Author Archive

Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook
Steven A. Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy.
Ideas

Trump's Turkey Pushback is a Welcome Start

Unlike its predecessors, the Trump administration finally seems to be doing something about a long list of U.S. grievances.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

The Entirely Rational Basis For Turkey's Move Into Syria

Nearly a century of mistrust of America and an obsession with defeating the Kurds sparked its operation in Afrin.

  • Steven A. Cook, The Atlantic
Ideas

How Mistakes and Mission Creep Are Shaping Libya’s Future

Lost in the din of developments at the UN this week is a British report on the ‘failed’ intervention that has turned the country into an 'unmitigated disaster.'

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

How the Kurds Drove Turkey Back to Israel (and Two Other Reasons for the Deal)

The Turks want to forestall any Israeli declaration of support for Syrian Kurdish independence aspirations, but distrust and resentment remain.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

The Arab Spring's Aftermath, in 7 Minutes

A look at where Libya, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, and Tunisia stand now.

  • Steven A. Cook
Ideas

Expect More Self-Destruction from Egypt's Sisi

The new Egypt, with its over-reliance on violence, coercion, and lies, looks strikingly similar to the old one.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

A Spate of Violence in Israel, and Then What?

The uptick in tensions between Israelis and Palestinians show that neither the one-state nor two-state solutions are viable.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

Turkey’s 10-Sided War With Itself

The unfortunate reality is a Turkish society now made up of mutually distrustful — and sometimes violent — camps.

  • Steven A. Cook, The Atlantic
Threats

Expect Less Than Advertised As Turkey Enters ISIS Fight

White House officials called Turkey's new role in the fight against ISIS 'game-changing.' In reality, Ankara's escalation is likely to achieve much less than expected.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Ideas

Michael Oren Is Wrong — There Has Always Been Daylight Between the US and Israel

Some Israelis think the relationship will snap back in January 2017, but it'll be more likely to continue as it always has.

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Threats

Playing It Straight With Turkey

The Turkish government has proven problematic for its western allies in a variety of areas. By Steven A. Cook

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
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Threats

The Slow Slide Toward Dictatorship Taking Place in Egypt and Turkey

The governments of Cairo and Ankara rounded up dozens of critics this past weekend as the two U.S. allies increasingly crack down on dissent with intimidation and violence. By Steven A. Cook

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Threats

The US-Turkey Relationship Is Undergoing Death By a Thousand Slights

Here's what makes Ankara the reluctant and very important U.S. ally it is today. By Steven A. Cook

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
Policy

What Stands in the Way of an Independent Kurdistan?

Iraq's northeastern Kurdish region is anxious to assert its independence and protect key cities while provinces around it descend into sectarian chaos. But Kurdish leaders may be trying to do too much too soon. By Steven A. Cook

  • Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations