Featured commentary & analysis


Counterterrorism Study Group

The Counterterrorism Study Group is a forum for former counterterrorism officials to review the latest threats, to understand emerging trends and future predictions, and to explore creative new proposals for improving the effectiveness of current policies and operations.


Podcast series

Listen to the latest episode of the China-MENA podcast, featuring conversations with academics, government leaders, and the policy community on China’s role in the Middle East.


Gulf Security Task Force

The Gulf Security Task Force is revisiting the question of how to best protect US interests in this sensitive, always relevant region. Our goal is to provide US decision-makers with an updated, fact-based strategy for protecting US interests in the air and maritime domain from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, and ensuring Gulf partners’ ability to assume this responsibility, with the assistance and leadership of the United States.

Content

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2016

What Would a Taiwan Strait Crisis Mean for the UAE?

By Theodore Karasik and Giorgio Cafiero

Donald Trump’s decision to be the first US president/president-elect to speak with a Taiwanese leader since 1979 has unleashed anger in mainland China. Condemning Trump’s conversation with President Tsai Ing-wen, China’s Foreign Ministry declared that if Washington fails to respect Beijing’s interests in Taiwan, the “healthy development of China-US relations and bilateral cooperation in important […]

China
The Gulf

New Atlanticist

Dec 2, 2016

Can the Iran Nuclear Deal Survive Donald Trump?

By Giorgio Cafiero and Daniel Wagner

Donald Trump’s election as the next president of the United States has created uncertainty for the future of the nuclear deal with Iran. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his opposition to the deal—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, even if Trump’s administration retards the implementation of […]

China
European Union

In the News

Dec 2, 2016

Saab in Newsweek: Why We Need to Rebalance US-Saudi Relations

By Bilal Saab

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

Khoury Quoted by Associated Press on War Crimes in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

Read the full article here.

Yemen

Event Recap

Nov 29, 2016

A New Saudi Arabian Regional Policy

By Tancrède Fulconis

On November 29, 2016, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center hosted the event “A New Saudi Arabian Regional Policy” featuring panelists Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, chairman of Shamal Investments and Mohammed Alyahya, nonresident fellow at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. The discussion was moderated by Hariri Center Director Ambassador Frederic […]

Iran
Middle East

MENASource

Nov 22, 2016

The Sequencing of Peace in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

In a last ditch effort by the Obama administration to salvage Yemen’s peace talks as the war grinds on, US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Oman twice this month, personally meeting with Houthi representative Mohammed Abdussalam. In a statement released after his second visit, Kerry welcomed a 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen, but not all parties appeared to […]

Yemen

In the News

Nov 19, 2016

Khoury Joins Al Jazeera Arabic to Discuss the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

Watch the full discussion here.

Yemen

In the News

Nov 17, 2016

Hammond in Amine Newswire: Saudi Arabia Plans To Spur Entrepreneurship

By Joseph Hammond

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Nov 14, 2016

Trump Must Reassure Israel, Gulf Partners Over Iran, says Retired Gen. David H. Petraeus

By Ashish Kumar Sen

This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. As the next president of the United States, Donald Trump should reassure both Arab Gulf partners and Israel of a US commitment to address the threat posed by Iran, said retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, a former director of the CIA who serves on the Atlantic […]

Economy & Business
International Organizations

In the News

Nov 10, 2016

Alyahya Quoted by Financial Times on Saudi Prince Giving Trump the Benefit of the Doubt

By Mohammed Khalid Alyahya

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

Experts