Although security cooperation tends to get the headlines, the two countries have been quietly pursuing other initiatives that could provide a desperately needed boost to Egypt’s trade, tourism, and energy sectors. On October 18, Ynet news reported that Egypt and Israel were planning to pursue joint economic projects after years of cold relations on that… Keep reading →
Two longtime veterans of American military operations in Iraq share their assessments of the campaign against the Islamic State as Iraqi forces prepare to liberate the city of Mosul. On September 22, Brig. Gen. William F. Mullen III, USMC, and Daniel Green addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mullen, the commanding general of Marine Air… Keep reading →
The two countries appear to be compartmentalizing their shared and divergent interests in Syria and Iraq, but such an approach is highly vulnerable to unexpected military incidents and other factors. Turkish and Iranian officials have conducted a number of high-level bilateral visits recently, suggesting that the two countries are drawing closer after a period of… Keep reading →
The episode gives Moscow a great excuse to be uncooperative, which it may have planned to be anyway, but providing clearer information could nevertheless help further the coalition’s goals. Note: Click on map for high-resolution version. On September 17, planes from the U.S.-led coalition in Syria attacked a target inside the city of Deir al-Zour,… Keep reading →
The costly siege has spurred Iran to withdraw or relocate certain IRGC units, but this is unlikely to hurt the Assad coalition’s strategy in Aleppo so long as Hezbollah and other Shiite militias remain willing to fight there. The besieged city of Aleppo has come to symbolize the sufferings of a Syrian civilian population caught… Keep reading →
On August 2, Wa’el Alzayat, Stephen J. Rapp, and Ben Taub addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Alzayat is the senior policy advisor on Iraq and Syria to U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations Samantha Power, and a lecturer at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Rapp, the former U.S. ambassador-at-large for… Keep reading →
In deciding whether to formally prohibit plane sales that already seem commercially infeasible, Washington should consider one question: if the Islamic Republic is going to shoot itself in the foot, why refuse it the gun? In the continuing debate about the proposed Boeing and Airbus plane sales to Iran, the focus has been on whether… Keep reading →
After years of foreign policy setbacks, Ankara is trying to mend fences with Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Russia, and the potential implications for the United States are mostly beneficial — assuming the Turks can actually pull it off. On June 29, Turkey and Israel are expected to approve a reconciliation agreement that will normalize… Keep reading →
The deputy crown prince’s first solo trip to Washington confirms his preeminence in the Saudi hierarchy but could spur pushback from royal rivals. On June 13, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, known as MbS, arrived in the United States for a visit that will likely include New York and the west coast as well as Washington.… Keep reading →
Two Washington Institute experts share their findings from recent visits to Russia, where they discussed a wide range of regional issues with current and former officials, leading analysts, and other citizens. In May, the authors conducted separate trips to Russia — Ms. Borshchevskaya on an orientation visit and Ambassador Jeffrey as part of the Dartmouth-Kettering… Keep reading →
