Middle East
2023 Air Command and Staff College Seminar
On 12 July 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted approximately 90 students and faculty from the Air Command and Staff College. The group was briefed at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. by NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat on security...
2023 Air War College International Officer Seminar
On 23 June 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted 54 international fellows and faculty from the Air War College. The students were briefed at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. by NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas on the Security...
2023 Eastern Mediterranean Security Roundtable
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM), a leading Turkish think-tank, held a roundtable discussion in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 17–19 July 2023. Scholars from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel,...
2023 Royal Jordanian National Defense College Strategic Leadership Seminar
From 21–30 August 2023, the NESA Center conducted the “Perspectives on Strategic Leadership Seminar” with students and faculty of the Royal Jordanian National Defense College (RJNDC) in Amman, Jordan. Seminar content and instruction was led by NESA Center Associate Dean Charles Marks and...
Air War College Seminar – Washington Program
On 23 June 2022, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted 52 international fellows and faculty from the Air War College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC. The students were briefed by NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat and NESA Center Academic Dean Dr....
Negev Forum Regional Security Working Group: “Opportunities for Enhancing Collective Security in the Middle East and North Africa”
On June 5–8, 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in support of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Department of State, hosted the first-ever Negev Forum Regional Security Working Group (RSWG) regional security seminar in Washington, DC...
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...
Apr–May 2023 NESA Center Update
Read our latest report that highlights recent NESA Region Central & South Asia trends, programs & events, faculty & staff engagements, alumni contributions, and upcoming events. Click the link below to view the report. Read the Latest Report [PDF] Read other NESA...
"The Future of Security in the Middle East" featuring NESA Center Professor David Des Roches
Volume 30, Issue 2 of the Middle East Policy Journal, published on 28 May, includes a transcript of the Middle East Policy Council Symposium "The Future of Security in the Middle East," which took place on 21 April in Washington, D.C. The symposium featured NESA Center...
2023 Legatum Prosperity Index
On 27 February 2023, the Legatum Institute published the 16th edition of the Legatum Prosperity Index. The Legatum Prosperity Index is a tool for transformation, offering a unique insight into how prosperity is forming and evolving across the world. Leaders around the world can use it to help set...
Alumni Publication: "Al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan: Information Blackhole and Strategic (Mis)communication" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 05 July 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "Al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan: Information Blackhole and Strategic (Mis)communication." "U.S. and U.N. estimates about al-Qaida’s strength and position in Afghanistan differ. Sorting...
Alumni Publication: "The Potential of Palestinian Gas and the Role of Regional Powers: From Promise to Action" by Antonia Dimou
On 18 September 2023, Modern Diplomacy published NESA Center alumna Antonia Dimou's latest analysis titled "The Potential of Palestinian Gas and the Role of Regional Powers: From Promise to Action." "Recent progress on the Gaza marine gas field’s development is positive news and...
CIVIC-POMED Fact Sheet: "The Leahy Law 'Duty to Inform' and Human Rights Vetting for Non-Traceable Assistance"
A new fact sheet from Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), “Closing a Leahy Law Loophole: The ‘Duty to Inform’ and Human Rights Vetting for Non-Traceable Assistance,” takes stock of a new amendment to the Leahy Law that seeks to address...
Climate Change and Gender in Morocco and Jordan
Last month, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published a set of articles titled "Climate Change and Gender in Morocco and Jordan" by Aya Kamil and Adele Malle, who are junior fellows at Carnegie. In the first article, Kamil argues that despite its role as a pioneer of...
CSAG Information Paper: "Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon)"
Subject: Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon) Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding how the Captagon drug industry in Syria affects the region and what the US/CENTCOM could do to consolidate its...
CSAG Information Paper: "China’s Approach to the Red Sea States"
Subject: China’s Approach to the Red Sea States. Purpose: This paper aims to present the results of the CSAG’s analysis of China’s Approach to the Red Sea States, including the “5-No Approach” to the African countries. Read the full paper here View other USCENTCOM Combined Strategic...
CSAG Information Paper: "Chinese-brokered Iran-KSA Détente, 'A Game-Changer or a Mirage?'”
Subject: Chinese-brokered Iran-KSA Détente, “A Game-Changer or a Mirage?” Purpose: To present CSAG’s analysis of the recent rapprochement between Iran and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) brokered by China. Introduction: The recent diplomatic agreement between Iran and KSA in March 2023 is...
CSAG Information Paper: "Deir ez-Zor: Critical Juncture in the Process Towards Syria’s Normalization"
Subject: Deir ez-Zor: Critical Juncture in the Process Towards Syria’s Normalization Purpose: To present CSAG’s analysis of the strategic significance of Deir ez-Zor in shaping the future of Syria. It reveals the growing interest of various actors operating in the region and their efforts...
CSAG Information Paper: "Iran-KSA Peace Talks and its Implications for South Asia"
Subject: Iran-KSA peace talks and its implications for South Asia. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present the analysis of CSAG on consequences of the Iran-KSA peace talks for South Asia in order to draw pertinent conclusions for US CENTCOM. Read the full paper here View other...
CSAG Information Paper: "Pirates of the Middle East Gulfs"
Subject: Pirates of the Middle East Gulfs Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding how Iran is using a calculated provocative approach, to enhance their bargaining power by creating leverage during negotiations, to achieve what is in Iran’s best interest. Read the...
CSAG Information Paper: "The Quran Desecration and its Implications – Perspectives of Partners"
Subject: The Quran Desecration and its Implications – Perspectives of Partners Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding the current incidents of Quran burning, why it matters, possible reasons, its implications, and the perspective of partners. Read the full...
CSAG Information Paper: Hezbollah – IRGC’s Main Coordinating Tool in Middle East
Subject: Hezbollah – IRGC’s main coordinating tool in the Middle East. Purpose: This paper aims to present the results of the CSAG’s analysis of Hezbollah as the main coordinator for Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) actions in the ME. It highlights Hezbollah’s regional activities,...
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 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: 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: “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...
Faculty Publication: "Egypt and Iran: Prospects for Rapprochement" by Gawdat Bahgat
On 12 June 2023, Gulf International Forum published NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat's article "Egypt and Iran: Prospects for Rapprochement." Dr. Bahgat argues, "Though similar in many ways, Egypt and Iran have long found themselves in political opposition to one another — now they...
Faculty Publication: "Jordanian stamps of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem: 1967-1989" by Michael Sharnoff
On 24 August 2023, the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies published NESA Center Associate Professor Michael Sharnoff's research article "Jordanian stamps of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem: 1967-1989." ABSTRACT: Jordanian postage stamp depictions of the Islamic holy sites in...