Middle East elections and escalation, with Brett McGurk

The Middle East faces a period of extreme volatility as the United States struggles to define a coherent strategy for countering Iranian influence and regional threats like the Houthis. Veteran diplomat Brett McGurk, author of *Brink*, highlights that the lack of an integrated diplomatic objective has created a power vacuum, forcing regional partners to hedge their bets through shifting alliances. The Houthi escalation in Yemen, fueled by Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles and drones, demonstrates the failure of isolated military responses. While a potential change in Israeli leadership could alter domestic policy in the West Bank, the broader regional security doctrine remains focused on preventing the reconstitution of threats like Hamas and Hezbollah. Ultimately, the United States must move beyond reactive military operations and leverage its economic pressure to secure a sustainable diplomatic framework, as the current path risks further entrenchment in regional conflicts.