Middle East Focus
275 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 48 ratingsWeekly discussion of Middle East policy, arts, and culture, featuring experts from the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
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Episodes
Biden's Trip to the Middle East
July 27, 2022 14:06 - 55 minutes - 76 MBPresident Joe Biden's recent trip has received acclaim, scorn, and indifference from across the foreign policy establishment. Why did Biden go to the Middle East, and what did he seek to gain? In this much-anticipated episode, host Alistair Taylor and four expert guests reflect on this question from a variety of perspectives, diving deep into the motivations and repercussions of President Biden's trip. Esteemed guests include Paul Salem, President of MEI; Bilal Saab, Senior Fellow and Foundi...
Cyber Trends in the Middle East
July 21, 2022 17:34 - 17 minutes - 24.3 MBThis week, host Alistair Taylor speaks with Chris Kubecka, Distinguished Chair of the Cyber Security and Emerging Technology Program at the Middle East Institute. Their conversation covers recent cyber trends and developments in the Middle East, President Biden’s trip to the region, and MEI’s new book Cyber War and Cyber Peace: Digital Conflict in the Middle East. To pre-order the book now, click the link below: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/cyber-war-and-cyber-peace-9780755646005/
Tunisia's Economy
July 07, 2022 18:25 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBIntissar Fakir is joined by Marwa Haddar and Fadil Aliriza to discuss the economic issues Tunisia is facing, international financial institutions' role in the crisis, and the government's actions, or lack thereof, to help the country.
Iraq's Political Shift
June 30, 2022 15:53 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBRanda Slim is joined by Farhad Alaadin and Marsin Alshamary to discuss the latest political events in Iraqi Parliament, Muqtada al-Sadr, and what the future of Iraqi politics could look like moving forward.
Somalia (Horn of Africa, part 2 of 2)
June 10, 2022 17:03 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBGuled Ahmed joins the program to discuss the political climate in Somalia, its recent elections, security conditions, and the role of external actors including the African Union, Gulf states, Turkey, and the U.S.
Expedition to Antarctica
June 02, 2022 17:51 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBIn this interview from MEI's Climate and Water program, guest host Mohammed Mahmoud speaks with Athra Khamis about her journey to the remote continent of Antarctica, what she saw there, and how it impacted her views on climate change.
Ethiopia (Horn of Africa, part 1 of 2)
May 27, 2022 19:25 - 23 minutes - 33.2 MBNathenael Gemechu moderates a conversation with Michael Woldemariam and Guled Ahmed on Ethiopia in the first installment of a two-part series on the Horn of Africa. Woldemariam and Ahmed discuss the ongoing Tigrayan conflict that includes Ethiopia and Eritrea and the influence of external players.
Pakistan's Political Crisis
May 17, 2022 17:02 - 46 minutes - 64.6 MBMarvin Weinbaum, Madiha Afzal, and Syed Mohammad Ali discuss the recent political upheaval in Pakistan, which comes against the backdrop of mounting economic problems.
Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean
May 05, 2022 19:45 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBKaren Young, director of MEI's Program on Economics and Energy, is joined by Emily Stromquist and Colby Connelly for a discussion on gas and energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
A Conversation with Dr. Haider al-Abadi
April 29, 2022 17:18 - 24 minutes - 34 MBFormer Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi joins the program to discuss the country’s fight against ISIS, Iraqi politics and the challenges of reform. Dr. al-Abadi has a new book out, entitled "Impossible Victory: How Iraq Defeated ISIS" (Biteback Publishing, April 2022).
France's Presidential Election and Foreign Policy
April 26, 2022 19:53 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBIntissar Fakir, Cinzia Bianco, and Perla Srour-Gandon discuss the results of the recent French presidential election and what they mean for France's foreign policy and the Middle East.
Youth Climate Activism in MENA
April 22, 2022 13:08 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBMohammed Mahmoud and Neeshad Shafi discuss youth climate activism in the region and Shafi's experience at MENA Climate Week and the Doha forum.
