Middle East
Omani Chief of Staff Sultan Armed Forces Program
On 21 September 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies conducted a one-day program in Washington, D.C., with eight military officers from the Omani Chief of Staff Sultan Armed Forces. The day began with introductions and a welcome from NESA Center Acting Director COL...
Security Opportunities in the MENA Region
From 21–25 August 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted an inaugural seminar focused on identifying security challenges in the MENA region and exploring potential opportunities for cooperation. The five-day seminar was titled “Security Opportunities in...
The Changing Security Dynamics in the Middle East Program
From 5–6 March 2024, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a two-day program in Washington, D.C., to explore the history and significance of recent strategic changes in the Middle East, global and regional security dynamics, developments in-region and the...
United States and the Middle East Seminar
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies conducted a two-day seminar in collaboration with the Qatar Armed Forces for Strategic Studies in Doha, Qatar, from 8 to 9 April 2025. During the event, NESA Center Director Ambassador John Desrocher provided an overview of U.S....
Washington Embassy Orientation & Washington Seminar 2023
From 30 October to 3 November 2023, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies held a Washington Embassy Orientation (WEO) combined with a Washington Seminar at the Army Navy Club in Washington D.C. The WEO engaged 48 participants from 25 countries and the Washington Seminar had 53 participants...
Washington Seminar – August 2023
On 2 August 2023, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies held a Washington Seminar discussion in Washington, D.C. The seminar presented a conversation between Associate Professor Daniel Curfiss and Dr. Hassan Abbas. The afternoon ended with a question-and-answer session with 17 attendees...
Pages
CSAG Information Paper: Key Takeaways from the 16th BRICS Summit
Subject: "Key Takeaways from the 16th BRICS Summit" Purpose: The paper presents updates, major discussions, and outcome of 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia. Read the full paper here. Read other USCENTCOM Combined Strategic Analysis Group (CSAG) Information Papers....
CSAG Information Paper: Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa “Profile Assessment”
Subject: Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa “Profile Assessment” Purpose: The aim of this paper is to provide an initial estimate of the likely trajectory of the Syrian government based on analysis of the public pronouncements over time of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the current president of the...
CSAG Information Paper: The Israel-Hamas Conflict and its Impact on Central Asia Countries
Subject: The Israel-Hamas conflict and its impact on Central Asia countries. Purpose: This paper presents the CSAG’s analysis regarding the perceptions, consequences, and effects of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza on the Central Asian countries (CA). Read the full paper. View other...
CSAG Information Paper: The President’s Proposed Alternative for Gaza
Subject: “The President’s Proposed Alternative for Gaza” Purpose: This paper presents an initial analysis of possible implications for USCENTCOM given President Trump’s recent statement about taking over Gaza. Read the full paper. View other USCENTCOM Combined Strategic Analysis Group...
CSAG Information Paper: Threat Potential of ISIS in the CENTCOM AOR
Subject: Analysis of the threat potential of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the CENTCOM AOR. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present the CSAG’s analysis of the ‘threat from ISIS’ within CENTCOM AOR to formulate pragmatic recommendations for decision-making. Read...
CSAG Information Paper: “Reawakening Threats: The Reemergence of Islamic State Amid Global Distractions”
Subject: "Reawakening Threats: The Reemergence of Islamic State Amid Global Distractions." Purpose: This paper examines the reemergence of Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East. IS continues its recruiting efforts, resulting in a steady trend of malign activities in the region, while the...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "CENTCOM Smart Power in the Middle East"
Overview: This year USCENTCOM celebrates the 40th anniversary of its establishment; one of its significant tasks is to achieve and enhance security and stability within its area of responsibility (AOR). USCENTCOM AOR includes 21 countries. The Middle East (ME) region is one of the most...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "Iran’s Elections, Wind of Change?"
