Policy Analysis

More than two months into the faltering invasion of Ukraine, Russia appears to be recalculating its approach, resorting to a tactic Syrians are all too familiar with: 'Ants Crawl', or a scorched earth policy.

Political and military developments in Syria ensure that the country faces a fragmented future.

As Gulf states perceive the repercussions of the Arab Spring, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the potential disintegration of the Egyptian army as existential threats to their regimes, they have sustained the deteriorating Egyptian economy to maintain what they see as the sole guarantor of regional stability.

China’s presence in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan is expanding rapidly against a backdrop of China’s growing presence across the Middle East.

During 2022, Israel and Turkey have had friendly exchanges that suggest serious steps are being taken towards rapprochement.

While the world reacted with shock to Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine since the February 24 invasion, understanding Russia’s role in Syria makes Putin’s actions in Ukraine look more like a pattern than an anomaly.

Mapping Syrians’ attitudes towards Russia’s presence in the country demonstrates a variety of perspectives, indicating the mixed record of Russia’s soft power efforts.

Erdogan's plan to build residential villages in Syria is an important step for Syrian refugees. Relevant parties should help bring the project to fruition and ensure its longevity.

As the president erodes Tunisia’s democratic norms, independent civil institutions have become a major target.

For decades, the Iranian government has failed to address the country’s water shortages, causing social unrest that will only intensify if the problems continue.

Lebanese Shia, Sunnis, and Christians are increasingly divided on the United States and Russia, while China maintains cross-sectarian favorability and ties with Iran have jumped in importance among Sunnis.

Turkey’s continued invasions in the KRI are part of Turkey’s broader regional strategy and expansion.

While Arabs polled in March see Russia as responsible for spiking food prices, frustration with prior governance failures and economic challenges are also evident in certain Arab states with struggling economies.

A recent poll indicates that Egyptians see ties with Moscow as more important than ties with the U.S., despite opposition for Putin's war in Ukraine.

A new public opinion poll in Jordan, commissioned by The Washington Institute and conducted in March, documents a surprisingly solid popular rejection of Russia’s “military action” in Ukraine.

Understanding the mistakes that led to the Russian invasion offers critical lessons for future Iran policy.

Russian narratives are increasingly suffusing Arabic social media depictions of the war in Ukraine.

Some reject the idea of a potential ‘ISIS-ification’ of southern Iraq, but radicalization can occur anywhere when the social tensions are sufficiently severe. Southern Iraq certainly faces this dilemma.

Recognizing and addressing the challenges in people-to-people relations is a vital step in furthering the efforts of the Abraham Accords.

Eritrea is the only African country that voted against the United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding that Russia withdraw its military forces from Ukraine—a strong statement of support for Russia.