Chatham House Middle East and North Africa

Iraq Initiative Conference 2025 At the seventh annual Iraq Initiative conference, Iraqi and international policymakers, experts and civil society, convene in London to explore Iraq’s trajectory in the year ahead.

🚨TODAY: The 2025 #IraqInitiative Conference!

Watch all sessions live 🔽
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/r...

International recognition of Palestine provides hope. Now Palestinians must unite around a national plan Palestinian political factions must come together under the umbrella of the PLO and work with supportive countries to agree an inclusive agenda of reform.

'It is crucial that recognizing countries immediately follow up their commitments by taking concrete measures to help realize the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and counter Israel’s illegal settlement policy,' writes Zizette Darkazally.
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/09/inte...

Palestine is now recognised by the UK. What happens next? After the UK and other leading western nations recognised the State of Palestine, our panel of experts looks at whether and how a functioning state can be brought into being.

🚨TODAY | Palestine is now recognised by the UK. What happens next?

Sanam Vakil, Zizette Darkazally, Stephen Farrell and Yossi Mekelberg look at whether and how a functioning state can be brought into being.

⏲️13.00 BST

Watch the livesteam at 13.00 BST ⬇️
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

International recognition of Palestine provides hope. Now Palestinians must unite around a national plan Palestinian political factions must come together under the umbrella of the PLO and work with supportive countries to agree an inclusive agenda of reform.

'Recognition has been a consistent demand by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and its diplomatic missions. Now that their demand has been realized, what should the Palestinians do?'

Read the new analysis by Zizette Darkazally ⬇️
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/09/inte...

Israel’s attack on Qatar shows why it’s time for a Gulf defence union Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states would be better served by integrating their defences than relying on other external partners.

'The solution to enhanced Gulf security lies within. It always has, and it’s based on defence integration, or at the very least much improved defence cooperation between the six countries of the GCC,' writes Bilal Y. Saab.

Read the analysis ⬇️
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/09/isra...

Israel has replaced Iran as the biggest security threat to the Gulf states | Sanam Vakil As the US waits on the sidelines, Israel’s actions – as evidenced by the attack on Doha – are becoming increasingly audacious, says Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Afric...

Arab states in the Middle East are concluding that Israel is now the biggest threat to stability in the region.

Read Sanam Vakil's (@chmenap.bsky.social) analysis following Israel's airstrike against Hamas leaders in Qatar in @theguardian.com ⤵️

Iraq Initiative Conference 2025 At the 7th annual Iraq Initiative conference, Iraqi and international policymakers, experts and civil society, convene in London to explore Iraq’s trajectory in the year ahead.

🚨 Join us on 1 Oct at the 2025 #IraqInitiative Conference!

Only ONE WEEK left to register interest to attend in person at Chatham House. Registration closes on 10 September!

Registration for virtual attendance will remain open.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/r...

Empowering local actors to ensure climate resilience in Libya - Kalam Political fragmentation and instability have harmed Libya’s ability to manage its natural resources and mitigate the rising impacts of climate change. In

Political fragmentation & instability have harmed Libya’s ability to manage natural resources & mitigate the rising impacts of climate change. Empowering local government, CSOs & the private sector offers the most viable path forward, writes Malak Altaeb.
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/emp...

In conversation with HE Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom Next steps on ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the future for a Palestinian state.

🚨 Upcoming event: In conversation with HE Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK

📅 2 September
🕐 13.00 BST
📍 @chathamhouse.org & online

Register now ⬇️
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...

Deep Dive: Iraq’s civic parties face uphill battle in upcoming elections Once poised to  dominate Iraq’s political future, figures and parties emerging from the October (Tishreen) 2019 protest movement now face widespread public apathy. These declining fortunes follow a pr...

Surveying the political landscape today, Iraq’s upcoming legislative polls seem to offer little indication that civic forces will regain lost ground, writes @haydersh.bsky.social via @amwajmedia.bsky.social.
amwaj.media/en/article/w...

Saudi Arabia and Oman's transformation strategies must move from performative to genuine citizen engagement - Kalam Oman and Saudi Arabia are integrating youth and civil society into governance, but largely on the state’s terms. These are tightly managed attempts to sustain

In both Oman and Saudi Arabia, the key issue is the extent to which civic participation is actually shaping state policy, and the extent to which officials leading this process are accountable to the views of citizens, writes Sumaiya Al-Wahaibi.
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/sau...

Who is Ali Larijani? Iran's new security czar Larijani's new role comes as Tehran works to bolster allies, manage proxies and contend with U.S. tensions.

'Ali Larijani's appointment as Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security and designation as the country's representative marks the return of a pragmatic conservative close to the leadership to a critical post,' says Sanam Vakil via @newsweek.com.
www.newsweek.com/ali-larijani...

Why peacebuilding fails and what to do about it Evidence from conflict economies in the Middle East and Africa

4️⃣ Why peacebuilding fails — and what to do about it

@renadmansour.bsky.social and Mark White ask how international actors can respond to modern conflict as rigid geopolitical spheres dissolve and conflict economies proliferate.

🔗 www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/why-...

Gold and the war in Sudan How regional solutions can support an end to conflict

3️⃣ Gold and the war in Sudan
In this @africaprog.bsky.social & @XCEPT Research paper Ahmed Soliman and Suliman Baldo argue that external actors benefitting from Sudan’s gold sector could hold the key to a sustainable peace.
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/gold...

