Far from the solidity of a unipolar or bipolar world, the region is awash with medium and large powers all vying for their interests, with several unstable states in which to do so. Is there hope?

Non-state actors have risen to political prominence at an alarming rate since the Arab Spring. Combatting these groups is vital to achieving regional security and stability. Our future depends on it.

Obstacles persist in the region amid conflicts, corruption, and uncertainty, but bright spots show how to attract foreign direct investment, including in Morocco and Egypt.

Mediation is not always an easy win and can carry downsides.

The United States doesn't need more troops or hardware to rebuild trust with its regional partners. It just needs to be more effective, innovative, and consistent with what it already has.

Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa writes a regular column in Asharq Al-Awsat. Peru's great man of letters is more interested in shedding light on the human condition than trending on social media.

China has neither the willingness nor the ability anytime soon to substantially project military power into the Middle East. To continue to meet its ends in the Middle East, Beijing may not need to.

The fall out of Brexit at home, a lessening of western power and the diminishing importance of the Middle East to London and its western allies has seen the UK step back from the region

The US is eager to rid itself of the burden of bearing the main responsibility of ensuring the security and stability of the Middle East