Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook is a columnist at Foreign Policy and the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. His latest book, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East, will be published in June 2024.

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Articles by Steven A. Cook
Jared Kushner
Jared Kushner

Breaking History for No Good Reason

Review
Steven A. Cook
Construction works in hard hats and high-visibility vests stand around on a construction site with tall buildings in the background.
Construction works in hard hats and high-visibility vests stand around on a construction site with tall buildings in the background.

Stop Funding Sisi’s House of Cards

Argument
Steven A. Cook
Putin, Raisi, and Erdogan clasp each others' hands in a line facing toward the camera.
Putin, Raisi, and Erdogan clasp each others' hands in a line facing toward the camera.

Russia Still Has Willing Partners in the Middle East

Argument
Steven A. Cook, Beth Sanner
A close up of Erdogan's face is shown with the NATO logo behind it.
A close up of Erdogan's face is shown with the NATO logo behind it.

What Erdogan Gets by Being a Spoiler in NATO

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
Mohammad bin Salman is shown with a slight smirk on his face.
Mohammad bin Salman is shown with a slight smirk on his face.

Biden Was Always Going to Need Saudi Arabia

Argument
Steven A. Cook
Demonstrators hold a placard that reads "EU, UN and US it is time for B.D.S."
Demonstrators hold a placard that reads "EU, UN and US it is time for B.D.S."

The BDS Movement Has Already Lost

Argument
Steven A. Cook
In a photo supplied by the Saudi Royal Court, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embraces Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
In a photo supplied by the Saudi Royal Court, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embraces Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The Middle East’s Kumbaya Moment Won’t Last

Argument
Steven A. Cook
President Joe Biden waves as he walks to Marine One for a departure from the Ellipse near the White House on May 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.
President Joe Biden waves as he walks to Marine One for a departure from the Ellipse near the White House on May 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.

America’s Middle East Friendships Are Dying a Natural Death

Argument
Steven A. Cook
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the guard of honour upon his arrival during a welcome ceremony ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President, in Kiev, on October 9, 2017.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the guard of honour upon his arrival during a welcome ceremony ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President, in Kiev, on October 9, 2017.

Ukraine’s War Is Erdogan’s Opportunity

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
A Muslim believer reads Koran before breaking his fast at the Al-Azhar mosque on May 12, 2019, as they mark the 1079th anniversary of the establishment of the mosque, during the holy month of Ramadan in Egypt's capital Cairo.
A Muslim believer reads Koran before breaking his fast at the Al-Azhar mosque on May 12, 2019, as they mark the 1079th anniversary of the establishment of the mosque, during the holy month of Ramadan in Egypt's capital Cairo.

Islamism Is Ready for a Comeback

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
An Iranian flag flies next to a ground-to-ground Sejjil missile at an undisclosed location in Iran.
An Iranian flag flies next to a ground-to-ground Sejjil missile at an undisclosed location in Iran.

A New Iran Deal Means Old Chaos

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
General view of Burj Khalifa during sunset on January 3, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
General view of Burj Khalifa during sunset on January 3, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Middle East’s Conflicts Aren’t Done With the Emirates

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
Then-Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud bin Faisal Al Saud welcomes then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
Then-Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud bin Faisal Al Saud welcomes then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden’s Middle East Strategy Is Ruthless Pragmatism

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives at at Cologne's airport, on September 29, 2018 in Cologne, where he is to inaugurate the Central Mosque, one of Europe's largest.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives at at Cologne's airport, on September 29, 2018 in Cologne, where he is to inaugurate the Central Mosque, one of Europe's largest.

Why One Man Can Ruin Turkey’s Economy

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gets the help of a bodyguard as he takes off his overcoat during his visit at the 'La Alhambra' in Granada, Spain, 13 January 2008 .
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gets the help of a bodyguard as he takes off his overcoat during his visit at the 'La Alhambra' in Granada, Spain, 13 January 2008 .

Erdogan Has Never Been in This Much Trouble

Analysis
Steven A. Cook
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