Middle East

The Middle East Program heads CSIS’s work on the region, which analyzes a wide range of political, security, and socioeconomic issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, with special attention to the ways that changes in the Middle East and North Africa have effects beyond the region.

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Saudi Arabia Steps Out

The recent China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran represents a new era of Saudi diplomacy, shifting away from passive agreement with the United States and toward greater independent engagement in the region and beyond. 

Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — March 22, 2023

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Jon B. Alterman

Jon B. Alterman

Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program
Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

Senior Vice President; Harold Brown Chair; and Director, International Security Program

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Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Syrians Need Not Apply

Amid a worsening economic crisis, Lebanon is facing yet another shortage: a lack of foreign workers to work as maids and nannies in Lebanese homes.

Podcast Episode — November 8, 2022

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

COP 27 Preview: Electrifying the Middle East with Ali al-Saffar

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Ali al-Saffar, the Middle East and North Africa program manager at the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Lubna Yousef — November 1, 2022

CSIS Babel
The Truth of the Matter

Saudi Oil Moves

CSIS’s Joseph Majkut and Jon Alterman join the podcast to deconstruct Saudi Arabia’s recent push to slash oil production and what it means

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz , Joseph Majkut , and Jon B. Alterman — October 28, 2022

CSIS the truth of the matter
Beyond Aid

Beyond the Camera: Waad and Dr. Hamza Al-Kateab

Kirsten Gelsdorf speaks with Waad and Dr. Hamza al-Kateab, filmmakers and frontline humanitarian responders to the siege on Aleppo in Syria.

Podcast Episode — October 26, 2022

CSIS Beyond Aid
Babel: Translating the Middle East

A Mezze: Meat Market

Many countries have large trade deficits with oil producers in the Middle East, but Brazil is deep in surplus: it isn’t hungry for oil imports, but the region's consumers are hungry for its meat.

Podcast Episode — October 25, 2022

CSIS Babel
The Truth of the Matter

Russia’s Missile Plan

CSIS’s Tom Karako joins the podcast to discuss Russia’s missile arsenal, what they are prepared to do with it, and the implications of Iran’s role.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Tom Karako — October 21, 2022

CSIS the truth of the matter

On the Hook: How Egypt's Military Outcompetes Local Fish Farmers

Egypt's fish farmers are struggling for various reasons, but farmers say the real culprit lies beneath the surface: they are competing against the Egyptian military, which has become one of the largest players in the industry.

Newsletter by Caleb Harper — October 19, 2022

The Political Reality inside Metaverse Cities

The United Arab Emirates and South Korean governments are among the first wave of national governments investing in state-sponsored metaverse platforms.

Critical Questions by Zhanna L. Malekos Smith — October 17, 2022