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

IranSource

Apr 18, 2019

Oman hedges its bets on Tehran and the Trump administration

By Maysam Behravesh

As the Trump administration steps up pressure on Iran, much attention has focused on unprecedented moves such as the April 15 designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization.

International Organizations
Iran

EnergySource

Apr 11, 2019

Why the massive floating bomb in the Red Sea needs urgent attention

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

A floating storage and offloading (FSO) terminal less than five miles off the coast of Yemen has turned into a massive bomb—capable of explosion due to its contents and lack of maintenance. The risk of explosion increases by the day, and if that were to happen, not only would it damage or sink any ships […]

Middle East
Oil and Gas

IranSource

Apr 10, 2019

Saudi Arabia’s plan to lure Iraq from Iran

By Nader Habibi and Omid Shokri Kalehsar

A Saudi economic delegation visited Iraq on April 3, seeking to promote the expansion of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries—and to give Iraq an alternative to growing Iranian ties.

Iran
Iraq

In the News

Apr 4, 2019

Wald Joins Bloomberg to Discuss Saudi Aramco’s Profit

By Ellen Wald

Watch the full discussion here

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Apr 1, 2019

Wald Joins Bloomberg to Discuss Saudi Royal Family Demands and Its Risks For Investors

By Ellen Wald

Listen to the full discussion here

Saudi Arabia

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

Experts