Middle East
2023 NESA-IISS South Asia Security Forum
From 10–12 March 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and its partner, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), co-hosted the 7th annual South Asia Security Forum in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The NESA Center team Distinguished Professor Hassan...
Air War College Visit – 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....
CENTCOM Strategic Survey Seminar
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a CENTCOM Strategic Survey Seminar in Tampa, Florida, from 19–21 July 2022. The 3-day seminar was entitled “Evolving U.S. National Security in the Middle East and South Asia.” It was aimed at giving about 35 U.S Central...
Discussion with the Director of the Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies
On 30 March 2023, a group from the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, including Deputy Director COL David Lamm, USA (Ret.); Professor Dr. Jennifer Jefferis; Professor Dr. Michael Sharnoff; Executive Officer Sam Marrero; Outreach and Alumni Coordinator Christopher...
Dynamics of Countering Human Trafficking in Southwest Asia and the Gulf Seminar
From 28 August – 01 September 2022, the NESA Center conducted a seminar titled “Dynamics of Countering Human Trafficking in Southwest Asia and the Gulf.” The four-day hybrid workshop was held in Muscat, Oman. This seminar was designed to help participants assess, analyze and identify...
Future PASS 19-18 Participants Improve English Language Skills
By Christine June Public Affairs Office George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Eight participants from six countries are attending the English Language Enhancement Course at the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies here...
GLOBAL TRENDS: National Intelligence Council Report
Global Trends Hompage Excerpt: Welcome to the 7th edition of the National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends report. Published every four years since 1997, Global Trends assesses the key trends and uncertainties that will shape the strategic environment for the United States during...
Inaugural International Humanitarian Law / Law of Armed Conflict Course for Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Command and Staff College
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International Military Officers’ Forum
From 1-5 November 2021, the NESA Center hosted foreign military officers assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa in Washington D.C. for an International Military Officers’ Forum titled “World Power Competition and Middle East Turmoil.” NESA Center experts, including Professor Dr. Richard...
International Military Officers’ Forum 2023
From 23–27 January 2023, the NESA Center hosted foreign military officers assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa and embassy officials in Washington D.C. for an International Military Officers’ Forum (IMOF) titled “The Biden Administration and Global Security.” NESA Center...
Lebanon Fouad Shehab Command & Staff College Program
The NESA Center hosted the Lebanese Armed Forces for a Lebanon Fouad Shehab Command & Staff College Program titled “Back to Basics: U.S. Security Partnerships in the Middle East” from 18 to 22 April 2022. This seminar explored the enduring issues and values that can reinforce or...
Marshall Center Educates Security Professionals to Counter International Illicit Threat Networks
By Christine June Public Affairs Office George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (March 8, 2019) – International illicit threat networks operate with the intent to cause great harm to people, resulting in mass causalities, said the...
Marshall Center Event Explores Common Vision of Shared Responsibility for Security
By Christine June Public Affairs Office George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies TUNIS, Tunisia – An outreach team from the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies organized an event to enhance a common understanding of shared responsibility for...
Marshall Center Seminar Examines Threats to Europe from the MENA Region
By Christine June Public Affairs Office George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Jan. 22, 2019) – There are those who believe that the Arab regional order is collapsing, bringing a dark period for the Middle East and North Africa Region...
NESA Center Hosts Army War College Strategic Staff Ride Seminar
On 16 May 2023, the Near East South Asia Center hosted Dr. John Nagl and twelve academic year 22–23 Army War College students from Carlisle Barracks for discussions on contemporary Iranian strategy and U.S. Middle East policy under the Biden Administration. Dr. Mahsa Rouhi,...
NESA Center Strategic Studies Network MENA Workshop
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies held a Strategic Studies Network (SSN) meeting in Manama, Bahrain, from 14–16 March 2023. Twelve representatives of civil society from the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region participated in a roundtable discussion. NESA Center...
NESA-AFRICOM-WJPC "Trans-Regional Illicit Commons: Drugs, Guns and People Workshop"
The William J. Perry Center for Strategic Studies (WJPC) in partnership with the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) conducted a Trans-Regional Illicit Commons: Drugs, Guns and People Workshop from 19-21 July 2016 in Casablanca,...
New Issue of CTX Counter-Terrorism Newsletter Available for Download!
