Gulf & Energy Policy

Knee-deep in Syria's civil war and surrounded by family quarrels, Qatar's emir is looking to hand over the country to his thirty-three-year-old son.

At a time of declining U.S. military spending and growing concern about Iran's hegemonic ambitions and nuclear intentions, the Gulf Cooperation Council states continue to view the U.S. military as the hub of their security efforts. How can Washington help bolster Gulf defenses against Iran without exacerbating military tensions, destabilizing

Local Brotherhood groups range from regime irritants to regime supporters, and the security challenge they represent to the Gulf monarchies should be assessed on a country-by-country basis.

Despite concerns about stability, oil, and Islamism, Beijing will continue to let Washington underwrite security in the Gulf.

Although the U.S. military now has a more competent royal defense partner in Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Muhammad, his appointment could provoke destabilizing countermoves within the House of Saud.

The next six months could see either a game-changing strategic energy compact between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds or movement toward a more sustainable Ankara-Baghdad-Erbil relationship. Washington has a strong interest in encouraging the latter.

The role of oil in Iran's economy is declining, undercutting Western efforts to press the regime by reducing its oil export revenue.

If Washington and its partners build on incremental technological progress and greater regional cooperation, they can field a Gulf missile defense network capable of dealing with Iran's growing arsenal.

A nuclear-armed Iran could bring Soviet-style intimidation to the Middle East.