انرژی و اقتصاد

Policy Analysis on انرژی و اقتصاد

The crude oil tanker Sounion burns in the Red Sea after an attack by Houthi forces in Yemen - source: EUNAVFOR

Five Lessons from the Sounion Salvage Crisis in the Red Sea

The United States and its partners should take several immediate steps to avoid an environmental disaster, counter the Houthi spin about the incident, and prevent the group from creating other hazmat emergencies in the Red Sea.

۲۹ اوت ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan

Central Bank of Libya headquarters building - source: Wikimedia Commons

Articles & Testimony

All of Libya Held Hostage by Gunmen Targeting the Central Bank

A political and literal fight over Libya's top financial institution could enable Russia to enjoy the spoils of war without having to fight one.

۲۲ اوت ۲۰۲۴

◆

Ben Fishman

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Even After Houthi Attacks, Russia-Linked Tankers Return to Red Sea

The operators are either accepting risk on a vital transport route or else no longer concerned about perceptions about their vessels’ past links to Britain.

۲۲ اوت ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan

◆ Maritime Spotlight

Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Bahraini crown prince and prime minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa - source: Department of State

Brief Analysis

One Year of the U.S.-Bahrain C-SIPA: Signs of Progress, Regional Potential

The progress the two partners have made through C-SIPA offers a fresh model for future U.S. cooperation with other Middle East countries in the security, economic, and technology sectors.

۲۱ اوت ۲۰۲۴

◆

Elizabeth Dent

Fikra Forum

Oil: A Blessing for Politicians and a Curse for the People of Basra

The deterioration of public health in oil extraction cities requires tangible actions to end the suffering of the affected people by providing specialized treatment centers funded by the social benefits from petroleum profits.

۲۹ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Azhar Al-Rubaie

Fikra Forum

Unpacking Narratives Around Western Boycotts and Unemployment in Jordan

Given the politically charged nature of this issue, it is important to scrutinize unemployment numbers carefully, assessing the latest data in the broader context of Jordan’s economy over the past several years.

۲۹ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Mohammed Abu Dalhoum

A fuel depot burns near the Yemeni port of Hodeida following overnight Israeli airstrikes - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

To Stop Israeli Attacks on Yemen, Enforce Sanctions on the Iran-Houthi Link

The humanitarian consequences of Israel’s port attack are real but should not be overstated, particularly when the true culprits behind Yemen’s persistent fuel shortages and famine risks are Iran and the Houthis.

۲۲ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Michael Knights

Chinese and Tunisian flags on display in Beijing in 2024 - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Countering Chinese and Russian Influence in North Africa

The U.S. ambassador to Tunisia joins three Washington Institute experts to discuss the evolution of great power competition in North Africa.

۱۰ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Joey Hood
Anna Borshchevskaya
Ben Fishman
Grant Rumley

Articles & Testimony

How the EU’s Plan to Replace Russian Gas Exposes Challenges in Algeria’s Energy Sector

A promising cross-Mediterranean initiative has run into political challenges, burdensome investment laws, methane leaks, and other hurdles.

۴ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Sabina Henneberg
Noam Raydan

A screenshot from MarineTraffic shows the past tracks of the livestock carrier Shorthorn Express (IMO 9167318), which as of July 2, 2024, was sailing toward the British Isles.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Are the Houthis Attacking Ships in the Mediterranean?

Direct strikes from the Yemeni group are unlikely at the moment, but a more aggressive Hezbollah could alter the threat picture.

۳ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

◆ Maritime Spotlight

The Mari-B and Tamar gas platforms in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel - source: The Washington Institute

Brief Analysis

Israel Plans to Hike Gas Output Despite Hezbollah Threats

The deal could eventually boost supplies to Egypt, though Hezbollah’s robust missile arsenal and public threats against East Mediterranean energy targets may dampen broader regional investment in the sector.

