The MENA Region and Europe after 7th October, 2023: Impact and Policy Options
The events following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s massive military response have upended long-standing assumptions that the conflict can be indefinitely managed. The prevailing strategy of accommodating Israeli policies while sidelining Palestinian rights has collapsed under the weight of unprecedented violence in Gaza and the West Bank, driven by […]
Europe’s Strategic Dilemma: Responding to MENA’s Transformations
Regarding the EU’s ‘strategic dilemma,’ the tentative conclusion appears to be that there is little dilemma left: the EU has moved from a foreign policy of dialogue in the 1990s to one called ‘principled pragmatism’ in 2016, to a policy that appears to be mostly driven by pragmatism and self-interest, particularly in the domains of […]
Strengthening Civil Society in Euro-MENA Relations Amid a Changing Global Order
In 2016, Volker Perthes, a German foreign policy expert on MENA, predicted that Donald Trump’s first presidency would weaken liberal values, cause a decline in multilateral cooperation, and a shift towards economic nationalism. Eight years later these anticipated shifts have materialized, with the U.S. prioritizing transactional diplomacy, sidelining allies in key negotiations, and embracing protectionist […]
Refugees, Humanitarian Challenges, and Shared Responsibilities
The Middle East remains at the center of global displacement crises, which have been driven by protracted conflicts in Palestine, Yemen, Syria, and Sudan. Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, and North African states such as Libya and Tunisia are all facing mounting challenges in accommodating refugees amidst dwindling international support. Meanwhile, many European states continue to […]
Syria’s Transition: Domestic Challenges and Regional Implications
The rapid shift in Syria’s political landscape has triggered a fast-moving realignment of international and regional stakeholders. Following more than a decade of protracted conflict, Ahmad Sharaa, leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former splinter faction of al-Qaeda, has assumed the presidency. His transitional government, while facing internal instability, has received backing from Türkiye, […]