The New Middle East
September 22 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Middle East is undergoing one of its most significant strategic realignments in decades. From Iran and regional proxy networks to shifting alliances, emerging governments, and renewed great-power competition, the security landscape is changing rapidly. Drawing on her experience across intelligence, humanitarian operations, and regional engagement, Spirit of America’s regional director for the Middle East and Central Asia, Mary-Bell Ruiz, joins us along with the World Affairs Council of Charleston to discuss how these dynamics are reshaping U.S. national security interests, why local partnerships matter more than ever, and where the greatest opportunities—and challenges—lie for the region in the years ahead.
This program is in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Charleston.
About Mary Bell-Ruiz
Mary Bell-Ruiz is Spirit of America’s Regional Director for the Middle East and Central Asia. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across defense, intelligence, diplomacy, and humanitarian operations, she leads the organization’s partnerships and programs across one of the world’s most complex and strategically important regions. A retired U.S. Navy senior intelligence leader and Arabic linguist, Mary’s career has spanned war zones and diplomatic engagements alike—from leading intelligence operations and managing multimillion-dollar government programs to coordinating crisis response efforts in Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, and across the broader Middle East. Before joining Spirit of America, Mary founded and led Team Themis, a humanitarian nonprofit that provided emergency relocation, security, and support services to at-risk Afghan women and children. Under her leadership, the organization grew from concept to more than $2.5 million in operational funding within two years, directly supporting U.S. diplomatic and humanitarian objectives. Mary earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Old Dominion University and is currently completing a master’s degree in International Security at George Mason University.
About the World Affairs Council
The World Affairs Council of Charleston (WACC), formerly the Charleston Foreign Affairs Forum, was founded in the early 1980s as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The Council works to deepen our community’s global perspective through speaker programs, discussion groups, and educational experiences. The membership represents a cross-section of individuals from the business community, academia, government service, and civic backgrounds. We welcome participants of all ages and from all backgrounds. The WACC is a 501(c)(3) organization and is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America, a network of 90+ independent, nonpartisan councils across 40 states.