The old lesson about ‘politics abhorring a vacuum’ (including on a global scale) is apparently being learned once again in the Middle East. The United States is in the process of leaving Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. This policy could be reversed by a future administration, but for the time being, an assertive Russia stepped in to claim a leading role in Syria. Even more ominously, China has been negotiating trade and military agreements with Iran. The more the Islamic Republic sinks into crises in its health, economy and strategic affairs, the more Beijing could become its protector and use Tehran as a launching pad into the entire area. Panel: – Jonathan Hessen, Host. – Amir Oren, Analyst. – Col. (Res.) Reuven Ben-Shalom, Cross-Cultural Strategist and Associate at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Herzliya. – Dr. Menahem Merhavy, Research Fellow, Truman Institute, Hebrew University.
