Now that ISIS has been driven out of Iraq and Syria, rebuilding the region is a significant issue for the U.S., Iraq, Syria, and its allies. Hudson Institute hosted a discussion on post-ISIS Iraq and Syria and the future of U.S. Middle East policy. Keynote remarks will be delivered by Assistant Secretary of State for Stabilization Denise Natali, followed by a panel with the RAND Corporation’s Linda Robinson; Senior Advisor with the Iraq Haven Project Loay Mikhael; the Middle East Institute’s Elizabeth Dent; and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Frances Z. Brown. The discussion was moderated by Hudson Non-resident Senior Fellow Jonas Parello-Plesner.
ISIS has been defeated militarily, yet many challenges remain to stabilize and reconstruct the war-torn region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. The chief difficulties plaguing these countries include unlawful reconciliation practices for residents of former ISIS-occupied territories; regional disputes between the Kurdish population, Turkey, and Assad-controlled Syria; and mounting influence from outside actors including Russia and Iran. Rebuilding the region is in the U.S.’s best interests, but it cannot be done alone. Instead, the Trump administration favors a burden-sharing approach that requires greater investment from Iraq, Syria, and its western allies.
**NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to [email protected].**
At Sea Air Space 2025, Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Timothy A. Walton will discuss their findings with a panel of government and industry experts tasked with implementing these ideas.
The Hudson Institute Political Studies Policy Certificate Program gathers talented early career professionals for advanced study of American foreign and domestic policy and national security, led by policy experts and experienced government officials.
Murray will join Hudson Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs for a discussion on his conversations in the Middle East, the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, and the historical and moral dimensions of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorists who seek to destroy it.
In this episode, experts discuss what regional powers such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar are doing in the Horn, their strategies and motivations, and the impact they might have on the region.
