CFTNI Policy Briefs:
Turkey, Gaza, and AI in the Middle East
I am pleased to share three important recent reports from Center for the National Interest Senior Fellow Joshua Yaphe exploring key foreign policy issues for the United States in the Middle East.
With so much attention focused on Emirati and Saudi investments in American high-tech ventures, CFTNI assessed the state of affairs in the global AI race in Josh’s report, “Building an AI Alliance in the Middle East: Hard Realities and Practical Solutions.” The Trump administration is encouraging the export of a full stack of AI tools and applications, but this should only be the first step in a much larger project of multilateral cooperation. Ultimately, the United States will not be able to completely halt Chinese AI sales in the Middle East, nor can it prevent one friendly government from using these tools to target another.
Prior to the hostage deal negotiated by the Trump administration, CFTNI published a report outlining the likely outcome of the war in Gaza, “Everyone Will Be Disappointed with the Day After in Gaza.” Israel will probably not be able to achieve total victory over Hamas, exclude the Palestinian Authority (PA) from Gaza governance, or maintain an international military presence in the Strip. At the same time, the PA will probably avoid any substantive reforms, Palestinian statehood will remain out of reach for the foreseeable future, and Western governments pushing for it may face backlash from their own citizens.
In advance of President Erdoğan’s visit to the White House, Josh examined the changing landscape in Türkiye in his report, “Türkiye and the Problem of an ‘America First’ Foreign Policy.” Ankara is currently experiencing a moment of incredible stability at home and immense influence abroad. It is an opportunity for the United States to have a major impact on this NATO ally, but only if the administration can come to terms with its America First agenda.
I hope that you will review these valuable and timely new papers.
For further information regarding the Center’s Middle East programs, please contact us at [email protected].
Paul J. Saunders
President
Center for the National Interest
