Venezuela's Shadow Over MENA: Perceptions and...

This bonus episode of Middle East Focus features a conversation from MEI's Virtual Briefing Series. Director of Communications Zeina Al-Shaib is joined by Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow Alan Eyre and Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka to discuss the ongoing protests in Iran. The street ...  Show more

In the final episode of 2025, MEI Senior Fellow Paul Salem joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the major developments that shaped the Middle East over the past year and to look ahead to 2026. Salem reviews the key events that redefined the regional order, inc ...  Show more

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the front while Washington's diplomatic drive to end the Ukraine war intensifies. US officials are in Moscow after winning Ukrainian backing for a 30-day ceasefire. Is the war nearing an end - and what are the obstacles?

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Today we look at Ukraine’s surprise advance across the Russian border and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.121,000 people have evacuated from Russia’s western Kursk region after the Ukrainian military crossed the border in an unexpected move. Adam speaks to Ukrainecast’ ...  Show more

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, Ukrainian soldiers have advanced 30km inside Russia. President Zelensky says Ukraine is pushing the war onto "the aggressor's territory" in the Kursk region. What could this mean for the war? Vitaly Shevchenko, one of ...  Show more

It’s well known that the West has rallied to support Kyiv and punish Moscow right from the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But large parts of the developing world—the so-called global south—have chosen to stay neutral. In fact, China has reaffirmed its friendship with Russ ...  Show more