Mali

  • Richard Gowan
  • Commentary

A ‘plug-and-play' approach to peacekeeping lacks the glamour of a full-scale military intervention but it could be a cheaper and a more strategic approach for the EU to deal with the situation in Mali.  

Egypt: out of control?

  • Issandr El Amrani
  • Commentary

Egypt appears to be spinning out of control. The current crisis is a prolongation of the crisis that emerged late last year over a decree by President Morsi suspending some judicial decisions and giving himself additional powers, followed by the rush to approve a new constitution.