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

In the News

Aug 12, 2019

Khoury quoted in the Express on Yemen

By Atlantic Council

Conflict International Norms
Iranian Weapons Materiel on Display at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Issue Brief

Jul 30, 2019

Avenues for conflict in the Gulf: A matrix game simulation

By John Watts

Iran faces increasing pressure domestically and internationally, while simultaneously perceiving a historic opportunity to reshape regional dynamics through multiple regional conflicts. This convergence creates conditions that could lead to a strategic shock, and which warrant serious consideration.

Conflict Crisis Management

EnergySource

Jul 28, 2019

Gaming out the disaster: What could go wrong with the FSO Safer

By Dr. David Soud, Rohini Ralby, and Dr. Ian Ralby

In April, we sounded the alarm about how the Safer, an oil tanker converted into a floating storage and offloading facility (FSO) near the Red Sea coast of Yemen and filled with an estimated 1.1 million barrels of crude oil, was not only structurally deteriorating but might actually explode. In the past week, news outlets around […]

Geopolitics & Energy Security Middle East

In the News

Jul 23, 2019

Vajdich quoted in Foreign Policy on possible Saudi Arabia bills

By Atlantic Council

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Jul 22, 2019

Cohen joins CNBC to discuss Iranian seizure of oil tanker

Economic Sanctions Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2019

US-Iran tensions reignite following another drone incident

By David A. Wemer

As the number of attacks and close calls continues to climb in the volatile region, risks of wider conflict are mounting and soon could be difficult for all sides to control.

Drones Iran

IranSource

Jul 18, 2019

Trump’s Iran policy is undermining Gulf oil security

By Hadi Fathallah

How many oil tankers laden with Saudi or Emirati oil need to be attacked around the Strait of Hormuz for the US to use force in the Gulf? That is not an American problem, according to US President Donald Trump.

Iran Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Jul 3, 2019

Women’s World Cup 2019: Where is the Middle East?

By Sheva Tabatabainejad and Rana Abdulhadi

With all the excitement these past months have generated, it is hard not to notice a glaring discrepancy in representation. There is not one team from the Middle East that qualified.

Afghanistan Iran

In the News

Jul 2, 2019

Wald joins Bloomberg to discuss Saudi Aramco reviving its IPO

By Atlantic Council

Oil and Gas Saudi Arabia

In the News

Jun 24, 2019

Khoury Quoted in Lobe Log on Sudan’s Role in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

Read More Here

Sudan Yemen

Experts