Energy & Economics

Policy Analysis on Energy & Economics

Russia’s Soft Power Projection in the Middle East

Moscow conducts far more soft-power activity in the region than one might suspect, using subversive and opaque versions of the same tools employed by the West.

Dec 4, 2020

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Brief Analysis

Khamenei Speech Sets the Boundaries of Engagement with the West

In his first major address since Joe Biden’s election, the Supreme Leader downplayed the prospect of negotiating an end to U.S. sanctions, instead urging Iranian officials to focus on increasing the country’s self-reliance and solving its deep economic problems.

Nov 30, 2020

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Omer Carmi

Brief Analysis

Houthi Terrorism Designation More Likely to Deliver Famine and Entanglement Than Leverage

To stave off a potential humanitarian disaster in Yemen, keep communication lines open, and avoid getting drawn into the war, the Trump administration should not designate the Houthis.

Nov 25, 2020

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Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia Faces Summit Scrutiny

The virtual G20 meeting in Riyadh will be watched closely for insights on the kingdom’s royal politics at home and its standing abroad.

Nov 20, 2020

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Shock Therapy Will Kill, Not Cure, Iraqi Kurdistan’s Economy

Spending cuts are necessary and overdue in the Kurdistan Region, but international players need to ameliorate the impact of politicized provisions in the new funding deficit law.

Nov 13, 2020

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Michael Knights

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, gestures while speaking

Brief Analysis

What Does Iran’s Supreme Leader Expect from the Next U.S. President?

Ayatollah Khamenei is wholly focused on preserving the political system he has so painstakingly built, but trends suggest a shaky Iranian future regardless of who wins the U.S. election.

Oct 23, 2020

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Mehdi Khalaji

Video

Brief Analysis

An October Surprise with Iran? Calculations and Policy Implications

Three experts on Iranian politics and strategy assess the possibilities of last-minute dramatic developments between the two adversaries before the U.S. election.

Oct 8, 2020

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Mehdi Khalaji
Ariane Tabatabai
Michael Eisenstadt

Brief Analysis

Caucasus Clash Could Endanger Israeli Oil Imports

Israel’s normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates may enable Gulf oil to make up for any break in Azerbaijani supplies, though this option could harm its ties with Baku and Turkey.

Oct 6, 2020

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Emir’s Death Leaves Kuwait Vulnerable to Gulf Rivals

From family competition and parliamentary rumblings to potential friction with various neighbors, the oil-rich U.S. ally may face a challenging transition.

Sep 29, 2020

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Simon Henderson
Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

U.S. Officials to Mediate Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Talks

Negotiating a dividing line would enable Beirut to fully exploit potential offshore oil and gas reserves.

Sep 25, 2020

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Ehud Yaari
Simon Henderson
Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

Britain in Oman: Washington’s Strategic Partner

London is investing heavily in supporting its relationship with Muscat, not least because Omani mediation can often be more effective than its own in fostering regional stability and security.

Sep 18, 2020

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Jonathan Campbell-James

Brief Analysis

Kadhimi’s Rolling Reshuffle (Part 2): Protecting Iraq’s Economic Institutions and Borders

As technocrats increasingly fill key government roles, U.S. officials need to help Baghdad withstand the inevitable counterpunch from political and militia factions used to dictating such appointments.

Sep 15, 2020

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

'Farewell, Fossil Fuels'? What Oil's Demise Will Do to the World's Leading Economies

The combination of new demand projections, green consumer trends, pandemic-related shifts, and other factors may not spell the end of Middle Eastern oil economies quite yet, but it is the first draft of their obituary.

Sep 15, 2020

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Beyond the Ceasefire in Libya

Publicly committing to a ceasefire is a positive development, but many details still need to be resolved with active U.S. support, especially security arrangements in central Libya and the speedy resumption of oil exports.

Aug 25, 2020

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Anas El Gomati
Ben Fishman

Brief Analysis

Oman’s Sultan Devolves Some of His Powers to New Cabinet

In a series of royal decrees that imply a sharp focus on the economy, Sultan Haitham delegated key powers to various ministries for the first time while trimming and professionalizing the government.

Aug 19, 2020

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Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

The Beirut Disaster: Implications for Lebanon and U.S. Policy

Experts discuss the deadly Beirut explosion as it relates to the Lebanese political system, Hezbollah hegemony, and foreign aid.

Aug 18, 2020

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Saleh Machnouk
Hanin Ghaddar
Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Kadhimi Visits Washington: Broadening the U.S.-Iraq Relationship

The visit and follow-on meetings present an opportunity to not only reaffirm the strategic partnership, but also move beyond outdated paradigms that view Iraq solely as an arena for countering terrorism and pushing back against Iran.

Aug 17, 2020

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Dana Stroul
Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

The Slow but Steady Progress to Israel’s Peace with the UAE

Years of burgeoning trade and quiet U.S. diplomacy helped lay the groundwork for a move that is only partly focused on improving the bilateral relationship.

Aug 14, 2020

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Turkey’s Search for Oil May Spill Over into Conflict with Greece

The current flare-up centers on differing interpretations of international law—a situation that should be employing lawyers but is instead deploying navies.

Aug 12, 2020

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Moscow and Ankara Will Continue Uneasy Cooperation

Putin set a trap for Erdogan long ago, and because the Turkish leader woke up too late to his predicament, he now has little leverage in the unequal bilateral relationship.

Aug 6, 2020

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Anna Borshchevskaya

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.

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