Crisis, Conflict, and Diplomacy: The U.S. Response to a Changing Middle East

The Middle East has entered a new and uncharted era, where long-standing power structures have collapsed, new actors have emerged, and the region's trajectory remains uncertain. Over the past two decades, wars, revolutions, and diplomatic breakthroughs—from the rise and fall of the Islamic State to the Syrian uprising, the Yazidi genocide, and the signing of the Abraham Accords—have shaped the regional order. Yet, the past year has seen seismic shifts that have upended geopolitical calculations.

The October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as the new power in Damascus have forced a fundamental reassessment of the Middle East policy. Meanwhile, U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations between the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas underscore Washington's critical Role in shaping the region's future.

Few U.S. officials have had a closer view of these transformations than Ambassador Barbara A. Leaf, The Former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, whose distinguished career has placed her at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy in the region. From leading diplomatic efforts in Iraq, Bosnia, and the UAE to shaping U.S. policy on Iran, Syria, and counterterrorism, Ambassador Leaf has been a key figure in some of the most complex geopolitical challenges of the 21st century.

Most recently, she led the first formal U.S. diplomatic engagement in Syria in over a decade, meeting with the country's new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus. Her visit marked a turning point in U.S.-Syria relations following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, raising urgent questions about the future of American engagement in the country and the broader region.

In this exclusive conversation, Ambassador Leaf and Omar Mohammed will discuss:

• The implications of Assad's fall and the rise of HTS in Damascus
• How the U.S. is navigating shifting alliances and emerging power centers
• The Role of Diplomacy in the post-October 7 Middle East
• The U.S. strategy behind ceasefire negotiations and its broader policy vision
• What Washington's engagement in Syria means for regional stability

This timely discussion offers a rare opportunity to hear from one of America's top diplomats about the evolving nature of U.S. policy in the Middle East and the future of American engagement in an increasingly complex and unpredictable region.

Register Here!