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

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2018

What Not to Expect from the Saudi Crown Prince

By Richard LeBaron

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States has energized the commentariat in Washington. Rarely have I seen more Middle East experts opining excitedly on the personality of and prospects for an Arab leader, on the significant change he has already brought to Saudi Arabia, and on the need to support his […]

International Organizations Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2018

Saudi Crown Prince Comes to Washington: 5 Things to Watch

By Owen Daniels

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) will arrive in Washington on March 19 for a visit to the United States that includes stops in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Houston.  In Washington, the crown prince will meet US President Donald J. Trump at the White House on March 20. He will […]

Saudi Arabia

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 8, 2018

Gulf’s energy sector in the diversity driver’s seat

By Bina Hussein

March 8 is international women’s day. This year, the theme is to “press for progress” and one area women have been seeking—and making—progress is in representation in the workplace. Nowhere is this more in focus than in the Gulf countries, where the inclusion of women in the workforce is part of overall efforts to diversify […]

Energy & Environment The Gulf

In the News

Mar 4, 2018

Hellyer Quoted in Wall Street Journal on Saudi Crown Prince’s Foreign Trips

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Mar 3, 2018

Hof Quoted in The New York Times on Muller’s Investigation

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here

The Gulf
Princess Reema speaks to Atlantic Council Audience

Event Recap

Feb 28, 2018

Envisioning Reform: The Social Impact of Saudi Arabia’s Transformation Agenda

By Alexander Werman

On Wednesday, February 28, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Middle East Security Initiative hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia’s reform agenda with HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, vice-president for planning and development of the Saudi General Sports Authority. The conversation focused on Saudi Vision 2030 and socioeconomic transformation underway in the Kingdom. […]

Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Feb 27, 2018

Yemen: What dreams may come

By Dr. Nabeel Khoury

As early as 2007, while serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy from 2004-2007, I argued that the central government needed to pay attention to legitimate grievances to prevent constant warfare in the north and a potential secession of the south. At the time, the late president Ali Abdullah Saleh prohibited foreign […]

Yemen

MENASource

Feb 23, 2018

From the front lines of Yemen’s lawless Taiz

By Afrah Nasser

With one hand holding the hose for hookah and the other his beeping cell phone, a conversation with Mohammed al-Qadhi is constantly interrupted. He swiftly takes a glance at his cell phone and says, “Excuse me, it’s breaking news I must send this to my editors.” He grabs his phone and he begins tapping. As […]

Yemen

EnergySource

Feb 21, 2018

GCC economic diversification: Lessons from Texas

By Randolph Bell

The 2014 oil price collapse sent shockwaves across the oil industry and put economies from North Dakota to Nigeria on notice that $100 oil is not a sure thing. The economy of Texas, however, fared far better during the years of low prices than many experienced oil watchers predicted. Its relative resilience, explained in part […]

Energy Markets & Governance Oil and Gas

MENASource

Feb 7, 2018

Navigating the Saudi road to success

By Alex Damianou

In 2016, in the face of low oil prices and rapidly declining foreign reserves in an unsustainable, oil dependent rentier state, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was faced with two scenarios: an ‘Open Road’ where social and economic reform would transform the country into a diversified, moderate, and prosperous society; or the ‘Rocky Road’, […]

Saudi Arabia

Experts