US-Gulf Relations at the Crossroads
April 15, 2022 12:15 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBAmb. Gerald Feierstein, Bilal Saab, and Karen Young join guest host Brian Katulis to discuss their recent MEI policy paper, US-Gulf Relations at the Crossroads: Time for a Recalibration, and why they believe now is not the time to disengage from the region. Read the paper here: https://www.mei.edu/publications/us-gulf-relations-crossroads-time-recalibration
Israel & Palestine: Hot topics in Congress
April 08, 2022 14:54 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBHost Alistair Taylor speaks with Khaled Elgindy and Lara Friedman about the release of their recently completed 2022 congressional briefing series on Israel and Palestine: Hot topics in Congress. The eight-part webinar series features an array of Palestinian and Israeli voices, weighing in on some of the most pressing and timely Israel/Palestine-related topics in Congress. Recordings of all eight sessions of the congressional briefing series can be found on the MEI and FMEP websites at www.m...
The Parallels of Ukraine and Syria
April 01, 2022 13:51 - 39 minutes - 54.8 MBIulia-Sabina Joja and Charles Lister discuss the parallels between the wars in Ukraine and Syria, the similarities of Russia’s tactics in both conflicts, and what the recent history in Syria may signal for Ukraine in the months ahead.
The GERD and Cyber Diplomacy
March 18, 2022 15:26 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MBMirette Mabrouk, Joey Shea, and guest host Eliza Campbell discuss current political disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), cyber diplomacy, and the effects of climate change on the Horn of Africa.
Ukraine: Tracking Russia's military and cyber campaigns
March 04, 2022 21:12 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBIulia Joja and Chris Kubecka discuss Russia's attacks on Ukraine both on the ground and online, the growing refugee crisis, and how the invasion may set precedents for future conflicts.
Lebanon in Crisis
March 04, 2022 15:19 - 30 minutes - 42.8 MBRanda Slim and Amb. Edward Gabriel discuss the daunting trifecta of economic, financial, and political crises Lebanon currently faces and what they anticipate for the country's future.
Taliban rule of Afghanistan at six months
February 25, 2022 14:11 - 36 minutes - 50 MBMarvin Weinbaum and Sayed Madadi discuss Afghanistan’s worsening economic and humanitarian crises six months after the Taliban reclaimed control of the country.
Between the Sky and the Earth: Contemporary Art from the UAE
February 18, 2022 14:57 - 36 minutes - 49.7 MBAfra Aldhaheri and Asma Belhamar, two featured artists in the MEI Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, Between the Sky and the Earth: Contemporary Art from the UAE, join MEI’s Lyne Sneige to discuss the inspirations and artistic processes behind their pieces in the show. Learn more about the show
Sustainable Financing in MENA
February 11, 2022 15:11 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBLama Kiyasseh and Lina Osman join Karen Young, director of MEI's Economics and Energy program, to discuss how sustainable financing is changing the region by channeling financial resources toward addressing environmental and social challenges.
ISIS in Syria and Iraq
February 03, 2022 18:20 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBCharles Lister and Mick Mulroy discuss discuss the dramatic Feb. 3rd U.S. special operations raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the group’s late January attack on the al-Sina prison, and ISIS’s broader trajectory in both Syria and Iraq.
Biden's First Year
February 01, 2022 20:21 - 40 minutes - 55.4 MBBrian Katulis and Randa Slim join the program to discuss the Biden administration's Middle East policy one year in, and look ahead to the challenges it will face in the region in the year ahead.
Israel's Digital Occupation
January 14, 2022 15:25 - 38 minutes - 52.3 MBEliza Campbell and Emerson T. Brooking discuss the Israeli government’s suppression of Palestinian online speech and activism, the surprising role that American social media companies play in the process, and their recent article for Foreign Policy, "How to End Israel’s DIgital Occupation."
Year in review: The Middle East in 2021
December 17, 2021 14:47 - 49 minutes - 68 MBWhat were the most significant developments in the Middle East and regional policy in 2021? MEI’s Paul Salem, Randa Slim, Bilal Saab, and Karen Young join the program to discuss the key events and what trends to watch in 2022.
