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

May 4, 2016

US Middle East Policy Must Include Allies and Adversaries

By Danielle Leopold

A sustainable US Middle East policy should include closer cooperation with longstanding allies—including the United Kingdom and France—but also a strategic dialogue with adversaries such as Russia and China, according to Bilal Y. Saab, a Senior Fellow for Middle East Security at the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. In light of the […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

May 3, 2016

Finding a New Approach to Yemen’s Peace Talks

By Nadwa Al-Dawsari

On April 21, a third round of Yemen peace talks started in Kuwait, but with little hope that they will achieve a breakthrough to end the devastating eighteen-month long war in the country. Delegates from President Hadi Abd Rabbo Mansour’s Yemeni government based in exile in Riyadh and the alliance of Houthis and former president […]

Yemen

In the News

Apr 29, 2016

Slavin Joins Voice of America to Host Issues on The News to Discuss the US Presidential Race and Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Diversify Its Economy

By Barbara Slavin

Saudi Arabia United States and Canada

Event Recap

Apr 28, 2016

After Hub-and-Spoke: US Hegemony in a New Gulf Security Order

By Atlantic Council

On Friday, April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. the Atlantic Council hosted a discussion of a new report by Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Bilal Saab, entitled After Hub-and-Spoke: US Hegemony in a New Gulf Security Order, and a debate on US global defense posture in the next decade and how it might affect future […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 27, 2016

Hassan Writes for EastWest.ngo on the Perceptions of Iranians on Saudis on ISIS

By Kawa Hassan

In his latest publication, Task Force member Kawa Hassan, in cooperation with Adnan Tabatabai, delves into the mutual perceptions of Iranians and Saudis on ISIS, and highlights points that could be grounds for possible partnership between arch rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. Read the full article here.

Iran Saudi Arabia

In the News

Apr 26, 2016

LeBaron Quoted by Bloomberg on US Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy Strategy

By Richard LeBaron

Read the full article here.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 25, 2016

Seznec Quoted by Foreign Policy on Saudi Arabia’s Efforts to Diversify Its Economy

By Jean-Francois Seznec

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2016

US-GCC Ties Need to Expand Beyond Oil

By Jean-François Seznec

As the perceived notion of oil-for-security diminishes with the United States’ declining demand for oil from the Middle East, the Gulf Cooperation Council states must develop their militaries, fight threatening ideologies, and decrease their economies’ dependence on oil without waiting for the United States to lead the way. However, even as the United States and […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 22, 2016

Slavin Joins Voice of America to Discuss President Obama’s Visit to Saudi Arabia

By Barbara Slavin

Listen to the full story here.

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Apr 21, 2016

From Reassurance to Shared Interests: Bridging the Gulf at the Riyadh Summit

By Muath Al Wari and Elisa Catalano Ewers

President Barack Obama’s meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Saudi Arabia this week is a previously scheduled follow-up to last year’s Camp David meeting, which notably secured the Gulf states’ passive endorsement of the Iran nuclear deal. There is no comparable deliverable expected this week, and the case for low […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Experts