Middle East Institute

MEI extends warm wishes to all celebrating Eid al-Adha across the Middle East and around the world.

MEI wishes a joyful Easter to all who celebrate! We hope this season brings peace and renewal to communities around the world.

Wishing a joyful and meaningful Passover to all those celebrating in the US, the Middle East, and around the world. May this season bring peace, renewal, and hope to you and your loved ones. Chag Pesach Sameach from all of us at the Middle East Institute!

This week, MEI leadership traveled to Tampa for strategic consultations with CENTCOM and SOCOM senior leadership. Led by MEI’s Distinguished Military Fellow and former commander of US Central Command, General (ret.) Joseph Votel, our delegation engaged in critical discussions that advanced our enduring partnership on national security priorities and regional stabilization efforts.

Our meetings focused on enhancing strategic collaboration, addressing evolving security challenges, and strengthening operational partnerships across key areas of mutual interest.

We are deeply appreciative of the commanding officers and their teams for their valuable insights. These meaningful exchanges have set the foundation for closer alignment on our shared objectives, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead.

Recent events in France and Turkey have upended the electoral prospects of two major political figures. In France, Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds and cannot run for office for five years. Meanwhile in Turkey, the mayor of Istanbul and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s most formidable rival, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested on corruption charges and jailed. MEI’s Gönül Tol argues that both cases have upended the electoral prospects of major political figures, but the similarity ends there. Le Pen’s disqualification followed the law; İmamoğlu’s was engineered through politics. Equating the two cases hands autocrats like Erdoğan exactly what they want: a talking point to legitimize their crackdowns. Visit the link in our bio to read the full article.

Recent events in France and Turkey have upended the electoral prospects of two major political figures. In France, Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds and cannot run for office for five years. Meanwhile in Turkey, the mayor of Istanbul and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s most formidable rival, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested on corruption charges and jailed. MEI’s Gonul Tol argues that both cases have upended the electoral prospects of major political figures, but the similarity ends there. Le Pen’s disqualification followed the law; İmamoğlu’s was engineered through politics. Equating the two cases hands autocrats like Erdoğan exactly what they want: a talking point to legitimize their crackdowns.

In this analysis, MEI's Mirette Mabrouk describes the immense pressure Cairo has faced from multiple fronts amid the Gaza conflict, including economic devastation from diverted Red Sea shipping that has cost Egypt billions. Despite this, Egypt remains steadfast against capitulating to US and Israeli demands to accept Palestinian refugees, largely due to security concerns over Hamas militants and strong domestic public support and empathy for the Palestinians. Mabrouk argues that the US has a vested interest in preventing further escalation and should avoid actions that risk increasing instability in the region. Read the full article at the link in our bio.

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, the Middle East Institute wishes everyone a joyful Eid Al-Fitr. We celebrate the spirit of community, resilience, and hope that this holiday represents for communities around the world. Eid Mubarak!

Countries around the world are increasingly prioritizing a strict definition of sovereignty and tending toward transactional diplomacy. This shift is frustrating longstanding Western interests in North Africa but also presents opportunities in new sectors. MEI’s Intissar Fakir argues that understanding the motivations behind North Africa’s “sovereignty-first” approach can help the United States and Europe build mutually beneficial and durable links with the region in this new reality. For more information visit the link in our bio.