What to Do With U.S. Forces in the Persian Gulf
As the United States leaves Afghanistan, the question of troops in the Middle East to support the Afghan mission looms large.
The Qatar Blockade Is Over, but the Gulf Crisis Lives On
Efforts at regional reconciliation have done nothing to address the core differences that divide Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Qatar Is Using the Palestinians to Assert Its Regional Influence
It probably won’t work out well for either party.
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Why Biden could lose the left, the peril of persuasion in the Big Tech age, and old rivals join forces in Kashmir.
The Pitiful Endgame of Saudi Arabia’s Qatar Blockade
As the Trump administration winds down, Riyadh is trying—and failing—to cut its losses on a failed regional policy.
How ‘Free Zones’ Became the Middle Eastern Diplomacy Tool of Choice
The special economic zones are meant to quietly bring countries together before more public realignments. But do they?
Netanyahu Can’t Catch a Break
The Israeli prime minister is trying to coast on his reputation as a grandmaster of national security, diplomacy, and economics—but it isn’t working.
How Israel Emerged as an Unlikely Peacemaker in the Middle East
By playing a productive role mediating between Qatar and its foes, the country has carved out a position as the one actor that could ease regional tensions.
Middle East Autocrats Target South Asian Workers
Hundreds of Nepalis and others have been deported under cover of the pandemic.
Migrant Workers Can’t Afford a Lockdown
As Qatar races to complete construction projects ahead of the 2022 World Cup, a small army of workers from South Asia are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ilhan Omar and Jared Kushner’s Latest Accuser Has Shady Saudi Ties
Right-wing media has seized on the testimony of a Canadian businessman with a tangled history.
The Taliban Have a Road Map for Peace
A translation of the statement from the Taliban and Afghan officials.
How the Gulf States Got in Bed With Israel and Forgot About the Palestinian Cause
Benjamin Netanyahu is building ties with anti-Iran Arab leaders from Riyadh to Doha and betting that a peace deal is no longer a necessary prerequisite for normalizing diplomatic ties.
For Somaliland and Djibouti, Will New Friends Bring Benefits?
Interest in the Horn of Africa from foreign powers has always been a double-edged sword.
Trump Will Regret Changing His Mind About Qatar
The United States has the leverage needed to prevent Qatar from cozying up to Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood—if it’s willing to use it.
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