Sarah Birke

Sarah Birke is a foreign correspondent and bureau chief at The Economist, a publication recognized for global affairs analysis. Birke joined The Economist as Middle East and North Africa correspondent and later became bureau chief, reporting on approximately 20 countries. She serves as bureau chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and has also led the newspaper's Japan and Middle East bureaus. Her career spans three regions known for their geopolitical complexity, demonstrating her capacity to deliver in-depth international reporting to a global audience.

Birke's interest in international journalism developed through early involvement with student publications at Oxford, which influenced her decision to pursue journalism over law. She worked with the United Nations in Syria, reporting on project developments, learning Syrian Arabic, and freelancing. Before relocating to Syria, Birke spent three years as a journalist in London, contributing to New Statesman, The Times, and The Independent.

Birke became a war correspondent in Syria following the Arab Spring, traveling to conflict zones and reporting from areas affected by violence and political upheaval. After her visa expired, she moved to Lebanon and later accepted a staff contract with The Economist, relocating to Egypt to cover the Middle East and eventually becoming bureau chief for the region. In this capacity, she reported on countries across the Middle East and North Africa, building a reputation for credible coverage of Middle Eastern affairs.

Before joining The Economist, Birke wrote for publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Times (London), and contributed to New York Review of Books, London Review of Books, and The New Republic. She is a regular guest on the BBC's "Business Matters" and has participated in panel debates and phone-ins on radio stations such as the BBC and NPR. Birke speaks six foreign languages, which enhances her reporting across diverse regions. Her experience covers topics in geopolitics, society, and international relations, with reporting from locations ranging from Damascus to Mexico City.