Middle East and North Africa

Susi Dennison on global strategy

  • Podcast
  • ECFR Reports

Ahead of a paper that ECFR will publish shortly on global strategy, Susi Dennison introduces the paper's headline arguments about Europe's place in a…

Regional instability and souring US-Saudi relations

  • Alexander Kouttab
  • Commentary

The continued souring of relations between the US and Saudi Arabia has the potential to radically reshape local geopolitical dynamics. But not one regional actor or outside power appears strong enough to dictate the pace or direction of change

The Gulf and sectarianism

  • Fatima Ayub
  • Publication

How sectarian agendas shape the politics of the Middle East

A Westphalia moment at Geneva?

  • Fatima Ayub
  • Commentary

The most problematic component of political and strategic competition in the MENA region has been the cultivation and manipulation of sectarian agendas. The Geneva meetings over Iran's nuclear programme, however, may prove to be the beginning of the end to the region’s most troublesome conflict

French resistance to a deal with Iran: un petit problème?

  • Ellie Geranmayeh
  • Commentary

Fingers are pointing to the French for stalling a joint statement between the E3+3 and Iran over its nuclear programme. But there's still room to remain positive about the pace at which diplomacy can come to fruition in these talks