The UAE at 50
December 07, 2021 18:43 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBGerald Feierstein, Afshin Molavi, and Courtney Freer discuss the state of the United Arab Emirates as the country celebrates its 50th anniversary, including its history, economic development, and domestic and regional policy objectives.
America's Global Posturing Review
December 03, 2021 17:33 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBBilal Saab, senior fellow and founding director of MEI's Defense & Security Program, discusses the recently completed Defense Department Global Posture Review (GPR), his thoughts on the review and process, and how it will impact the U.S. strategy in the Middle East.
Takeaways from COP26
November 19, 2021 15:25 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBMohammed Mahmoud, director of MEI's Climate and Water Program, and Abbey Krulik, who attended the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, as an observer, discuss takeaways from the conference and the Glasgow Pact that was signed there.
The Legacy of the Iranian Hostage Crisis
November 11, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBAlex Vatanka and Michael Metrinko discuss the Iranian hostage crisis, how it’s shaped US-Iran relations, and what that history tells us about the present and potential future of the Islamic Republic. Metrinko also recounts his experience as a political officer at the embassy in Iran in 1979 and being one of the 52 hostages.
Afghanistan Under the Taliban
November 08, 2021 16:42 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBMarvin Weinbaum and Javid Ahmad discuss conditions in Afghanistan since falling back under Taliban rule, including worsening economic and humanitarian crises, the security situation, the role of international and regional actors, and where things might be headed moving forward.
Converging Lines: the Arab Diaspora in the U.S.
November 03, 2021 14:39 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBArtists Helen Zughaib and John Halaka join MEI’s Lyne Sneige in conversation on the MEI Art Gallery’s current exhibition, "Converging Lines: Tracing the Artistic Lineage of the Arab Diaspora in the U.S." They discuss the exhibition's themes of exile, memory formation, changing identities, and the state of in-betweenness that often accompanies migration. Converging Lines is on view until November 17. Learn more at www.mei.edu/art-gallery
Saudi-Iran Talks
October 29, 2021 19:37 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBMohammed Alsulami and Kasra Aarabi join Banafsheh Keynoush to discuss the latest talks between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. Several rounds of talks between Riyadh and Tehran been held in Baghdad since April. They are taking place amid a broader regional trend toward deconfliction and as negotiations in Vienna over the revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appear to have bogged down.
Tunisia's political crisis
October 22, 2021 18:24 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBLilia Blaise and Fadil Aliriza join Intissar Fakir for a discussion on Tunisia's political turmoil following President Kais Saied's series of moves since July to reshape the country's government.
Iraq's Elections
October 08, 2021 13:27 - 29 minutes - 41.1 MBMarsin Alshamary joins the program to discuss the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections on Oct. 10. Originally scheduled for 2022, the elections were moved up amid pressure from the Tishreen protest movement that began in late 2019. MEI Senior Fellow Randa Slim also speaks with two long-time watchers of Iraqi politics, Farhad Alaaldin and Naufel Alhassan, about how they see things playing out and the impact the elections might have on Iraq’s political landscape going forward.
Iran and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
September 22, 2021 15:59 - 31 minutes - 43 MBIulia Sabina-Joja and Alex Vatanka join today's program to discuss Iranian foreign policy and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Amid growing concerns about the regional repercussions of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the SCO met for its 20th anniversary summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on September 16th and 17th. Regional security cooperation and Iranian accession were at the top of the agenda, with Iran formally joining the organization as a full member on September 17th.
9/11’s legacy for U.S.-Middle East relations
September 10, 2021 14:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBRoss Harrison, Paul Salem, and Randa Slim join host Alistair Taylor to reflect on 9/11’s impact on US policy in the Middle East over the past 20 years and how its legacy has been viewed by the region.
Morocco's elections
September 09, 2021 21:03 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBMaati Monjib and Rachid Aourraz join guest host Intissar Fakir to discuss the results of Morocco's Sept. 8 general elections, their context and why they are important, and what they signal about political trends in the country moving forward.
