Featured commentary & analysis

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

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

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

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

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

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.

EXPLORE THE Counterterrorism study group

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.

Listen

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

Dec 18, 2018

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

By Afrah Nasser

To be sure, there are plenty of daunting issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve a lasting peace in Yemen. These issues were not addressed in the talks in Sweden.

Human Rights International Organizations

In the News

Dec 10, 2018

Ullman in UPI: Trump undone: Saudi prince, ‘Tariff Man,’ Bush comparisons

By Harlan Ullman

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2018

OPEC attempts to recast its relationship with the United States

By Randolph Bell and Reed Blakemore

Though previous US administrations have taken an interest in OPEC and oil prices, Trump’s consumer-oriented approach to the oil market—and his willingness to use his Twitter account to advocate for that approach—has made always-difficult OPEC negotiations that much more challenging.

International Markets International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2018

The Trump administration has lost the debate on US-Saudi relations

By Nabeel Khoury

Logically, a superpower like the United States, and one on which the Saudis are almost completely dependent for their security, should be able to demand a genuine corrective course from its ally without having to throw the whole relationship into question.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2018

Qatar’s withdrawal signals ‘a weakening of OPEC’

By David A. Wemer

Qatar’s withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will “signal a weakening of OPEC at a time when it is in some ways less powerful than it used to be, but also more crucial in balancing the market because US production is so strong,” Randolph Bell, director of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center said. Announcing Qatar’s […]

Oil and Gas The Gulf

In the News

Nov 30, 2018

Hellyer Quoted in Washington Post on MBS and G20

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Nov 29, 2018

An update on Yemen’s water crisis and the weaponization of water

By Margaret Suter

In a piece published last year, I examined the interaction of water and conflict in Yemen and Syria, two countries whose severe water shortages have enabled competing actors to wield this precious resource as a weapon in violent conflict to the detriment of millions of civilians.

Yemen

In the News

Nov 28, 2018

Ellen Wald joins TRTWorld to discuss Saudi Aramco plans, Khashoggi killing, and oil

By Ellen Wald

Watch the full discussion here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Nov 28, 2018

Hellyer Quoted in The Independent on Saudi Crown Prince’s Trip to G20

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

Inflection Points

Nov 25, 2018

Saudi war games

By Frederick Kempe

Without its values as a guide, the United States loses its unique attraction as a global power. Yet values alone would have failed to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union – and will likely fail now in the Middle East as well.  

Conflict National Security
Load More

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

Fellow

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Expert

Jon Wilks

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management

Fellow

Yerevan Saeed

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Amir Hayek

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English
Load More