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

Mar 21, 2019

The Khashoggi killing through Saudi eyes

By Stephen Grand

President Donald Trump famously bragged during his election campaign that “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” If the consensus of the US intelligence community is to be believed, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman may actually accomplish a comparable feat.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2019

The Silk Road and the Gulf: A new frontier for the RMB

By Michael B. Greenwald

Standing at the crossroads of Eurasia, the Arab Gulf states and broader Middle East are an important link between the economies of East Asia and Western Europe.

China International Markets

MENASource

Mar 15, 2019

Passage of SJR 7, better late than never

By Nabeel Khoury

The passage of Senate Joint Resolution 7 is a fresh rebuke for the Trump administration, that its support for the Saudi-led war on Yemen is unauthorized, illegal, and an immoral assault on the Yemeni people.

Yemen

IranSource

Feb 26, 2019

Is Saudi Arabia Pulling Pakistan Into War With Iran?

By Fatemeh Aman

For years, the Pakistani government has avoided taking sides between rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, but now it may be forced to choose. Pakistan is in dire need of financial support and the Saudis have the means to help. Will Pakistan accept the strings attached to Saudi generosity? Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) […]

Iran Pakistan

In the News

Feb 7, 2019

Wald Joins Chatham House to Discuss the Future of Saudi Arabia’s Economy

By Ellen Wald

Watch the full discussion here

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Jan 25, 2019

Yemen: Women, war & political marginalization

By Afrah Nasser

When Yemen’s last peace talks in Stockholm took place in December 2018, only one female delegate was at the negotiation table. Assistant Secretary of the Yemeni Popular Nasserist Party, Rana Ghanem was the only female member, in the Yemeni government delegation. Over the past three Yemen peace talks, only three women have sat at the negotiation table.

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jan 24, 2019

Trump’s Yemen problem

By Nabeel Khoury

The only hope for ending the Yemen war lies with enough congressional pressure to force the administration’s hand to use its military assistance to Saudi Arabia as leverage to bring about a solution.

Conflict Yemen

Global Energy Forum

Jan 18, 2019

Energizing conversations on oil at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi

By David A. Wemer

A look back at the highlights from the Global Energy Forum.

Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security

Global Energy Forum

Jan 13, 2019

Saudi Minister says oil market volatility ‘unjustified’

By David A. Wemer

"I remain convinced that we are on the right track and that the oil market will quickly return to balance," Khalid Al-Falih said.

Oil and Gas Saudi Arabia

Global Energy Forum

Jan 12, 2019

ADNOC announces new oil and gas exploration licenses at Atlantic Council’s 2019 Global Energy Forum

By David A. Wemer

The United Arab Emirates Minister of State, Sultan Al Jaber, said the decision to open the new offshore blocs was part of ADNOC’s “Oil and Gas 4.0” strategy, which aims to use innovative technologies and international partnerships to position the UAE as a key energy exporter.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas

Experts