The new power couple: Russia and Iran in the Middle East
Joint military operations in Syria have brought Russia and Iran relations closer than at any point since World War II
Middle East and North Africa
ECFR Clips: Is decentralisation the future for Syria?
Author and Syria expert Jihad Yazigi talks about his policy brief 'No going back: Why decentralisation is the future for Syria'. He argues that decentralisation…
No going back: Why decentralisation is the future for Syria
Decentralisation offers one of the few ways to hold the country together, albeit in a looser form
Turkey joins the fray: What the Turkish invasion means for the Syrian civil war
The intervention signals an unexpected convergence of a significant number of actors who have found common cause in working against the Kurds
Iran’s evolutionary road to reform
Reformists leaders have disappointed hopes for change before. Yet Hassan Rouhani benefits from a unique opportunity
The risks of deeper engagement in Mali
The war in Mali continues to expand, even as the country’s peace process stumbles ever onward.
Can a regional process unlock Israeli-Palestinian peace?
If Arab states remain committed to increased cooperation with Israel, they should explore how these growing ties could be leveraged to advance Palestinian sovereignty
Is the Iran-Saudi cold war heating up?
Each must do more to avoid interfering in the other’s domestic secu
Turkey’s failed coup could be good news for international action on Syria
Turkey's constrained military and inward focus could soften its 'Assad must go' policy.
While Kuwait peace talks smoulder, Yemen burns
High-level political talks cannot be the only focus for the international community if Yemen is to have any chance of recovery