Gulf & Energy Policy

Policy Analysis on Gulf & Energy Policy

Houthi Strikes on UAE Open Another Front in Yemen War

As Emirati-aligned forces gain ground on the battlefield in Yemen, the Houthis are trying to raise the costs of Abu Dhabi’s involvement.

Jan 18, 2022

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Elana DeLozier

A professional golfer at a tournament in the UAE - Source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Golf War on the Arabian Peninsula

The Emirates are the region’s leading destination for the sport, but Saudi Arabia is coming on strong as part of their broader economic competition.

Dec 26, 2021

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David Schenker

Israeli Prime Minister Bennett meets with the UAE's foreign minister in December 2021 - Source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Bennett Visit Shows the UAE Balancing Between Israeli Ties and Regional De-escalation

The meeting confirmed how eager both countries are to keep their economic progress humming along, but such cooperation could become complicated if concerns about Iran’s nuclear program come to a head.

Dec 16, 2021

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Gulf Arab Summit Could Be Overshadowed by Israel-UAE Meeting

Normalization with Israel will be the elephant in the room at the Riyadh summit, though Iran diplomacy and persistent internal rifts bear close watching as well.

Dec 13, 2021

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Simon Henderson
Elana DeLozier

President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken host the Summit for Democracy. Source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Summit for Democracy Skips the Arab World

To address the region’s democracy gap, Washington needs to develop consistent messaging on reform objectives and help its partners focus on achievable goals such as protecting free speech, dissidents, and civil society.

Dec 8, 2021

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Ben Fishman

Articles & Testimony

Will an Apparent Saudi Concession on Oil Production Drop US Prices at the Pump?

It is unclear how long any price effects might last, and Riyadh may yet expect a diplomatic quid pro quo from Washington.

Dec 3, 2021

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Simon Henderson

An Emirati family relaxes on the shore in Dubai

Articles & Testimony

The UAE’s Second Half-Century: Building Forward to What?

The country is well-positioned to further the progress it has made on multiple fronts, from balancing relations with competing regional and global powers, to diversifying its economy and addressing long-term environmental concerns.

Dec 2, 2021

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

US Leads a Global Release of Oil from Reserves, But Will It Outmaneuver OPEC+?

Besides reopening the debate about proper use of the strategic reserve, the decision is not guaranteed to sway Washington’s tussle with Moscow and Riyadh.

Nov 23, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

A Close Encounter of the Propaganda Kind in the Gulf

Despite more structured international maritime security measures, a recent encounter between Iranian and U.S. naval forces reiterated the potential for miscalculation, especially under a more assertive government in Tehran.

Nov 22, 2021

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Farzin Nadimi

Brief Analysis

UAE to Fund Israel and Jordan’s Solar/Water Deal

The trilateral agreement will combine long-established peace partners with one of the Gulf parties to last year’s Abraham Accords, providing a model for broader normalization efforts.

Nov 18, 2021

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Ghaith al-Omari
Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Biden’s Other Setback: OPEC+ Ignores His Plea for Help

The political costs of oil and gas pricing are increasing amid diplomatic snubs, LNG logistics, and the onset of winter weather.

Nov 8, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Biden Needs a Plan B for Yemen If Houthis Win

Ending the war under the current circumstances will generate new problems unless further steps are taken to interdict weapons smuggling and bolster security in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea.

Nov 4, 2021

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David Schenker

In-Depth Reports

Putin's War in Syria

Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence

The Russian leader defied expectations of a quixotic, costly outcome for his country’s 2015 intervention in Syria. As it actually played out, explains Anna Borshchevskaya in her recently published book, Russia leveraged the conflict and U.S. inaction to position itself as a leading power in the Middle East.

November 4, 2021

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

Saudi Prince’s “Net Zero by 2060” Goal Comes with Intriguing Contradictions

His presence at a major climate event will be awash in speculation regarding Canadian hit squads, British charities, and uncertain relations with the Biden administration.

Oct 25, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

China and Mideast Leverage: Hiding in Plain Sight

Washington still has good cards to play in terms of Iran’s destabilizing activities, the U.S. security umbrella over Gulf energy supplies, and Arab public opinion toward China and America.

Oct 22, 2021

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Saudi Arabia: What Has Changed, What Hasn’t

An expert discusses persistent questions about Saudi policy two decades since the September 11 attacks, explaining why some of them are still so difficult to answer definitively.

Oct 13, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Newcastle United fans celebrate the Saudi purchase of their team

Brief Analysis

Saudi Soccer Investment Augurs a Different Gulf Rivalry

Riyadh’s purchase of a struggling English club could shift some of the region’s core tensions and maneuvering to a different field of play.

Oct 8, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Qatar’s Council Election Has Gulf-Wide Implications

The long-delayed poll will be watched carefully by the country’s neighbors, though the sundry restrictions on voters and council members may limit its near-term policy impact.

Sep 30, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Tweet Signals Major Upgrade in Relations Between U.S. Gulf Allies

Yet the photo of an informal meeting among the Saudi, Qatari, and UAE leaders also suggests their uncertainty about American support.

Sep 20, 2021

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Simon Henderson

Promo photo for the U.S. Navy's new Task Force 59.

Brief Analysis

New Navy Task Force Aims to Deter Iran with Unmanned Systems

The high-tech force will explore human-machine teaming concepts in waters near Iran, but questions remain about whether the United States is prepared to defend those assets when necessary.

Sep 17, 2021

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Farzin Nadimi

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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