Energy & Economics

Policy Analysis on Energy & Economics

Syria Study Group 2019:

A comprehensive, bipartisan look at how the U.S. government can still achieve important objectives on various fronts, from countering terrorist groups and Iran to addressing refugee and humanitarian issues.

Sep 24, 2019

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Michael Singh
Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

Turkey’s Reconfigured Ties with the ‘Strategic West’

Despite diluting certain commonalities with Europe and Washington over the past decade, Ankara still relies on the West in the trade, investment, and security realms.

Sep 24, 2019

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Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Bringing Diplomacy Back to the Pressure Campaign Against Iran

U.S. leadership must be buttressed not by unrealistic threats, but by deterrent actions and collective diplomacy that constrain Tehran’s room for attacks while defining the path to negotiations.

Sep 23, 2019

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Barbara A. Leaf

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Push for ‘Regime Change’ in Saudi Arabia and Washington

Emboldened by their success in attacking Gulf and U.S. interests with relative impunity, Iranian leaders are now aiming to disgrace the Saudi royal family and foster Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.

Sep 20, 2019

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Moving the Goal Posts: Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program

Although technical obstacles may prevent Tehran from fully deploying its advanced centrifuges, it could still augment its enrichment program in ways that should concern the international community.

Sep 19, 2019

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Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

Operating in the ‘Gray Zone’ to Counter Iran

The best way to counter Iran’s asymmetric strategy in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere is a U.S. gray zone strategy, which can help manage escalation and buy time for the administration’s pressure policy to work.

Sep 18, 2019

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Michael Eisenstadt

Brief Analysis

The ‘Rebuild Syria’ Exhibition: Iranian Influence and U.S. Sanctions

This year’s show provides a window into Tehran’s strategy for cementing its soft power, and may point to potential sanctions violations by companies from U.S. partner countries.

Sep 17, 2019

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Oula A. Alrifai

Articles & Testimony

Trump Must React to the Attacks on Saudi Arabia. But a Quick Fix Won’t Be Enough.

U.S. pressure has put Iran in a corner economically but not politically or militarily, so the Supreme Leader seems to believe there is little to lose unless Washington shows it will ease sanctions or launch strikes.

Sep 16, 2019

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

A Credibility Test for U.S.-Saudi Defense Relations and Iran Deterrence

The suspected missile attack is the most significant strike on Gulf energy targets in decades, and consequences need to be levied on Iran, whether in the military or diplomatic spheres.

Sep 16, 2019

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

Iran’s Strength and Strategy Show with Saudi Oilfield Attacks

So far, Tehran appears to have judged quite well what it can get away with, a track record that will likely give Riyadh pause as it considers its response.

Sep 16, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Tunisians to Elect a New President

With no clear front-runner emerging and public disillusionment mounting, the struggling Arab democracy is transitioning from a period of consensus to uncertainty.

Sep 13, 2019

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Sarah Feuer

Articles & Testimony

The Development of Tunisia’s Domestic Counter-Terrorism Finance Capability

The country is fast becoming a regional leader in meeting global CT norms, developing the necessary toolkits, and integrating its efforts with those of foreign governments.

Sep 10, 2019

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Aaron Y. Zelin
Katherine Bauer

Brief Analysis

The Challenges Facing the New Saudi Oil Minister

Riyadh’s hopes of raising money through a partial sell-off of Saudi Aramco depend on the price of oil, which failed to rise sufficiently under the previous minister.

Sep 10, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Brief Analysis

Is Iran Negotiating Its Way to Negotiations?

While Tehran’s internal debate about engagement with Washington intensifies, its words and actions already seem to be shaping—even unintentionally—the terms of any future talks.

Aug 30, 2019

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Omer Carmi

Articles & Testimony

The Flaw in Trump’s Maximum Pressure Campaign Toward Iran

Tehran won’t change its behavior without the prospect of real economic relief, coupled with the threat of meaningful consequences for bringing the region to the brink of war.

Aug 29, 2019

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Dennis Ross
Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

Arab States Give China a Pass on Uyghur Crackdown

Leaders in the Middle East have calculated that defending the Muslim minority is not worth the risk of losing Chinese economic, political, and military assistance.

Aug 26, 2019

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Haisam Hassanein

Articles & Testimony

The U.S.-Iranian Scuffle Over a Ship Is a Sideshow to Events in the Gulf

Thus far, Britain’s willingness to stand firm in the Persian Gulf has been more consequential than Washington’s legal challenge in the Mediterranean Sea.

Aug 22, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Egypt Takes Another Step Toward China

Port projects and other outreach may help President Sisi check off some of his policy goals, but giving China such a foothold could threaten a number of U.S. interests in the region.

Aug 19, 2019

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

Will Turkey and China Become Friends?

Despite their limited economic relations and ongoing differences over the Uyghur issue, the two countries could grow closer if Western partners fail to provide the financial boost Turkey needs so badly.

Aug 14, 2019

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Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Militias Are Threatening Public Safety in Iraq

Exploding ammo dumps are only one of many problems posed by out-of-control militias, making it more urgent than ever to warehouse heavy weapons, halt mass detentions, and protect Iraqis and Iraq’s investors alike.

Aug 14, 2019

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Michael Knights
Alex Almeida

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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Featured experts

Patrick Clawson

Patrick Clawson is the Morningstar Senior Fellow and Research Counselor at The Washington Institute.

Simon Henderson

Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.