Middle East Minute by AL-MONITOR

Al-Monitor’s Gulf correspondent Jennifer Gnana joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Saudi Arabia hosting US and Ukrainian officials for talks on the war with Russia and why the kingdom as well as the UAE are seeking a greater role in efforts to end the conflict.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor’s Sam Wendel joins host Adam Lucente to discuss his new FutureVerse newsletter, his interview with Saudi tech diplomat Deemah Al-Yahya, how US economic trouble and China are impacting artificial intelligence in the Middle East. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Chief Business Correspondent Jack Dutton joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the UK removing sanctions on Syria, including which entities are affected, how the action compares to the European Union's approach, and the prospects for the US offering sanctions relief. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...

Al-Monitor contributor Barin Kayaoglu joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Turkey’s potential role in a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire. The discussion focuses on Turkey’s desire to secure a deal that is favorable to Ukraine, his reporting on the possibility of Turkish peacekeepers deploying to the country, and how Ankara views the dispute between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr...

Al-Monitor Israel Pulse columnist Ben Caspit joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Israel's military actions in Syria, including Israeli concerns about the new government led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the security situation near the border. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Pentagon correspondent Jared Szuba joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, as well as what Israel wants from the US and the possibility of armed conflict between the countries. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

AL-Monitor's Elizabeth Hagedorn joins host Adam Lucente to discuss US President Donald Trump's Middle East policies in his second term, including the planned take over of Gaza, efforts to engage Iran, cuts to USAID and friendly gestures towards Saudi Arabia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Jennifer Gnana joins host Adam Lucente from Dubai to discuss the World Government Summit, including Syria's participation and the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence at the annual event. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

AL-Monitor's Ezgi Akin joins host Adam Lucente to discuss her reporting on an upcoming meeting Turkey will hold with Syria, Iraq and Jordan on the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), as well as Turkey's relations with the new Syrian administration and its conflict with Kurdish groups in the country. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

Al-Monitor's Sam Wendel joins host Adam Lucente to discuss how the US-China trade war and President Donald Trump's tariffs could affect the Middle East, including potential benefits to the region's metals sector and effects on oil prices. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Chief Correspondent Amberin Zaman joins host Adam Lucente to discuss her recent reporting from Damascus, including perceptions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's governance, the staggering economic challenges facing the country, and a possible US military withdrawal from the northeast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do...

Al-Monitor Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Israel's raids in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, including the reasons for the renewed violence and how the Palestinian Authority views the presence of armed groups there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Rina Bassist joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the status of the Gaza ceasefire and hostages deal, including points of contention between Israel and Hamas as well as differing views within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet and Israeli society. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Chief Business Correspondent Jack Dutton joins host Adam Lucente from Davos to discuss Middle East-related developments at the World Economic Forum, including the state of the global energy transition and prospects for investment in Syria. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor contributor Megan Mineiro joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress on Middle East policy, particularly towards Iran and Israel. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Elizabeth Hagedorn joins Adam Lucente to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal, including how it came to be and what needs to happen for it to be fully implemented. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay remains open after 23 years, despite pledges by two presidents to close it and only 15 detainees remaining. Al-Monitor's Rosaleen Carroll joins Adam Lucente to discuss the prospects for closing Guantanamo Bay and the reasons it is still operating. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

From Beirut, Al-Monitor's Beatrice Farhat joins Adam Lucente to discuss the election of Gen. Joseph Aoun as president of Lebanon and how his victory might affect political dynamics in the country. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor Gulf Correspondent Jennifer Gnana joins Adam Lucente to discuss what's driving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates' engagement with Syria's new administration. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Sam Wendel joins Adam Lucente to discuss the state of the Middle East economy heading into 2025, including oil prices, IPOs and the possible effects of incoming US President Donald Trump's trade policies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Joyce Karam joins Adam Lucente to discuss the events that made 2024 a pivotal year in the Middle East, including the Israel-Iran conflict, the rebel victory in Syria and more, plus a look at what's ahead in 2025. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Rina Bassist joins to discuss France's relations with Syria and recent visits by European diplomats to Syria. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Elizabeth Hagedorn and Jared Szuba join to discuss the US response to the rebel offensive in Syria, including effects on the US military in the country and how the incoming Trump administration may handle the issue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Al-Monitor's Ezgi Akin joins the segment to talk about Turkey’s proposed ‘foreign agent’ law which is being as Ankara readies to debate the controversial bill amid press and civic groups expressing concern. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jennifer Gnana, Al-Monitor's Gulf correspondent, discusses the shifting dynamics in the Gulf over the past four years, saying that as Trump returns to the White House, he'll find the Gulf has changed and embraced competing partners. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...