Middle East & North Africa

Recent publications

A man walks through a dry, rocky riverbed in Afghanistan’s Baghlan Province, with green fields and mist-covered mountains in the background.

The price of silence

Five years of Taliban rule raise an uncomfortable question: what exactly has isolation achieved?

Afghanistan is facing deepening poverty, food insecurity and climate pressures. International support must address these basic needs while preserving independent channels through civil society and international organisations.

Dr. Abdullah Fahimi

Effects of the EU’s Migration Diplomacy

Lessons from Tunisia, Mauritania, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan

Sophie Meiners

Svenja Niederfranke

This report assesses what the EU's high-profile deals with countries in the MENA region have actually achieved and offers recommendations for the EU to improve its migration diplomacy.

Morocco as a Migration Partner

Goals, Formats, Effects, and Next Steps for Germany, Spain, and France

Dr. Isabelle Schäfer

Mai-Linh Ho Dac

Qatar, Ras Laffan Industrial City, built above the world's largest natural gas field

Lessons learned from the Middle East

Ensuring resilience for Europe’s energy infrastructure

Nina Locher

Loyle Campbell

Europe is underestimating a strategic shift in modern warfare: the intentional targeting of critical infrastructure. Russia has targeted Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure for years, but such energy systems have become central in the Iran War. Energy infrastructure is a particular focus: Strikes on gas and oil facilities illustrate how quickly economies can be destabilized by disrupting power grids, industrial production, and civilian supply. The resilience of critical infrastructure must move to the center of Germany’s and Europe’s defense and security agenda.

Der Iran-Krieg als Testfall für Deutschlands Glaubwürdigkeit

Dr. David Jalilvand

Dr. Stefan Meister

Im Krieg Israels und der USA gegen Iran hat Deutschland kaum Einfluss auf das Konfliktgeschehen, ist aber von dessen sicherheitspolitischen und ökonomischen Folgen direkt betroffen.