The state of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
September 07, 2021 13:54 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBElisabeth Kendall and Nadwa al-Dawsari join Charles Lister to discuss Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its place in Yemen’s persistent internal conflict.
A Case Study in Irregular Warfare
September 01, 2021 16:25 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBMick Mulroy and Ken Tovo join host Alistair Taylor to discuss their recent paper on how US intelligence and military operatives effectively collaborated with local Kurdish partners in Northern Iraq in the early 2000s, why it was a successful partnership, and what lessons it may provide for future operations. The paper, “Irregular Warfare: A Case Study in CIA and US Army Special Forces Operations in Northern Iraq, 2002-03," is available now on MEI's website.
Al Qaeda and lessons from the past 20 years of counterterrorism
August 25, 2021 15:42 - 29 minutes - 41 MBPeter Bergen and Colin Clarke join guest host Charles Lister to discuss Bergen’s new book, The Rise and Fall of Osama Bin Laden, as well as the Biden administration’s handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and concerns about the country once again becoming a safe haven for Al Qaeda under the Taliban.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
August 17, 2021 15:34 - 14 minutes - 20 MBDr. Marvin Weinbaum, director of MEI’s Afghanistan and Pakistan program, joins host Alistair Taylor for a bonus episode responding to the Taliban’s rapid overthrow of the Afghan military and government over the past week.
First Anniversary of the Abraham Accords
August 17, 2021 14:29 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBAmb. Dennis Ross and Karen Young join guest host Gerald Feierstein to discuss the progress of relations between Israel and the Arab world one year after the signing of the Abraham Accords, as well as the agreement's economic impacts and what role the United States will play moving forward.
Ebrahim Raisi and the future of Iran
August 06, 2021 19:51 - 29 minutes - 40 MBEbrahim Raisi was sworn in as Iran's new president on August 5. Ali Alfoneh and Henry Rome join guest host Alex Vatanka, director of MEI's Iran Program, to discuss the political and economic challenges the new president will contend with, his relationship to Ayatollah Khamenei, and the future of Iran and the country's leadership.
Lebanon one year on from the Beirut blast
July 29, 2021 20:04 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBOn August 4, 2020, a cache of improperly stored ammonium nitrate caused a devastating blast in the port of Beirut. Chris Abi-Nassif, Mona Fawaz, and Aya Majzoub join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the investigation into the blast, the reconstruction process, and the political, economic, and social impact in Lebanon.
What’s next for Afghanistan?
July 22, 2021 12:15 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBMarvin Weinbaum, Husain Haqqani, and Mick Mulroy join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the future of Afghanistan following the imminent US military withdrawal.
GERD and Egypt's African Outreach
July 19, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBGuled Ahmed, Mirette Mabrouk, and Mohammed Soliman join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the latest developments for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt's African diplomatic outreach, and the creative solutions required to meet the region's growing energy needs.
Humanitarian aid for Northern Syria
June 30, 2021 20:14 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MBCharles Lister, Mona Yacoubian, and James Jeffrey join host Alistair Taylor to discuss the upcoming UN Security Council vote on the renewal of cross-border assistance for Syria, Russia's threats of severing access, and how they might impact stability across the region.
Pakistan’s foreign policy challenges
June 24, 2021 18:31 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBMadiha Afzal, Syed Mohammad Ali, and Marvin Weinbaum join host Alistair Taylor to discuss a range of issues facing Pakistan, from the implications of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, to its bilateral relations with India, China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States under the Biden administration.
Iran's Upcoming Elections
June 11, 2021 13:19 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBAlex Vatanka joins host Alistair Taylor to discuss Iran's upcoming presidential election on June 18. The election comes at a pivotal time for the country, as it faces a serious economic crisis and growing popular dissatisfaction at home, as well as a changing regional environment and ongoing talks over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Cryptocurrencies in the Middle East
May 25, 2021 11:30 - 32 minutes - 45 MBSarah Johansson and Mohammed Soliman join guest host Mike Sexton to discuss the various legal, technical, and environmental challenges of cryptocurrencies in the region, among others.