Dec 18, 2025
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, including
President Donald Trump’s return to office, the 12-day war between
Israel and Iran, and the ongoing negotiations over Gaza. He
assesses how the region has changed over the past year and what
those shifts could mean moving forward.
Read MEI scholars'
reflections on the past year and what to expect in 2026 here.
Recorded on December 16, 2025.