۱ ژوئیه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Simon Henderson

The U.S. Navy aircraft carriers Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower on joint operations in the CENTCOM region - source: Department of Defense

Brief Analysis

Carrier Gap Increases the Red Sea’s Vulnerability to Houthi Attacks

To fill the capabilities gap between carrier groups and prepare for potential Houthi escalation in the next few weeks, the United States and its partners need to implement stopgap measures and, ideally, surge more military assets into the region temporarily.

۲۸ ژوئن ۲۰۲۴

◆

Elizabeth Dent

Egyptian prime minister Mostafa Madbouly greets Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelensky in Kyiv in 2023 - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Dueling Summits Show the Need to Enlist Arab Support on Ukraine

Key Middle East actors tend to distrust the U.S. narrative about the war and conclude they can reap better economic benefits from Russia, so Washington should do more to get them off the sidelines.

۲۸ ژوئن ۲۰۲۴

◆

Anna Borshchevskaya

An explosion hits the civilian cargo vessel MV Tutor in the Red Sea - source: Houthi Media Center

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Houthi Ship Attacks Pose a Longer-Term Challenge to Regional Security and Trade Plans

The immediate effects of the Houthi antishipping campaign are measurably serious, but the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other partners also need to prepare for the emboldened group to exert its newfound leverage in other ways beyond the Gaza war.

۲۶ ژوئن ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan

Brief Analysis

Energy Watchdog Predicts Big Oil Surplus by 2030

Implied lower prices would weaken economic forecasts for major Middle East oil producers.

۱۴ ژوئن ۲۰۲۴

◆

Simon Henderson

Photo of Palestinian workers awaiting entry into Israel from Gaza.

Brief Analysis

West Bank Economics Are Key to Stabilizing the Palestinian Authority—or Forcing Its Collapse

If implemented in full, Israel’s latest tax, banking, and victim-compensation measures could bring the West Bank’s two decades of relative stability crashing down—along with any plans to have the PA play a postwar role in Gaza.

۳۱ مه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Neomi Neumann

Marshall Islands–flagged bulk carrier Laax (IMO 9512355), which was attacked in the southern Red Sea on May 28, 2024. photo obtained via the X/Twitter account of French forces stationed in the UAE and deployed in the Indian Ocean, https://x.com/FFEAU_ALINDIEN/status/1795837694960189920.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Behind Houthi Attacks on Ships Operated by Greece-Based Companies

Links to Israel-linked companies, especially in light of the Rafah invasion, are again the culprit.

۳۱ مه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

◆ Maritime Spotlight

Turkish President Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani meet in Baghdad in April 2024 - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Iraq-Turkey Reset

From water rights to PKK violence, a recent summit seemed to remove several long-festering thorns from the bilateral relationship, creating potential challenges and benefits alike for U.S. interests in Iraq and beyond.

۲۹ مه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Soner Cagaptay
Selin Uysal
Bilal Wahab

A Houthi propaganda image published by the group's al-Masirah TV network.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Assessing the Latest Houthi Maritime Threats

Even increased aggressive activity in the Indian Ocean will be unlikely to seriously disrupt maritime traffic and global trade—but vessels calling on Israeli ports will need to take extra precautions.

۱۶ مه ۲۰۲۴

◆

Noam Raydan
Farzin Nadimi

◆ Maritime Spotlight

تحلیل کوتاه

حاشیه هسته‌ای دیپلماسی پاکستان با ایران و عربستان

بازدیدهای سطح بالای دیپلماتیک اخیر نشان‌دهنده‌ی استیصال اقتصادی در کنار فرصت‌طلبی راهبردی –و چه بسا هسته‌ای– است.

۹ مهٔ ۲۰۲۴

◆

سایمون هندرسون

Supported by the

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

The Washington Institute's Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy embodies the Institute's long-term research focus on the conservative Arab Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman -- and the key role these countries play collectively as a primary source of the world's oil and natural gas.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.