MENA Policy BriefS
Tunisia’s Deadlocked Situation: President Saied Takes the Authoritarian Exit
Introduction On the 25th of July 1957, Tunisia was stripped of its monarchical superstructure and became a republic. 64 years later, this day is still special to Tunisians. However, besides festivities and protests, it has recently gained a further meaningful...
Could Turkey Close the Straits to Russian Warships
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who amassed over 100,000 Russian troops around Ukraine in recent months but denied having any intention of invading the country, on Thursday launched a full-scale war in Ukraine, drawing international condemnation. The invasion of...
Can the US Dropping its Support from the EastMed Pipeline Change the Calculus of the Game in the Eastern Mediterranean?
Can the US Dropping its Support from the EastMed Pipeline Change the Calculus of the Game in the Eastern Mediterranean? by Furkan AKAR, Saban YUKSEL February 10, 2022| 10 min read Background The US notified Greece regarding its decision to withdraw the support from...
Too Late Too Little: An Assessment on the Current State of Play in Libya
In the last couple of weeks, things in Libya are moving so slowly. There is no significant development on the political, economic, diplomatic or military front. Libya’s interim Government, the Government of National Unity (GNU), is not making any progress in preparing...
The US – Jordan Defense Cooperation Agreement*
1. Background: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi on 21 March announced that Jordan made a defence agreement with the United States that allows free entry of US forces, aircraft, and vehicles onto the kingdom’s territory. The...
Not Like in the Old Days: The Iran Nuclear Deal After the US Elections and Its Implications for the MENA Region
MENA Policy Brief No:8 by Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Nour Aldahabreh, Onur Sultan, Ramazan Turkmen, Saban Yuksel APRIL13, 2021 | 14 min read Background On May 8, 2018, the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action...
The Current State of Play in Libya
MENA Policy Brief No:7 The Current State of Play in Libya: The Repercussions of the New-Elected Interim Government for the Libyan Peace by Erman Atak, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Saban Yuksel FEBRUARY 19, 2021 | 11 min read Background - On 5th of...
The Arab Spring After Ten Years: Drawing the Balance Sheet in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen
MENA Policy Brief No:6 by Emre Bilgin, Erman Atak, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Onur Sultan, Saban Yuksel JANUARY 18, 2021 | 18 min read Background Ten years passed since Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old street vendor, set himself on fire in...
The New Balance of Power in the Mediterranean: The Current Geopolitical Landscape
MENA Task Force Brief by Emre Bilgin, Erman Atak, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Onur Sultan, Ramazan Turkmen, Saban YUKSEL DECEMBER 09, 2020 | 12 min read Background Discoveries of new energy resources in the Mediterranean started a scramble for...
How will Biden Presidency shape US Policy towards the MENA Region?
MENA Task Force Brief by Emre Bilgin, Erman Atak, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Onur Sultan, Samet Coban, Zafer Kizilkaya NOVEMBER 10, 2020 | 12 min read Background On November 3, Americans judged the presidency of Donald Trump, who is an outlier...
The Ceasefire in Libya: Its Implications for the Region?
MENA Task Force Brief by Emre Bilgin, Erman Atak, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen, Ibrahim Jouhari, Onur Sultan NOVEMBER 2, 2020| 14 min read Background On October 23, the UN has announced that military representatives of Libya’s warring parties agreed on a permanent...
The End to the UN Sanctions on Iran – What Will Be the Repercussions?
MENA Task Force Brief by Ibrahim Jouhari, Emre Bilgin, Onur Sultan, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen OCTOBER 23, 2020| 14 min read Background On May 8, 2018, the US President Donald Trump, announced the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action...
The UAE-Israel Normalization – What Does It Exactly Mean?
MENA Task Force Brief by Ibrahim Jouhari, Emre Bilgin, Zafer Kizilkaya, Erman Atak, Onur Sultan, Furkan Akar, Hasan Suzen OCTOBER 16, 2020| 9 min read Background On June 19, UAE-affiliated Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces wrested control of the Socotra...
Scraping Surface of Rhetorics: An Assessment on Latest Developments in Syria
-Turkish Operation Peace Spring continues in full swing amid fierce criticism from international community and contradictory statements by different U.S. officials. However, there is no substance beyond ostentatious remarks or statements. Because, parties to the...