“This is certainly a period of great change and transitions,” noted William Wechsler, director of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs. He was speaking at “The Middle East in the New Geopolitical Disorder,” a conference organized to discuss the region’s newfound centrality amidst the global political currents, live-streamed from the headquarters of the Med-Or Foundation in Rome. In 2003 the Bush administration openly transitioned from supporting to maintain the status quo to altering it , noted Mr. Wechsler. Donald Trump “was the biggest threat to the status quo ever” remarked Mr. Wechsler. Setting aside the Western hemisphere, more than half of the US’ existing free trade agreements are struck with MENA countries.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 15, 2022 23:35 UTC