The Gulf

As many of the Arab Gulf states make strides to reduce their dependence on oil and implement social and economic reforms, they continue to face political and security challenges from external and internal threats. The Gulf states must respond to evolving external relationships, threats from Iran, terrorism, and civil conflict spillover while also harnessing the powers of technological advances and innovative reforms to modernize their economies. A new generation of leadership must adapt to a booming, educated, and globally-connected youth population, often unemployed and increasingly raising concerns about the rule of law and their role as citizens.

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

MENASource

Oct 28, 2013

Debating Federalism in Yemen

By Rafat Al-Akhali

The Southern Movement in Yemen, known as Southern Hirak, is closer than ever before to achieving a negotiated resolution that addresses at least some of its demands. Capitalizing on Southern grievances following the 1994 civil war in Yemen, Hirak established itself as a protest movement in 2007 demanding to address many rights-based issues in the […]

Yemen

MENASource

Oct 24, 2013

Yemen’s Final Stretch

By Danya Greenfield

“No one wants a real state,” Dr. Mohammed al-Mutawakel intoned, gathering attention from around the table where his family gathered for lunch on the Eid holiday.

Yemen

MENASource

Oct 22, 2013

Top News: US Missile Attacks Killed Civilians in Yemen, Says Rights Group

By MENASource

US missile strikes, including armed drone attacks, have killed dozens of civilians in Yemen as the United States tries to crack down on al-Qaeda in the country, a prominent human rights organization said on Tuesday.

Yemen

MENASource

Sep 25, 2013

Yemen Needs Friends

By Danya Greenfield

While most attention at the U.N. General Assembly this week is focused on Iran and Syria, the Friends of Yemen group will hold its sixth ministerial meeting on the sidelines. It will be an opportunity for the government of Yemen to hold donors accountable for pledged money and for donors to hold the Yemenis accountable […]

Yemen

MENASource

Sep 25, 2013

Strategic Vision, Not Pessimism, Needed to Support the Arab Transitions

By Danya Greenfield

President Obama’s speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday was perhaps his most honest—though somewhat disappointing to those wanting the United States to play a vigorous democracy promotion role—account of US policy priorities in the Middle East.

North Africa Yemen
US-EU arab transitions cover

Report

Sep 25, 2013

US and EU: Lack of strategic vision, frustrated efforts toward the Arab transitions

By Danya Greenfield and Amy Hawthorne

A new Atlantic Council report, US and EU: Lack of Strategic Vision, Frustrated Efforts Toward the Arab Transitions, argues the United States and its European allies lack strategic vision in supporting the Arab countries that embarked in 2011 on a democratic path—Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Yemen—and have not lived up to their stated commitments for […]

Democratic Transitions European Union

Press Release

Sep 25, 2013

US and EU Efforts Toward the Arab Transitions Fall Short

A new Atlantic Council report, US and EU: Lack of Strategic Vision, Frustrated Efforts Toward the Arab Transitions, argues the United States and its European allies lack strategic vision in supporting the Arab countries that embarked in 2011 on a democratic path—Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Yemen—and have not lived up to their stated commitments for […]

Libya North Africa

MENASource

Sep 20, 2013

Top News: Al-Qaeda Yemen Attacks Kill Fifty-Six Troops, Police

By MENASource

Suspected al-Qaeda militants killed at least fifty-six soldiers and policemen in three simultaneous attacks in southern Yemen on Friday, military sources and civilian officials said.

Yemen

Event Recap

Sep 12, 2013

Yemen’s Political Economy: Avoiding a Governance Crisis

With Yemen’s national dialogue scheduled to conclude September 18 and an upcoming Friends of Yemen meeting set for September 25, the Atlantic Council convened a group of Yemen experts to explore what international donors and partners should consider in the next phase of Yemen’s transition. The roundtable discussion on September 12, 2013, featured a presentation […]

Yemen

Economies In Transition

Aug 22, 2013

Yemen’s Economic Quandary

By Mohsin Khan and Svetlana Milbert

While Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia are reeling from serious political setbacks, Yemen has been proceeding relatively peacefully with a political transition that started in November 2011 with the departure of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh under a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-brokered power-transfer deal.

Economy & Business Yemen

Experts

Events