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Events

Jul 27, 2020

Fontenrose joins the International Institute for Strategic Studies to discuss the future of US-Gulf relations
Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jul 23, 2020

Iranian foreign minister’s visit aggravates Iraqi-Saudi rapprochement

By Abbas Kadhim

All the details were carefully planned for Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s first foreign tour since taking office. Saudi Arabia, strongly supported by the United States, was selected as the first destination for the untested Iraqi leader, who is facing insurmountable challenges on the home front. Kadhimi is eagerly looking for quick accomplishments to build […]

Economy & Business
Iran
Gulf States - Netanyahu & Qaboos

Issue Brief

Jul 7, 2020

Israel’s growing ties with the Arab Gulf states

By Jonathan H. Ferziger, Gawdat Bahgat

Once thought to be irreconcilable adversaries, Israel and the Gulf states have grown closer in recent years. What started as under-the-table intelligence sharing designed to counter Iran’s ambitions throughout the Middle East has morphed into greater cooperation not only on security but also on economic, political, and cultural issues.

Israel
Politics & Diplomacy

Press Release

May 28, 2020

Vice Admiral (Ret.) John W. Miller joins Atlantic Council as nonresident senior fellow

Washington, DC — May 28, 2020 — The Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs today announced the addition of Vice Admiral (Ret.) John W. “Fozzie” Miller as a nonresident senior fellow. Miller is an expert on US foreign policy and military presence in the Gulf, and he will contribute to the program’s range of work on […]

Middle East
Security & Defense
A net launched from a net-capture system just before catching its target, Quantico, Virginia (December 2018). Source: Red Six Solutions

Issue Brief

May 4, 2020

Drone attacks against critical infrastructure: A real and present threat

By Dr. Scott Crino and Conrad "Andy" Dreby

Read the Middle East Program's new paper on the use of weaponized drones in the Middle East, with recommendations for policymakers.

Drones
Middle East
IRGCN Vessels Conduct Unsafe, Unprofessional Interaction with U.S. Naval Forces in Arabian Gulf

IranSource

Apr 23, 2020

Trump’s Twitter threat to destroy Iranian boats isn’t guidance

By John W. Miller

In a tweet on April 22, US President Donald Trump announced that he ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats harassing US warships. While the tweet may seem like new and escalatory guidance from the Commander in Chief to his forces in the region and an indication of a substantial increase in tensions between the United States and Iran, it is neither.

Iran
Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Mar 31, 2020

Gulf partners could give Iran and the US a way out of their collision course

By Kirsten Fontenrose

With interests on both sides of the conflict and much to lose if it worsens, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the one organization that could be a hero here, kickstarting a chain reaction that arrives at de-escalation without any party losing face.

Conflict
Iran

In the News

Feb 24, 2020

Frandrup quoted in the National on naval operations in the Gulf area

By Atlantic Council

Maritime Security
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2020

US targets al-Qaeda leader: What it means for Yemen and the US counterterrorism mission

By Masoud Mostajabi

"When the United States is able to identify a terrorist abroad who threatens Americans, in the vast majority of cases the solution is relatively simple," William Wechsler says. "Simply reach out through law enforcement or intelligence channels and ask the local government to arrest them. Unfortunately, there remain a few places in the world in which the host governments have no practical ability to do so—indeed, in some of these places legitimate government authorities face a high risk of being killed if they tried. Yemen is one of these places."

Conflict
Terrorism

In the News

Jan 31, 2020

Fontenrose joins VOA (Farsi) to talk about the deployment of additional US troops and aircraft to the Gulf

By Atlantic Council

Middle East
Persian
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