Fatima Sadiqi

At the recent NATO summit in Ankara, renewed US-Iran strikes and Turkey’s push to rejoin the F-35 stealth fighter program overshadowed the Alliance’s message of unity and a strong European pillar. MEI Senior Fellow Iulia Joja joins host Alistair Taylor to unpack the summit — what it achieved, what got left off the agenda, and why the roads out of Ankara run through the Middle East.

This report outlines an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, comprising eight chapters of specific policy interventions across the security, economic, and political dimensions needed to secure a sovereign Lebanon, lock in US gains against Iran, and permanently end the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this article posits a successful outcome will require more than just negotiations: sustained pressure on Hizballah and Iran, internal reforms in Lebanon, Arab state help, and more proactive American support — not just money, but advice — for the Lebanese army.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this paper examines how the United States might mediate the settlement of Israel-Lebanon differences over the line that divides them into separate jurisdictions.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, the author discusses options for American military assistance to the Lebanese Army in the effort to disarm Hizballah and regain Lebanese sovereignty.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this article analyzes the Tripartite Framework Agreement signed by representatives of the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, and compares previous US-led peacekeeping mechanisms.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this article discusses the role of the United States in defeating Hizballah and achieving a permanent end to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this article argues that to strengthen the Lebanese state, accelerate economic recovery, and permanently reduce Iran’s influence, the United States should support efforts to dismantle Hizballah’s financial networks, political influence, and parallel institutions as well as reform the judicial system.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, this article calls on the  international community to focus on helping Lebanon transition from a market participant to a neutral Referee, strictly enforcing competition and the rule of law across both the public and private sectors.

As part of a report outlining an actionable US roadmap to win in Lebanon, the author analyzes previous international donor strategies in Iraq, Lebanon, and Ukraine as Washington and its Gulf partners consider how to assist the new Lebanese government in crafting and implementing a national recovery plan.

This past June, I had the opportunity to visit Ukraine and see a bit of a war I heretofore had only read about. The contrasts with the Middle Eastern wars I had experienced were stunning, as was, in particular, the juxtaposition with the current Iran conflict and the ongoing threat to our Gulf allies. There are lessons to be learned about commitment, intensity, self-reliance, and the importance of alliances. They could serve our allies and ourselves well in both theaters.