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PMR Design for the Saudi Arabian National Defense University
On 30 September 2021, NESA Professors Dr. Michael Bell and Charles Marks delivered the preliminary design to transform the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College into the Saudi Arabian National Defense University. The NESA team presented the details of the design to our partners at...
Qatar Armed Forces Doctrine and Concepts Visit
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted the visit of the Director of the Qatar Armed Forces Doctrine and Concepts Center, General Abdullah al-Ammari, and his staff on 15 March 2023 in Washington, D.C. NESA Center Deputy Director COL David Lamm, USA (Ret.) and...
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Dec. 22'–Feb. 23' NESA Center Update
Read our latest report that highlights recent NESA Region Maritime Security 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 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: "After the Saudi-Iranian agreement" by Eman Ragab
On 28 March 2023, Ahram Online published NESA Center alumna Eman Ragab's article titled "After the Saudi-Iranian agreement." "The recent Saudi-Iranian agreement normalising relations between the two countries will bolster Saudi Arabia’s regional role and could lead to other...
Alumni Publication: "The dangers of legitimizing the Taliban" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 01 May 2023, the Middle East Institute published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "The dangers of legitimizing the Taliban" in its Monday Briefing: People power — the Israeli version blog. "Consensus eludes the West and regional countries on how to reform...
Alumni Publication: "The implications of the regional race for talent" by Nasser Bin Nasser
On 23 March 2023, Jordan News published NESA Center alumnus Nasser Bin Nasser's opinion piece titled "The implications of the regional race for talent." Read the article here [[{"fid":"465815","view_mode":"original_version","fields":{"format":"...
Alumni Publication: "The Samarkand Meeting: A Half-baked Regional Approach to Afghanistan’s Endless Woes" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 25 April 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's piece titled "The Samarkand Meeting: A Half-baked Regional Approach to Afghanistan’s Endless Woes." D'Souza argues that "legitimizing the Taliban’s rule is not the solution to Afghanistan’s current...
Alumni Publication: Turkey’s Upcoming General Election and LGBTQ+ Issues by Simone Bekker and NESA Center Alum Hussein Solomon
NESA Center Alum Hussein Solomon and Simone Bekker authored an article published by Middle East Tracker on 4 February 2023 titled "Turkey’s Upcoming General Election and LGBTQ+ Issues." Read the article here The views presented in this article...
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...
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: "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: 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...
Faculty Publication: "Security in the Gulf: The View from Oman" by Dr. Gawdat Bahgat
On 24 February 2023, Middle East Policy Journal published NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat's article titled "Security in the Gulf: The View from Oman." Dr. Bahgat is a professor of national security at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. He thanks the Omani...
Faculty Publication: US-Iran Relations – The Way Forward by Dr. Gawdat Bahgat
NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat recently published an article in Araa Magazine's February 2023 issue. The February issue focuses on the partnership between the EU and the Gulf. Dr. Bahgat's article focuses on the U.S. perspective on the partnership between the EU and GCC. Read the...
Gulf International Forum: The Gulf in 2023 Expert Outlook
NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat and Associate Professor David Des Roches provided predictions for the Gulf in 2023 for the Gulf International Forum publication titled "The Gulf in 2023 Expert Outlook" published on 12 January 2023. The Forum’s group of experts share their forecasts for...
Mantraya Annual Report 2022-23
The Mantraya Annual Report 2022-23 was released on 09 January 2023. The report is an annual compilation of Mantraya’s policy briefs, analyses, occasional papers, and voices from the South Asia region. Mantraya is an independent research forum that seeks to make constructive...
Middle East Institute Special Briefing: A turbulent year for MENA in 2023: Economic stresses, political instability, and the need for decisive leadership
Scholars from across Middle East Institute (MEI) weigh in on the outlook for 2023, covering key events, issues, and trends to watch in the Middle East and North Africa this year. Read the briefing on the MEI website Read the briefing as a PDF The views presented in this article...
NESA Center Update: July-August 2022
The NESA Center Update: July-August 2022 is focused on Near East South Asia Region Trends regarding the Gulf. The update also highlights July through August 2022 NESA Center programs & events, faculty & staff engagements, alumni contributions, and upcoming events. July-August...
The Muslim World Special Issue: The Domestic Politics of Iran & The International Relations of Iran
On 18 April 2023, The Muslim World published Volume 113, Issue 1-2 – a special issue featuring a collection of 14 articles on the domestic politics and international relations of Iran. NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat's February article "US-Iran Relations: Challenges and...