The Stimson Center’s Middle East Program seeks to inform policy discussions on the Middle East by leveraging regional expertise, convening dialogues, and producing rigorous, non-partisan analysis and scholarship. The program assesses regional geopolitical developments with a focus on conflict management, regional security, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Through sustained engagement with policymakers, scholars, and subject-matter experts, the program aims to advance practical policy thinking rooted in on-the-ground realities.
A core pillar of the program is the convening of high-level Track 1.5 and Track 2.0 regional dialogues that bring together policymakers, academics, and experts to conduct joint analysis, discuss de-escalation processes, and advance regional cooperation. The program also organizes issue-area roundtables to develop impactful policy recommendations informed by global lessons learned and regional experience. The program’s analysis and policy outputs are directly informed by the insights generated through these dialogues and roundtables.
Concern over the reliability of U.S. security guarantees prior to Israel’s strike on Qatar facilitated the strategic rapprochement between Cairo and Riyadh
October 30, 2025
Many of the groups are supported by Israeli authorities who see Palestinian fragmentation as a way to both contain Hamas and to perpetuate Israel’s occupation
October 27, 2025
The reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, Gulf-Turkey energy partnerships, and the Middle Corridor expansion point to an emerging infrastructure network that diminishes bottlenecks and empowers regional middle players
October 23, 2025
A visit to Moscow by the Syrian president followed months of preliminary contacts
October 21, 2025
Even if the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds, Israel’s Houthi problem is unlikely to disappear
October 16, 2025
If the accord survives its initial stages, Iranian hard-liners could face a stark choice: support the peace agreement, redefining Iran's regional role, or oppose it, risking alienation from Palestinian allies and even more diminished regional influence
October 15, 2025
What began as a series of scattered corruption cases and allegations of procedural irregularities has evolved into a sprawling legal campaign that threatens the CHP’s organizational survival, leadership legitimacy, and electoral viability
October 9, 2025
A temporary ceasefire that returns the hostages and relieves the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza would be a major achievement
October 7, 2025
