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Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

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Assistant secretary of state David Schenker speaks at the Department of State in Washington, DC, alongside secretary of state Mike Pompeo

Middle East Policy from Trump to Biden: Views from Inside the State Department’s Near East Bureau

The former assistant secretary of state in charge of the Middle East portfolio from 2019-2021 discusses his time in office and how the region’s challenges and opportunities are evolving at the start of the Biden administration.

David Schenker
Robert Satloff

Understanding Iran’s Vast Media Network in Arab Countries

Designating Iranian-linked media outlets can limit their activities, but a more holistic strategy is needed if Washington hopes to effectively counter the regime’s regional propaganda machine.

Hamdi Malik

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia

Articles & Testimony

For Better or Worse: Which Way Will US-Saudi Relations Go Under Biden?

The new administration seems to regard Khashoggi’s death as merely the best known of the crown prince’s sins, but it is hard to see an alternative successor in the House of Saud.

Simon Henderson

Reframing Libya for a Reluctant Administration

By treating the conflict as a matter of Mediterranean security, President Biden’s team can better assist the new Libyan government and demonstrate its commitment to revitalizing alliances.

Ben Fishman

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia

Articles & Testimony

Balancing Act: Biden Must Redefine the US-Saudi Relationship

The administration’s instinct to cancel Riyadh’s blank check is right, but engaging a flawed partner is not the same as confronting a determined adversary.

Dennis Ross
Robert Satloff

Egyptian and Israeli flags along the Sinai border

Israel Secures Egyptian Gas Export Route

A rare visit by an Egyptian cabinet official marks a significant upgrade in bilateral energy ties, though questions remain about Palestinian, Gulf, and environmental issues.

Simon Henderson

MbS, King Salman, Saudi map, fighter jet

In-Depth Reports

Defining a Mature, Balanced Relationship with Saudi Arabia An Urgent Task for the Biden Administration

Transition 2021

A revamped approach to the alliance should stay focused on shared goals, from ensuring a stable oil market to promoting a more tolerant version of Islam at home and abroad.

Dennis Ross
Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

Blinken Picks Up the Phone to Firm Up Alliances—Except with Most Gulf Countries

The change of administrations and the realities of COVID-era diplomacy may give Gulf leaders a sense that they are being kept at a distance on key issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.

Simon Henderson

Israeli and Palestinian children join the mayor of Jerusalem to release doves.

U.S. Policy Toward Arab States, Palestinians, and Israel: Ideas and Approaches for the Biden Administration

Officials, business leaders, and experts explore the economic, political, and human impact of regional normalization efforts, including their potential to reinvigorate peacemaking with the Palestinians.

Yousef Al Otaiba
Samer Khoury
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum
David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

The Arab Spring Then and Now, Through the Prism of Public Opinion

A “survey of surveys” shows that from an intelligence and policy point of view, Arab public opinion is measurable and meaningful—assuming regional governments and Washington are paying proper attention to it.

David Pollock

Iranian military leaders inspect drones.

Drones Over Riyadh: Unpacking the Iran Threat Network’s Tactics

Two enigmatic drone incidents in Saudi Arabia point to gaps in U.S. intelligence coverage and increasingly sophisticated deception tactics by Iran’s integrated militia networks in Iraq and Yemen.

Michael Knights

Oman’s Sultan Caps First Year by Appointing Heir and New Military Leadership

Sultan Haitham’s latest decrees elevated his son to heir, sacked commanders, and spotlighted his brother’s influence, but the government’s main focus is still squarely on economic reform.

Elana DeLozier

Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia

Articles & Testimony

Will the Biden Team Tighten or Unravel US-Saudi Ties?

Explosions in Riyadh, uncertainty about the Iran nuclear deal, and a potentially damaging CIA report about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder are among the many factors that could alter the new administration’s calculus.

Simon Henderson

Map of Israeli bilateral relationships with Arab states

In-Depth Reports

Building Bridges for Peace: U.S. Policy Toward Arab States, Palestinians, and Israel

Transition 2021

The Biden administration can succeed by strengthening and expanding Israeli normalization with Arab states and pursuing gradualism on the Palestinian issue.

David Makovsky

Humanitarian Aid and the Biden Administration: Lessons from Yemen and Syria

Veteran NGO practitioners with deep experience in the aid sector discuss how Washington can help fix flawed approaches to assisting civilians in these two conflict zones.

Jan Egeland
Alex Harper
Emma Beals
Jomana Qaddour
Elana DeLozier
Charles Thépaut

What Did the Confirmation Hearings Reveal About Biden’s Middle East Policy?

Antony Blinken, Avril Haines, and Lloyd Austin responded at length to congressional questions about the Iran nuclear deal, the Yemen war, Arab-Israel normalization, and other pressing regional issues.

Ilari Papa

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.

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.

Jay Solomon

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.

Haisam Hassanein

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.

Assaf Orion

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