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Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

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Concept art of the Saudi NEOM project
Articles & Testimony
Is the Saudi “City of the Future” Overly Ambitious?
Major distractions from abroad have not changed the fact that NEOM remains central to the crown prince’s vision for transforming the kingdom, despite its steep political and financial challenges.
Jan 15, 2021
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  • Simon Henderson
Vice President Joseph R. Biden
Articles & Testimony
Biden Should Build on the Abraham Accords, Not Roll Them Back
Party leaders are providing constructive input, but the administration should stop short of any measures that risk sabotaging this moment of historic progress in Arab-Israel relations.
Jan 14, 2021
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  • Jay Solomon
Brief Analysis
Egypt Endorses Gulf Reconciliation But Remains Skeptical
Although officials are playing along in order to maintain good ties with Saudi Arabia, they seem convinced that Qatar will exploit the new agreement in ways that harm Cairo's political and security interests at home.
Jan 14, 2021
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  • Haisam Hassanein
Brief Analysis
UAVs and the Abraham Accords: New Horizons for Sinai Peacekeeping
Replacing manned monitoring missions with drone sorties and inviting Gulf countries to participate would help improve security, reduce America’s burden and risk, decrease costs, and bolster the regional peace architecture.
Jan 13, 2021
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  • Assaf Orion
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair
Video
Brief Analysis
America, the Middle East, and the World: A Conversation with Tony Blair
The former Prime Minister discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the Biden administration twenty years after 9/11 and a decade after the Arab Spring.
January 11, 2021
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  • Tony Blair
Brief Analysis
Enough Theory, European Strategic Autonomy Needs Practice in the Middle East
Libya, Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz provide three test cases where greater assertiveness and transatlantic cooperation could go hand in hand, but only if European countries receive genuine U.S. support to step up their operational efforts and diplomatic engagement.
Jan 6, 2021
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  • Charles Thépaut
  • Pierre Morcos
Articles & Testimony
The End of the Gulf Crisis Is Big News—But Middle East Sands Always Shift
The rift’s closure, while quite welcome, won’t produce instant Gulf unity or make the Iran nuclear issue any easier to solve.
Jan 5, 2021
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  • Simon Henderson
Articles & Testimony
Jordan Must Be Included in Future Israeli-Arab Normalization Deals
One of the most reliable strategic allies in the region has been taken for granted, so the Biden administration will need to steer more diplomatic attention and economic support Amman’s way.
Jan 3, 2021
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  • Ben Fishman
Brief Analysis
A Missile Defense “Manhattan Project” in the Middle East
One of the fruits of Arab-Israeli normalization should be more robust U.S.-led missile defense collaboration between states that face the greatest threat from Iran.
Dec 30, 2020
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  • Michael Knights
Brief Analysis
Submarine Movements on Iran’s Doorstep: Military and Legal Implications
Unusual deployments by the U.S. and Israeli navies may be intended to deter Iranian attacks in the Gulf, but both moves are ripe for misinterpretation in Tehran.
Dec 29, 2020
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  • Farzin Nadimi
Articles & Testimony
Saudi Sentencing of Women’s Activist Sets Up Riyadh for a Clash with Biden
The topic of human rights has become a red line for Saudi leaders, who seem to perceive it as a purely domestic matter on which they will not countenance any foreign pressure.
Dec 28, 2020
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  • Simon Henderson
A government solcier in Yemen
Articles & Testimony
Yemen Policy From the Inside Out
The conflict continues because none of the local parties is strong enough to win, weak enough to lose, or incentivized toward peace, but the Biden administration can do something about the latter problem.
Dec 15, 2020
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  • Elana DeLozier
Articles & Testimony
To Secure an Iran Nuclear Deal, Include the Mideast’s Powers
For two decades and running, diplomatic efforts have noticeably omitted the regional states most directly in the line of Tehran’s fire, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Dec 15, 2020
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  • Jay Solomon
Brief Analysis
Al-Qaeda’s External Operations One Year After the Pensacola Attack
Drone campaigns have greatly culled the group’s leadership, but leaders are replaceable, and the guided-attack model seen in Pensacola could be a significant force multiplier for any locally rooted affiliates who seek to strike abroad in the coming years.
Dec 11, 2020
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  • Matthew Levitt
  • Aaron Zelin
Articles & Testimony
Is OPEC Finally Beginning to Unravel?
Drastically lowered revenues, changing energy markets, political squabbling, and a new U.S. administration may eventually break the cartel’s cyclical status quo.
Dec 4, 2020
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  • Simon Henderson
Brief Analysis
Washington Pushes to End the Qatar Rift
Successful diplomacy could enhance Arab normalization with Israel and boost U.S. efforts to counter Iran, but it is unclear if Riyadh wants to bargain now or wait for Joe Biden.
Dec 1, 2020
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  • Simon Henderson
Articles & Testimony
Forecasting U.S.-UAE Relations Under the New Biden Administration
From addressing Iranian threats to mending rifts with Qatar and Turkey, the sound bilateral partnership on regional issues will likely thrive in the Biden era, albeit with some marginal adjustments by both governments.
Dec 1, 2020
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  • David Pollock
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
Articles & Testimony
Saudi-Israeli Diplomacy Progresses Amid Looming Middle East Challenges
The reported meeting between the crown prince and Netanyahu will likely shift normalization into the fast lane, but much can happen to slow, stop, or even reverse it.
Nov 24, 2020
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  • Simon Henderson
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

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