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.

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In the News

Dec 3, 2015

Shaffer on OPEC Meeting and Saudi Arabia

By Brenda Shaffer

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer joins NPR to discuss how the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil will affect Saudi Arabia’s oil production:

Iran Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2015

Saudi Arabia Prepares for OPEC Clash as Succession Questions Linger

By Jareer Elass

Saudi Arabia will face pressure in Vienna this week from fellow members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to rethink the group’s strategy of sustained high oil output that is causing economic pain to most oil producers. The OPEC meeting on Dec. 4 comes at a time when Gulf watchers are questioning […]

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Dec 1, 2015

McFate on the Deployment of Columbian Mercenaries in Yemen

By Sean McFate

Business Insider quotes Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Sean McFate on the United Arab Emirates’ recruitment and training of Colombian mercenaries to fight in Yemen:

Colombia Yemen

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

McFate on Colombian Mercenaries in Yemen

By Sean McFate

The New York Times quotes Africa Center Senior Fellow Sean McFate on the growing number of Colombian mercenaries sent by the United Arab Emirates to fight in Yemen: 

Colombia Yemen

Defense Industrialist

Nov 17, 2015

More bombs on Al-Baghdadi

By James Hasik

The GCC air forces need, deserve, and can handle outside support. The tragedy of Paris this past weekend may eventually prove to have been the beginning of the end for the Al-Baghdadi Gang in Al-Raqqah. Wantonly attacking the citizens of two UN Security Council members in a week wasn’t just heinous, it was stupid. So […]

Defense Industry Saudi Arabia

In the News

Nov 11, 2015

Hall on Qatar Slavery Museum

By Matt Hall

Art Forum quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Matt Hall on the Slavery Museum opening in Qatar which includes a feature on “Modern Slavery” that discusses workers’ rights abuses:

The Gulf

New Atlanticist

Nov 3, 2015

Why didn’t the GCC publicly oppose the Iran deal?

By Matthew Kroenig

If the Arab Gulf states are opposed to the Iran nuclear deal, why didn’t they publicly speak out against it? This was perhaps the most interesting and contentious point of discussion on the first day of the second annual Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate on November 1. Make no mistake; the lack of public opposition is […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

MENASource

Nov 2, 2015

Qatar’s New Slavery Museum

By Matthew Hall

Hanging in Qatar’s museum of modern art are several works by Faraj Daham—nature scenes painted on the circular steel lids of oil drums. In the background of these paintings—literally and figuratively—is Qatar’s oil industry. The artworks stand out because they reference, however obliquely, a topic central to Qatar’s political reality. They stand out amid the […]

The Gulf

MENASource

Nov 2, 2015

Losing Hope in Yemen

By Rafat Al-Akhali

The figures reported for the ongoing conflict in Yemen speak for themselves: more than 5,000 dead and 26,000 injured (according to the NGO Action on Armed Violence and the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a staggering 86 percent of those killed and injured are considered civilian), almost 2.3 million displaced from their homes, […]

Yemen

In the News

Nov 1, 2015

Jones on Iran and Terrorism

By General James L. Jones Jr.

The National quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Chairman General James L. Jones, Jr. on possibilities for regional corporation against terrorism between Gulf Cooperation Council countries:

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Experts