The shape-shifting ‘axis of resistance’ How Iran and its networks adapt to external pressures

2️⃣ The shape-shifting ‘axis of resistance’
@renadmansour.bsky.social, @haydersh.bsky.social & @haidhaid22.bsky.social explore how Iran & its networks adapt to external pressures. While the axis faces challenges, its resilience is often underestimated.
🔗 www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/shap...

How migrant smuggling has fuelled conflict in Libya A systems analysis of key transit hubs

1️⃣ How migrant smuggling has fuelled conflict in Libya
Migrant smuggling and trafficking has flourished through Libya since its 2011 conflict. Tim Eaton & Lubna Yousef explain how this happened — and why Europe’s response has so far failed.
🔗 www.chathamhouse.org/2025/02/how-...

☀️ Explore the MENA Programme’s 2025 publications ⬇️

Part of the @chathamhouse.org and XCEPT Research project, these papers explore the evolving dynamics of transnational conflict ecosystems across the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, and parts of West and East Africa.🧵

Iraq’s water crisis: Dammed by neighbours, failed by leaders Scarcity of water is not only a national crisis for Iraq, but a growing driver of internal tension.

Scarcity of water is not only a national crisis for Iraq, but a growing driver of internal tension.

Read the new @chathamhouse.org Expert Comment by @haydersh.bsky.social ⬇️
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/08/iraq...

Evolving Turkey–Iran relations and implications for regional reordering This project examines the nature of the bilateral relationship between Turkey and Iran in relation to Middle Eastern countries and in the context of broader regional dynamics.

Read all articles, in English and in Arabic, on our platform Kalam.

Read more about our project with the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies 🔽 (8/8):
www.chathamhouse.org/regions/midd...

How Russia, Turkey and Iran are reshaping the Caucasus - Kalam In recent years, the South Caucasus has become a microcosm of multipolarity, with Russia, Turkey and Iran competing for influence and navigating a fragile mix

In the Caucasus, the emerging regional order is shaped by a fluid balance of power between Russia, Turkey & Iran, replacing the previous Russia-dominated framework defined by its rivalry with the West, writes Natalie Sabanadze @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social (7/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/how...

From parallel ambitions to colliding spheres: Iran–Turkey rivalry in a connected region - Kalam This article was written prior to the 12 June 2025 escalation between Iran and Israel.

.@hamidrezaaz.bsky.social discusses how the rivalry between Iran & Turkey is no longer parallel but fully interlinked, driven by overlapping ambitions, competing connectivity projects, and shifting alliances. (6/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/fro...

Rivals within: How Iran and Turkey compete inside Iraq’s fractured politics - Kalam This article was written prior to the 12 June 2025 escalation between Iran and Israel.

In Iraq, Turkey & Iran avoid direct conflict, instead pursuing strategic rivalry channelled through local actors while selectively cooperating on shared interests, writes Kamaran Palani. (5/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/riv...

A careful balancing act: Turkey-Iran competition in regional Kurdish geopolitics - Kalam By virtue of geography and demography, Kurdish populations will always play a role in relations between Turkey and Iran. Both countries are accused of

.@wrodgers2.bsky.social explores the role of Kurdish populations in Iran-Turkey ties, and how the two countries manage relations with Kurdish groups domestically and regionally. (4/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/a-c...

Syria’s governance dilemma amid Turkey–Iran competition - Kalam Syria’s post-Assad transition marks a defining moment – one that presents both immense opportunities and complex challenges. Among the most critical and

In the second article, @haidhaid22.bsky.social discusses Syria’s post-Assad transition & how its future governance will shape Turkey-Iran competition & regional geopolitical dynamics. (3/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/syr...

Competing visions: Turkey, Iran and the struggle to shape the regional order - Kalam In an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape and amid intensifying competition between key powers, countries in the region are adjusting their foreign

The first article by Sanam Vakil and Galip Dalay examines how Iran and Turkey are navigating global and regional shifts, and how their competing roles, strategies, and objectives are shaping the region today. (2/8)
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/com...

📢 Article Series

'Evolving Turkey–Iran relations & implications for regional reordering'

Our recent series of policy articles, part of a @chathamhouse.org MENAP & CATS Network project, examines Turkey–Iran relations, the dynamics that shape them & implications for regional reordering. 🧵

"We are exactly twenty years since the [Israeli] disengagement from Gaza, some among the settler movement never gave up on the dream to be back in Gaza."

Yossi Mekelberg (@chmenap.bsky.social) on whether Israel will annex the Gaza Strip, via @aljazeera.com ⤵️

Syria's elections must be about more than filling seats | The National Without genuine transparency, September's polls risk becoming another top-down exercise – reinforcing public cynicism rather than restoring trust

Without clear answers and genuine transparency, Syria's elections risk becoming another top-down exercise – reinforcing public cynicism rather than restoring trust, writes @haidhaid22.bsky.social via @thenationalnews.com.
www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comm...

Moving beyond handouts: The strategic imperative for domestic resource mobilization in Yemen - Kalam The government of Yemen, recognized internationally yet territorially and institutionally fragmented, faces one of the gravest fiscal crises in its modern

'Given the volatility of external assistance, Yemen must now pivot decisively towards domestic resource mobilization. This is not simply a matter of fiscal prudence; it is also a political necessity,' write Farea Al-Muslimi and Mahmoud Shehrah.
kalam.chathamhouse.org/articles/mov...

⏺️ Webinar recording: Will the Iraq-Kuwait dispute undermine the future of Gulf integration?

@renadmansour.bsky.social, Bader Al-Saif, Farhad Alaaldin Luigi Di Maio & Lahib Higel discuss renewed Iraq–Kuwait tensions in this #IraqInitiative webinar.
www.facebook.com/share/v/1EjZ...