Featured commentary & analysis

Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s Role in the Regional Efforts to Oust Assad

MENASource
Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from the Gulf: Finding middle ground amid Israel-Iran war

By
Allison Minor

Congressional delegation visit coincided with Israel and Iran squaring off in a direct military confrontation.

Iran
Israel

Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s Role in the Regional Efforts to Oust Assad

MENASource
May 28, 2025

Mickey goes to the Gulf: The UAE’s wish upon a soft power star

By
Amit Yarom

In a region often defined by hard power rivalries, Abu Dhabi has chosen to compete through visibility, credibility and imagination.

Media
Middle East

Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s Role in the Regional Efforts to Oust Assad

MENASource
May 23, 2025

The Gulf is emerging as Washington’s new strategic anchor

By
Joze Pelayo

The so-called US “Golden Age for the Gulf” is one rooted in strategic utility, equal footing, high-stake deals, and fewer strings.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

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.

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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.

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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.

EXPLORE THE GULF SECURITY TASK FORCE

Content

New Atlanticist

Apr 6, 2012

Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s Role in the Regional Efforts to Oust Assad

By Benedetta Berti and Yoel Guzansky

Since the beginning of the protests against the Assad regime in March 2011, the international community’s response to the Syrian crisis has been characterized by disunity. This collective vacuum has boosted the role of regional actors, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have been extremely active with the support of virtually all GCC countries. 

Saudi Arabia Syria

Event Recap

Mar 9, 2012

Yemen Policy Initiative Roundtable Discussion

By Jason Harmala

Recognizing a dearth of policy-oriented dialogue on Yemen in Washington, the Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Project on Middle East Democracy are launching a Yemen policy initiative to provide a platform for dialogue and opportunities for advocacy to advance a more coherent and comprehensive US policy toward Yemen.

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Feb 21, 2012

Yemen’s Election Might Matter

By Danya Greenfield

With daily massacres in Homs and prosecution of U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cairo, the simmering conflict in Sanaa has faded into the background. Yet on February 21 attention will turn again to Yemen on the occasion of its presidential election.

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2012

With Syria, Don’t Repeat Yemen Mistake

By Danya Greenfield

Efforts to halt the killing in Syria shifted to the UN Security Council yesterday, where its members debated a draft resolution proposed by Morocco to end Bashar Al Assad’s reign of terror.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers from Britain, France, and other nations urged passage of the resolution, with Clinton pleading that […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 13, 2011

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Hedging

By Yoel Guzansky

Saudi Arabia’s announcement last week that it plans to build 16 nuclear reactors with a budget of more than $100 billion raises doubts about its nuclear ambitions.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Nov 14, 2011

The US Can’t Afford to Pass on Yemen

By Danya Greenfield

In the wake of the winds of change that swept from Tunis to Cairo and beyond, frustrated Yemenis took to the streets to demand an end to corruption, responsive government, and respect for their basic political and social rights. For more than nine months, mass protests have spread through the country and millions have repeatedly […]

Yemen

Event Recap

Sep 23, 2011

From North Korea to South Sudan: The Path of Crisis and the European Response

By Jason Harmala

On September 23, the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Relations Program hosted a conversation with Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. The Commissioner discussed the EU’s role in disaster response and the current challenges faced by her office. As Commissioner, she has overseen the EU response to humanitarian crises such as […]

East Africa European Union

NATOSource

Jul 5, 2011

Somali pirates use Yemen island as fuel base

By Jonathan Saul, Reuters

From Jonathan Saul, Reuters:  Somali pirates have been using Yemen’s remote Horn of Africa island of Socotra as a refueling hub enabling their attack craft to stay restocked for longer periods at sea and pose a greater hazard to shipping, maritime sources say.

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2010

Assessing the Yemen Strikes in the Short-Term and Long-Term

By Bernard Finel

I keep harping on our lack of strategic thinking in the United States.  I know many people consider this an academic exercise, as in (paraphrasing): “Ivory toward academic Bernard Finel keeps suggesting we consider strategy explicitly, but the reality is that we have a complex threat environment and receive plenty of guidance from senior leaders […]

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jan 20, 2010

What to Do about Yemen?

By Don Snow

The revelations that the Ft. Hood massacre committed by US Army Major Nidal Malik Hassan and the Christmas underwear bombing attempt by Nigerian Umar Frouk Abdulmutallab may have been inspired by the rhetoric of an expatriate American living in Yemen (Anwar al-Maliki) placed that poor country on the southern end of the Arabian peninsula in […]

Yemen
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Experts

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Staff

Allison Minor

Director, N7 Research Institute

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Expert bio

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Fellow

Amir Hayek

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
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