As the global community continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Atlantic Council is open for business. Our business, meetings, and events, however, are occurring virtually. For more information, please read an update from our President and CEO.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 20, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m EDT for the launch of a new Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative report, “Improving Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism Cooperation between the United States and the Arab Gulf States” by nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick and Program Assistant Joze Pelayo.

In the wake of 9/11 US counterterrorism cooperation with Gulf countries has expanded substantially. But while much has been written about such cooperation through military and intelligence channels, there is less understanding about the parallel expansion of counterterrorism cooperation through law enforcement and other civilian channels. To fill this gap, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative organized a task force of experts led by nonresident fellow Tom Warrick, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism at the US Department of Homeland Security

In light of calls for reduced US military engagement in the Middle East, and Gulf countries’ changing security needs and interests, it will become increasingly important for there to be increased non-military cooperation to prevent terrorist threats to both the United States and the countries of the region.

Our discussion will kick off with a view from the US government on this subject by Valerie Boyd, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security. She will then be joined in a brief discussion with experts including Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the US Department of State; Javed Ali, former Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council; Daniel L. Glaser, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury; Bernard Hudson, former Chief of Counterterrorism at the Central Intelligence Agency; and Todd Rosenblum, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense. Our discussion will conclude with perspectives from the Gulf, including Dr. Abdullah bin Khaled al Saud of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization and Lt. Colonel Dr. Dana Humaid Al-Marzouqi, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior.

This timely discussion will focus on the ongoing threat to the region from terrorism, and will discuss the value of enhancing and increasing cooperation in civilian counterterrorism, law enforcement, border security, and aviation security, with views from both American and Gulf experts and practitioners.

Keynote speaker

Speakers

Issue briefs and reports

Oct 20, 2020

Improving counterterrorism and law enforcement cooperation between the United States and the Arab Gulf States

By Thomas S. Warrick, Joze Pelayo

Thomas S. Warrick and Joze Pelayo present recommendations to improve and increase cooperation in civilian counterterrorism, law enforcement, border security, and aviation security between the United States and the Arab countries of the Gulf.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Follow @ACMideast and use #ACMidEast to join the conversation and submit questions in advance.

Related resources