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

Inflection Points

Oct 13, 2018

Saudi silence on Khashoggi must end

By Frederick Kempe

I count myself as one of those who had been captivated by the possibility of change and the compelling MBS personality. What impressed me was his focus, energy and vision, laid out over three lengthy meetings in Riyadh and Washington, of how his country had gone wrong and what he would do to modernize it with next-generation support.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 11, 2018

Hellyer in Slate: The World Needs to Take the Safety of People Like Jamal Khashoggi More Seriously

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 11, 2018

Wechsler Quoted in Axios on Jamal Khashoggi Case

By William F. Wechsler

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 11, 2018

LeBaron Quoted in Bloomberg on Jamal Khashoggi

By Richard LeBaron

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 11, 2018

Hellyer Quoted in Washington Post on Jamal Khashoggi’s Disappearance

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 10, 2018

Hellyer Quoted in The Guardian on Jamal Khashoggi

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Saudi Arabia

Event Recap

Oct 9, 2018

The Arc of Crisis in the MENA Region

By Erin A. Neale

On Tuesday, October 9th, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East held a conference to discuss the nature of foreign involvement in ongoing conflicts in the region as well as the resilience of Jihadism in the post-2011 period. The conference coincided with the launching of a report, “The Arc of Crisis in […]

Iraq Libya

In the News

Oct 9, 2018

Charai in Newsmax: Trump’s Allies in Yemen

By Atlantic Council

International Norms Middle East

In the News

Oct 8, 2018

Kempe on MSNBC to Discuss Disappearance of Saudi Journalist and Posture Toward China

By Frederick Kempe

Read the full article here.

China Saudi Arabia

IranSource

Oct 5, 2018

How Iran and the Gulf Arab States Can Start a Dialogue Again

By Hussein Ibish

It’s hard to overstate the regional impact of the rivalry between Iran and several Gulf Arab states—most notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—bordering in recent years on enmity. While these countries haven’t come close to direct warfare, tensions have impacted many regional conflicts in the Middle East including in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, […]

International Organizations Iran

Experts

Events