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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

In the News

May 18, 2016

Rosenblum in Politico: Improving Saudi-Israeli Relations Offers an Opportunity for the United States—and a Big Risk

By Todd Rosenblum

Read the full article here.

Israel Saudi Arabia

MENASource

May 17, 2016

Yemen’s Peace Talks: A Progress Report

By Daniel R. DePetris

On May 11, Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri — the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen for over a year — briefed reporters in Washington with a clear message: if the Houthis and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh continue to insist on unreasonable demands at the negotiating […]

Saudi Arabia Yemen

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

A New Saudi Oil Minister: Tactical Continuation, Strategic Revolution

By Jean-François Seznec

The appointment of Khalid al-Falih as Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy, industry and mineral resources comes as no surprise. He is the most qualified person to replace the brilliant Ali al-Naimi who served as minister of petroleum and mineral resources for over twenty years.  Both men are petroleum engineers steeped in the oil business and […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2016

Give (Arab) Peace (Initiative) a Chance

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Deal would elevate Arab-Israeli cooperation to take on challenges posed by ISIS, Iran, says Atlantic Council’s Bilal Y. Saab In the absence of a credible Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Gulf Arab states and Israel will find it hard to elevate their security cooperation to deal with the threats posed by Iran and the Islamic State of […]

Israel Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 11, 2016

Hausheer Ali in MarketWatch: What’s Driving Saudi Arabia’s Shake-Up — And It’s Not Just Oil

By Hausheer Ali

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 11, 2016

BBC Persian Features Atlantic Council Event on Human Rights in Iran and Saudi Arabia

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

Iran Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 10, 2016

Goldwyn Quoted by The Cipher Brief on the US-Saudi Energy Relationship

By David Goldwyn

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 9, 2016

Seznec Quoted by Washington Post on Saudi Arabia’s New Oil Minister

By Jean-Francois Seznec

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2016

Saudi Energy Policies Unlikely to Shift Under New Minister

By Sara Vakhshouri

Saudi Arabia’s energy policies are unlikely to change despite the fact that longtime energy minister, Ali al-Naimi, was removed on May 7 and Khalid al-Falih appointed as his successor. There has already been much speculation and concern about the kingdom’s energy policies under King Salman. Questions about the future of Saudi Arabia’s oil policies are […]

Saudi Arabia

In the News

May 8, 2016

Vakhshouri Quoted by Gulf News on Saudi Oil Production

By Sara Vakhshouri

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

Experts