ع
Sections
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
Regions
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
More
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • Newsletter

LATEST ISSUE

Latest Issue
Magazine Archive
النسخة العربية
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Tag
  • US foreign policy

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf testifies during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at the US Capitol on November 8, 2023. Alex Wong/Getty Images via AFP

Barbara Leaf: sectarian power-sharing not the answer in Syria

Al Majalla spoke to a seasoned diplomat who helped shape American policy on the Middle East during Joe Biden's presidency, asking her about Syria, US engagement, Iran, and Palestine.

Ahmed Maher 17 July 2025
Restructuring the US State Department lets President Donald Trump withdraw from the country from its global leadership position in areas such as human rights and gender equality. Jay Torres

Trimming the fat? Rubio’s US State Department reorganisation

In an increasingly interconnected world, the siloing of the State Department's key thematic programmes will complicate the Trump administration's approach to global conflicts and crises.

Caroline Rose 04 June 2025
US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive to hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

Trump deporting Indians from America gives Modi a problem

Both men won an election last year and enjoy friendly relations, but tariffs and the sight of shackled Indians are huge problems for the man from Gujarat, whose supporters are those being deported

Shakir Husain 13 February 2025
Morgan Ortagus AFP_Al Majalla

Morgan Ortagus: Trump’s blunt new Middle East envoy

Alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Ortagus is prepared to furrow brows in a region known for its sensitivities. In fact, she has already started.

Aqeel Abbas 11 February 2025
How Donald Trump sees the world and the way he makes decisions will help to determine US foreign policy Nigel Buchanan

More so than advisors, Trump’s instincts will make US foreign policy

There are clues as to Trump's foreign policy, and a defence strategy outlines in some detail what his administration hopes to achieve. Yet, he will still shoot from the hip.

Robert Ford 09 August 2024
Nash Weerasekera

America is divided... who will rule over it?

The presidential campaign suddenly looks different. How would a second Trump White House or a first Harris administration approach the Middle East?

Al Majalla - London 04 August 2024
Brian Stauffer

The effects of a Trump or Harris presidency on the Middle East

Donald Trump's previous administration offers clues as to how he would approach 2025-29, but Kamala Harris is more of an unknown quantity. Whoever wins, their policies would ripple through the region

Paul Salem 04 August 2024
The US has been “flooding” the Middle East with weaponry for decades. It provides Israel with billions of dollars of sophisticated military equipment every year, with no strings attached. Nathalie Lees

America fuelled the fire in the Middle East

Israel is in growing danger—but the responsibility lies more in Washington than in Tehran

Stephen M. Walt 01 May 2024

Foreign Policy Tests Arrive Early for Biden

Less than one month into President Biden’s administration, serious foreign policy challenges have come to the fore. Biden is poised to make his first foreign policy address to the State Department…

Joseph Braude 06 February 2021
  • Popular
  • Editor's Pick
Jared Kushner and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif interact in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 11 April 2026. Jacquelyn Martin/ REUTERS
Politics

‘Kushner and Witkoff spoiled the US-Iran talks’

13 April 2026

Sources tell Al Majalla that Iran was able to build a rapport with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, but sensed his hands were tied in the presence of Trump's son-in-law and close friend

Kamal Alam
Eduardo Ramon
Politics

China and Russia's calculated backing of Iran

12 April 2026

Both Beijing and Moscow have pragmatic reasons to help Tehran raise the cost of US action. Each sees value in offering limited but meaningful support.

Michael Horowitz
Iranians mark 40 days since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes at a demonstration in Tehran on 9 April, 2026. Majid Asgaripour / AFP
Politics

The US and Iran mull next moves amid shaky truce

10 April 2026

Washington weighs the desire to avoid a protracted war with offsetting the appearance of defeat, as Tehran debates whether to consolidate gains before conditions shift or press perceived advantages

Alex Vatanka
Al Majalla
Politics

The US-Iran war tanked Trump's popularity at home

07 April 2026

Instead of the "no endless wars" they were promised, Americans were thrown into a disastrous war and were feeling the economic pinch at the gas pump

Brian Katulis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shake hands during a session at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on 29 March 2026. Reuters
Politics

Palestinian executions are now official Israel policy

08 April 2026

Israel's parliament approved a draconian death penalty law last week that only applies to Palestinian prisoners, in a move that the UN says "would constitute a war crime"

Khaled Essam Eleslamboly

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter

Get the best of Al Majalla, straight to your inbox.

Your newsletter subscriptions are subject to Al Majalla privacy policy and terms and conditions.

OPINIONS

Lebanon-Israel talks: a gradual approach could go a long way

Michael Harari
Michael Harari

Global economy still reeling from US-Iran war effects

Fares Garabet
Fares Garabet

Zarif’s peace gambit meets Tehran’s limits

Alex Vatanka
Alex Vatanka

Lebanon’s Shiites are fighting a two-front war

Houssam Itani
Houssam Itani
MORE FROM OPINIONS
logo
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • About Al Majalla
  • Al Majalla Team
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
logo

© Al Majalla Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

0:00:00
0:00:00