The Middle East & North Africa
A mere spectator? Europe and the imploding Middle East
09 October 2024
The conflict in the Middle East is expanding. Thus far, Europeans have played a minor role, but they might be able to help prevent the situation getting worse.
Europe should look to the West Bank
06 February 2024
The misery of the Gaza war threatens to spill over into a broader conflict. If they want to avoid escalation and advance peace, Europeans need a serious plan for the West Bank.
Europe and the Gaza conflict
20 October 2023
Europe is divided on the Israel-Hamas conflict and has few good options to deal with it. But Europeans won’t be able to escape the conflict’s consequences.
Europe and a new Middle East
05 October 2023
A new Middle East may be emerging as tensions thaw and US influence wanes. Europe needs different policies to deal with a changing region.
Europe and the Iran nuclear threat
06 February 2023
Efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have stalled and Tehran is closer than ever to having nuclear weapons. Europe needs a new strategy.
Europe should not forget the challenges to its south
22 September 2022
Europeans are rightly focusing on the war in Ukraine, but they should not think they can insulate themselves from what happens to their south.
Boiling dry: How the EU can help prevent instability in the water-scarce Maghreb
20 April 2022
Water scarcity is increasingly threatening the security of societies and environment in the Maghreb. The EU should step up its work on water to prevent conflicts in the region.
Europe and the transition to a post-American Middle East
05 November 2021
The US's preoccupation with China is reducing Washington's focus on the Middle East, while Russian and Chinese influence is growing. Europeans need to step up their efforts to stabilise the region.
‘Europe after September 11th’ revisited
30 September 2021
The attacks of 9/11 brought the major powers together. But that unity did not endure, and the world now risks division between the West and the authoritarian powers.
Bulletin issue 140 - October/November 2021
30 September 2021
- ‘Europe after September 11th’ revisited, Charles Grant
- Transatlantic relations after Afghanistan and AUKUS, Ian Bond
- What Europe expects of post-Merkel Germany, Christian Odendahl
Transatlantic relations after Afghanistan and AUKUS
30 September 2021
America’s relations with its European allies have survived worse crises than the row over whose submarines Australia will buy, or even the Afghanistan debacle. The US should not be complacent, however.
You can leave Afghanistan, but will Afghanistan leave you?
19 August 2021
The Taliban’s victory is a disaster for Western policy, but it is not the end of the story. The West must now work hard to mitigate the fallout.
Europe can't ignore Libya
02 August 2021
Libya has a new unity government, but the country could easily slip back into conflict. In order to avoid this happening, Europeans should increase their stabilisation efforts.
The Sahel: Europe's forever war?
31 March 2021
Europe's involvement in the Sahel has not only failed to prevent a rapid escalation in the region's conflict, but risks becoming counter-productive. Europe should remodel its approach to prioritise good governance and accountability.
Bulletin issue 137 - April/May 2021
29 March 2021
- Why Europe should spend big like Biden, Christian Odendahl, John Springford
- Post-Brexit data transfers are not a done deal, Sam Lowe, Camino Mortera-Martinez
- Can Europe stabilise the Sahel?, Katherine Pye
Can Europe stabilise the Sahel?
29 March 2021
Costly European efforts to quell violence in the Sahel have failed. Europe must place more stringent conditions on the funding going to those governments responsible for perpetuating unrest in the region.
A new transatlantic consensus on Iran
19 January 2021
A new Iran nuclear crisis is brewing. Europeans should seize the opportunity to re-establish a common position with the US and try to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement that Donald Trump abandoned.
Rethinking the EU's approach towards its southern neighbours
10 July 2020
COVID-19 will exacerbate the failures of EU policy towards its southern neighbours. Europe needs to rethink its approach, taking on more responsibility for security and making its neighbours a more ambitious offer.
The EU's new Libya operation is flawed
08 April 2020
The EU’s new Libya operation follows years of criticism that the Union has not done enough to end the conflict.
Can Europe overcome its paralysis on Israel and Palestine?
26 February 2020
Despite Trump, the EU can still play a leading role in promoting a just resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. To influence, the Union will need to go beyond statements.