1、POLICY BRIEFPIECES IN MOTION:REBALANCING POWER IN A NEW LEVANTINE ORDERJulien Barnes-Dacey,Ellie Geranmayeh,Hugh LovattMay 2025SUMMARYThe October 7th 2023 attacks on Israel led by Hamas shook the Middle Eastern kaleidoscope.The pieces are still in flux.The fall of Assad in Syria,Hizbullahs decline i
2、n Lebanon,and new efforts by Iraqs government to curb Iran-backed militias create an opening in these three fragile Levantine states.Regional powers are trying to exploit Irans weakening to gain advantage.But long-term stability in the Levant,a vital European interest,depends on the establishment of
3、 a new balance of power that can support independent governments free from external hegemony.European policymakers should use their continents diplomatic and economic weight to help achieve a regional balance:by partnering with potential stabilisers(Turkey,Saudi Arabia and Qatar),containing destabilisers(Iran and Israel),and doing more to strengthen governance in Damascus,Beirut and Baghdad.
