Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy

On Jan. 13, 2026, the State Department and Treasury jointly designated three Muslim Brotherhood chapters, naming the Lebanese chapter a Foreign Terrorist Organization and listing the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as Specially Designated Global Terrorists for allegedly providing support to Hamas. State Secretary Marco Rubio and Treasury Undersecretary John Hurley said the move targets groups that pose risks to U.S. interests and have inspired or funded militants, while GWU expert Nathan Brown warned it will be welcomed by some partners (UAE, Egypt), strain ties with countries that tolerate Brotherhood affiliates (Qatar, Turkey), and likely increase scrutiny of Brotherhood‑linked visa and asylum claims.