Early this month, the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies released its annual publication, Outlook, which presents an in-depth analysis of anticipated trends and trajectories for Egypt, the region, and the world, featuring contributions from 21 Egyptian experts and researchers specializing in politics, security, economics, and technology.
Outlook’s editorial explores the central drivers and broader frameworks underpinning the 2025 projections, focusing on the comeback of President Trump in the White House and the shifting dynamics within the Middle East, including the fallout from the Israeli conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, and Egypt’s balanced policy approach to both internal and external affairs.
The first section of the periodical, titled “Egyptian Issues,” explores the pathways of Egyptian affairs, starting with the political advancement of the public sphere, as the upcoming parliamentary elections promise to refocus attention on Egypt’s political landscape. It then shifts to the course of the Egyptian economy, highlighting the societal and state-level impacts of the ongoing economic reform program. Finally, it explores orientations of Egyptian foreign policy amidst the complex challenges posed by regional instability.
Shifting our focus to the broader region, the second section, titled “Regional Issues,” analyzes the regional outlook for the Middle East, beginning with the Israeli war on Gaza and the anticipated paths for Syria after the fall of the al-Assad regime and the rise of new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa. It further examines the shifting sands of Iranian regional influence, assessing how its power has been affected by recent events in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria. Lastly, it looks at the ripple effects of the numerous crises engulfing Egypt’s southern neighborhood, including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
The “Security Issues” section delves into the escalating global arms race, analyzing its destabilizing impact on regional security, particularly in light of escalating military spending amidst ongoing conflicts. It then analyzes the future of terrorist organizations, such as Daesh and al-Qaeda in the wake of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s ascendancy in Syria. Finally, it examines maritime security trends in the Middle East, considering the challenges to Red Sea security following the Israeli war on Gaza.
Turning to the global stage, the fourth section, Global Issues, explores the potential trajectories of a second Trump administration, focusing on his capacity to deliver on domestic and foreign policy commitments amidst obstacles to his “America First” agenda and deal-centric approach. This section also examines the prospects of settling the Russian-Ukrainian war, pondering the practicality of implementation and the risk of escalation prior to any resolution. It also analyzes China’s anticipated strategy of balancing escalation with dialogue in its dealings with Washington and tracks the intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence and the robotics industry.
In its fifth section, titled Economic Issues, Outlook tackles major challenges facing the global economy, particularly amid forecasts that escalating geopolitical tensions in the region and worldwide could jeopardize economic growth. It also examines how the potential resurgence of Trump’s protectionist policies might reshape global trade dynamics in the coming year. Additionally, the section highlights the likely shift in energy markets, with fossil fuels losing some ground to the steady growth of renewable energy sources in the global economy.
