Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/16/2025
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

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Location
National Press Club

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Cost:
USD
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Website:
https://arabcenterdc.org/event/trump-and-the-middle-east-a-second-term-review/
Phone:

Organization:
Arab Center Washington DC

WASHINGTON D.C.

This event has both virtual and in-person attendance.

Arab Center Washington DC’s 10th Annual Conference critically examines the policies of the second Trump administration toward the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and their implications for democracy, human rights, international law, and regional stability. The conference discussions situate these policies within broader global debates on authoritarianism, self-determination, and the rule of law, with attention to their impact on both local populations and international norms.

In the first months of President Donald J. Trump’s second administration, US policy toward the MENA region has combined elements of continuity with striking departures. These include closer security and economic cooperation with authoritarian governments, recalibrated approaches to US force posture, developments in key bilateral relationships, shifts in US sanctions and aid policies, and evolving policies toward conflict zones. These developments raise pressing questions about the prospects for democratic governance, accountability for human rights violations, adherence to international humanitarian law, and the future of a constructive US involvement in the region.

This half-day conference convenes leading scholars, policy experts, and prominent voices on MENA politics to assess the administration’s early decisions, explore their legal and normative dimensions, and develop informed realistic policy recommendations. The conference also marks Arab Center Washington DC’s 10th anniversary, and to commemorate this milestone, the program will feature a special anniversary luncheon with a cultural program and awards ceremony honoring contributions to academic scholarship, advancements in media and information, and the promotion of democracy and human rights in the Arab world.