Overview: Shaped by the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Iranian political landscape uniquely blends democratic and theocratic elements. The 12th parliamentary elections, the 6th Assembly of Experts elections on March 1, 2024, and the presidential elections in 2025 are playing pivotal roles in the...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "Lebanon: A Potential Game Changer in the CENTCOM AOR"
Overview: Years of political instability in combination with an ongoing economic crisis — exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the explosion in the Port of Beirut in August 2020 — have brought the country close to collapse. Moreover, the current institutional vacuum (with no president...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "The Hamas – Israel Conflict: Forming A Potential 'New Normal'”
Overview: The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October has affected not only the political and security dynamics in the ME region but also the world at large. This attack being executed simultaneously in multiple domains i.e. air, land, and sea, culminating with ‘mass hostage captivity,’ can be...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "Yemen After the KSA-Iran Agreement: From Dreams to Harsh Reality and How This Fed Houthi Behavior in the Current Crisis"
Overview: In 2014, Houthi rebels overtook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, in a push for increased military and political power, starting Yemen’s long-lasting civil war. The chaos created by the Houthi insurgents jeopardized the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) ambition for stability in the region,...
CSAG Strategy Paper: Ceasefire Part 2 – Regional Escalation
Introduction: Since the U.S., together with Egypt and Qatar, started pushing for a ceasefire deal in May 2024, there have been times when a comprehensive ceasefire deal appeared close. However, as the situation in the region has evolved, it is becoming clear that objective is likely far off....
CSAG Strategy Paper: Central Asia – Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Stability
Overview: Central Asia stands at a critical juncture, subject to influence by various global powers and regional actors. The strategic landscape is characterized by a delicate balance of interests, including those of the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union. The region’s...
CSAG Strategy Paper: High Stakes on High Ground: The Golan Heights, a Zero-sum Game for Regional Dominance
Introduction: The Golan Heights, a hilly 460 square mile (1,200 square kilometer) strategically vital plateau, was seized by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. Despite Syria’s attempt to reclaim the territory in the 1973 conflict, Israel maintained control and unilaterally annexed it...
CSAG Strategy Paper: Lebanon at a Crossroads: Geopolitical Shifts, Sectarian Realignments, and the Path to Stability in the Post-Assad Era
Introduction: The collapse of the Assad regime marked a critical juncture in the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, precipitating a profound transformation in the region’s strategic architecture, particularly in Lebanon. Syria has historically functioned as Lebanon’s geographic, political...
CSAG Strategy Paper: The Militia that Became a Power Player: The Houthis’ Shocking Rise
Introduction: Despite nearly a decade of war in Yemen, the world has largely ignored the Houthis, with the conflict often labeled as “the forgotten war.” However, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the Houthis have propelled themselves onto the global stage. Seizing the...
CSAG Strategy Paper: Türkiye's Role in the USCENTCOM AOR
Overview: Türkiye has quite a unique position in many perspectives e.g., geographically, geopolitically and geoeconomically. It lies at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia (and Africa) with ties to all of them; it has a land connection to the CENTCOM AOR, and it controls...
CSAG Strategy Paper: Water Scarcity Triple Threat: Trigger, Weapon, and Casualty of Violence in the CENTCOM AOR
Introduction: Water is essential for human survival and the cornerstone of civilizations, cultures, and economies. This is most keenly felt in dry regions like the Middle East. In this water-scarce area, where temperatures often soar and rainfall is rare, access to water is a critical factor for...
CSAG Strategy Paper: “The Hardest 'Soft' Approach on the Yemeni Crisis: An Opportunity to Retake the Initiative in the Middle East”
Overview: Armed conflicts, across human history, brought unquantifiable loss of fortune, lives, and cultural diversity, effectively stalling, nullifying, or even reversing civilization progress, in countless occasions. This paper aims to clear the “fog of war” that is covering Yemen and the...
CSIS Report: The Middle East’s View of the "China Model"
In September 2024, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published a report of the CSIS Middle East Program, titled The Middle East’s View of the "China Model". U.S.-Chinese competition in the Middle East has been exacerbated by China’s increasing engagement in the...