Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs

Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs
  • A conversation with Minister of Industry and Trade of Morocco Ryad Mezzour

    A CONVERSATION WITH MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE OF MOROCCO RYAD MEZZOUR - Morocco is a major hub for international investments, representing one of Africa’s largest economies. Strategically located at the intersection between major waterways, Morocco prides itself on being the “gateway to Afri...

  • Serving communities with disability in conflict contexts

    SERVING COMMUNITIES WITH DISABILITY IN CONFLICT CONTEXTS - In 2022, the Syrian American Medical Society completed its first long-term research project on disability and accessibility at its facilities across northwest Syria, which included surveying both its staff and beneficiaries. The discussio...

  • Exploring investment opportunities in NW Syria

    The US Department of the Treasury declared ‘General License No. 22’ authorizing activities in certain economic sectors in non-regime-held areas of northeast and northwest Syria. This waiver allows for transactions for certain economic activities in northeast and northwest Syria in sectors like ag...

  • Highlights from the WIn Fellowship graduation 2024

    The WIn Fellowship graduation is the culmination of a year-long executive program for women entrepreneurs from Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, facilitated by the Atlantic Council in partnership with Georgetown University.

    This program features a specially designed executive education course at ...

  • Arab women ambassadors shaping diplomacy

    ARAB WOMEN AMBASSADORS SHAPING DIPLOMACY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES - Historically, international diplomacy has been predominantly male-dominated despite the indispensable role women have played in strengthening foreign relations, sustaining universal peace and guaranteeing the protection of h...

  • AI Revolution: Transforming the global business landscape

    AI REVOLUTION: TRANSFORMING THE GLOBAL BUSINESS LANDSCAPE - AI’s rapid evolution is a game-changer for businesses, altering operational frameworks and setting new benchmarks for efficiency and innovation. By automating routine tasks and analyzing vast datasets for actionable insights, AI is provi...

  • Iraq's prime minister on building a stronger relationship with the United States

    IRAQ'S PRIME MINISTER ON BUILDING A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES - The Atlantic Council hosted an #ACFrontPage conversation featuring Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, prime minister of Iraq, where he will outline progress made on the US-Iraq relationship.  

    Al-Sudani joined the Atlanti...

  • Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Rami Aboulnaga

    A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF EGYPT, RAMI ABOULNAGA - In our conversation with Egypt’s Central Bank Deputy Governor, Rami Aboulnaga, we discuss the floating of the Egyptian pound, foreign exchange management, and the 2024 economic outlook for Egypt.

    ORIGINAL AIRD...

  • Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, Rania Al-Mashat

    A CONVERSATION WITH THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF EGYPT, RANIA AL-MASHAT - In our conversation with Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Rania Al-Mashat, we discuss the country's overall reform agenda, public spending, and the government incentives to promote strateg...

  • The Syria Strategy Project: A public launch

    The Atlantic Council’s Syria Project, the Middle East Institute’s Syria Program, and the European Institute of Peace, in partnership with Madaniya Civil Society Network invite you to watch the launch of the Syria Strategy Project.

    Nearly thirteen years into the war in Syria, the crisis continues...

  • One year on: Assessing the February 6th earthquake response in Syria

    Throughout 2023, local Syrian organizations have led the response in the immediate aftermath of the event and have continued to advance the rehabilitation and resilience efforts among the impacted communities. With the new humanitarian challenges facing the region in 2024, the overall humanitaria...

  • Qatar’s PM on regional de-escalation, war in Gaza, and US-Qatar relations

    QATAR’S PRIME MINISTER ON REGIONAL DE-ESCALATION, WAR IN GAZA, AND US-QATAR RELATIONS - With the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the looming threat of a broader regional war, the Atlantic Council hosted an #ACFrontPage conversation featuring Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Ja...

  • President Isaac Herzog on the Israel-Hamas War and its impact on policy

    PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG ON THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AND ITS IMPACT ON DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY - Please join us for an #ACFrontPage conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent war in Gaza. The president will offer his perspective on military progres...

  • Demystifying venture capital

    DEMYSTIFYING VENTURE CAPITAL - In the dynamic startup ecosystem of the Middle East, women entrepreneurs are pivotal in driving progress and innovation. However, one of the most significant hurdles they face is accessing venture capital (VC) funding, which is crucial for the growth of early-stage ...

  • The Gaza war changes the security equation in the Middle East

    Daniel Mouton, Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs, says that with the Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli incursion in Gaza, “Israel’s deterrent ability to the region was shattered.”

    Watch as Mouton describes the long-term impacts o...

  • Potential for wider regional conflict as Israel strikes Gaza

    As Israel begins the next phase of its war against Hamas with ground troops entering Gaza, Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, explains that while Israel’s objective is to decimate Hamas once and for all, the US is also trying to preven...

  • Israel-Hamas War: The ground, information, and multilateral environment ahead

    ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: THE GROUND, INFORMATION, AND MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENT AHEAD - Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack has shaken all of Israel into action. There’s still much we don’t know when it comes to what direction the conflict will take, and whether it will remain contained to Israel and Hamas ...

  • How an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could play out

    William Wechsler, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs, offers analysis on the first week of the new war between Israel and Hamas and what might come next as Israel launches a likely incursion into Gaza.

  • Addressing the captagon crisis in MENA

    ADDRESSING THE CAPTAGON CRISIS IN MENA: STRATEGIES & CHALLENGES - The Atlantic Council’s Syria Project, the New Lines Institute’s Special Captagon Trade Project, and the Syrian Forum invite you to a public panel discussion on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm ET. The discussion ...

  • International response to the atrocities against the Uyghurs

    FROM HOLDING THE LINE TO A ROBUST INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE ATROCITIES AGAINST THE UYGHURS - Despite recommendations from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that Chinese authorities halt their campaign of crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Tur...

  • The #MahsaAmini protests one year on and the road ahead for Iran

    ONE YEAR ON: THE #MAHSAAMINI PROTESTS AND THE ROAD AHEAD FOR IRAN - The discussion featured a distinguished group of experts and civil society leaders and will delve into critical themes surrounding the one-year anniversary of the ongoing anti-establishment protests prompted by the death of Mahsa...

  • Minority rights in Iran

    MINORITY RIGHTS IN IRAN: DISCRIMINATION AND PATTERNS OF REPRESSION - Watch this discussion featuring a number of human rights and civil society leaders, presented by the Atlantic Council’s Iran Strategy Project. The panel discussion aims to use a minority rights framework to provide a contextuali...

  • Charting Italy's diplomatic course

    CHARTING ITALY'S DIPLOMATIC COURSE - Italy’s recent foreign policy decisions have reflected the new government’s dynamic and resurgent approach to its global engagement. Italy is reassessing its Belt and Road Memorandum with China, having been the only Group of Seven country to join the initiativ...

  • How can the US counter normalization with Assad?

    HOW CAN THE UNITED STATES COUNTER NORMALIZATION WITH ASSAD IN THE MIDDLE EAST? - On May 11, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the ‘Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act’ which could bar the U.S. government from normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Bashar Assad and e...