Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

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

Building an Arab-Israel Bloc: Can It Compensate for a Reluctant Washington?

Arab, European, and Israeli experts assess the possibilities and limits of normalization, discussing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. retrenchment, and the Palestinian issue.

May 12, 2022

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Nickolay Mladenov
Zohar Palti
Ebtesam al-Ketbi
Karim Haggag

Qatari leader Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Qatari Visit to Iran Suggests Possible Policy Breakthroughs

The emir will likely seek a role in reviving the nuclear agreement, as well as Iranian help with accommodating World Cup fans later this year.

May 11, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Dethroning Lebanon’s “King of Captagon”

A major international drug smuggler with close ties to Hezbollah has continued threatening Lebanese residents and helping the Assad regime next door, giving Washington ample cause to intervene.

May 9, 2022

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Lauren Fredericks

Articles & Testimony

We Can’t Face Down Putin Alone

Some potential allies in the Middle East may not be democracies, but they're not revisionist states either, so the United States cannot afford to write them off.

May 6, 2022

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Dennis Ross

Arab Approval of UAE, Bahrain Peace with Israel

Video

Brief Analysis

New Arab Polls on Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and China: Analysis and Implications

Three public opinion experts discuss what March and April surveys in key states reveal about local attitudes toward U.S. policy.

May 3, 2022

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David Pollock
Catherine Cleveland
Munqith Dagher

Ukrainian soldiers pose with a captured Russian military vehicle - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Russia’s Move on Ukraine Polls Poorly in Arab Gulf

Most Saudi, Emirati, and Kuwaiti citizens appear to oppose Putin’s invasion, but their dim views of Washington’s reliability may limit the region’s willingness to counter Moscow.

Apr 30, 2022

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David Pollock

A Ghauri nuclear-capable missile on parade in Pakistan

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Renewed Saudi-Pakistan Contacts Revive Nuclear Fears

Deadlock in the Iran nuclear talks may prompt action by Riyadh, with Pakistani support.

Apr 27, 2022

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Simon Henderson

An Israeli security officer stands guard at the scene of a terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv, March 2022.

Articles & Testimony

A Badly Needed New Approach to Quelling the Violence

A U.S.-Israel attempt to compel Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas to end terrorist attacks against Israelis could ultimately help reset dynamics, even if such a move generates a costly short-term backlash.

Apr 25, 2022

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Ehud Yaari

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Muqawama Cyber-Surge (Part 2): Attributing Attacks to Militia Platforms

Sabereen News has seemingly broadened its capabilities to include simple hacking tactics like DDoS attacks, and it might quickly proceed to more complex exploits.

Apr 25, 2022

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Hamdi Malik
Crispin Smith

◆ Militia Spotlight

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Muqawama Cyber-Surge (Part 1): Chronology of Recent Attacks

Sabereen News appears to have added cyberattacks to its normal activities of spreading militia propaganda and disinformation, claiming operations against Israeli, Turkish, and Saudi targets.

Apr 25, 2022

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Crispin Smith
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Brief Analysis

Saudi-Kuwaiti Tensions with Iran over Offshore Gas Field

A relatively straightforward legal dispute could have geopolitical consequences.

Apr 18, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Pakistani men watch a televised address by Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 31, 2022 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Clock Runs Out on Imran Khan as Pakistan’s Prime Minister

Things to watch going forward include Islamabad’s relationship with traditional cash source Saudi Arabia and its geopolitical posture toward Iran and Afghanistan.

Apr 11, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz - source: Israeli Ministry of Defense

Video

Brief Analysis

Defense Minister Benny Gantz Discusses Israel's Strategic Challenges

The country's top defense official shares his insights on recent terrorist attacks, the Iran nuclear talks, the Ukraine war, expanding cooperation with regional countries, and more.

Apr 11, 2022

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Benny Gantz

Articles & Testimony

Why Arab Allies Don’t Trust the U.S. on Ukraine

“This will not stand,” the president said after Iraq invaded Kuwait, but no such fortitude has been evident in response to Iran’s continued aggression.

Apr 9, 2022

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

A Battle Over Oil Rages Alongside Russia’s War in Ukraine

The latest OPEC+ production decision is a clear statement that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other traditional American partners are still at loggerheads with Washington.

Mar 31, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Israeli and Arab foreign ministers, along with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, at the Negev Summit - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

A New Regional Role for Israel, as Washington Shows Signs of Stepping Back

By participating in the Negev Summit, Arab states are signaling their appreciation for Israel’s status as both a local power and a unique interlocutor with the United States.

Mar 28, 2022

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David Makovsky

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2018 - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Middle East—Read “Energy”—Complicates Ukraine Crisis

A new gas deal with Germany may help, but the Gulf states are taking a risk by intertwining urgent Western energy requests with seemingly tangential regional issues.

Mar 22, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Can Turkey and the UAE Help Break Libya’s Deadlock?

Finding a compromise timeline for elections will be delicate, but the recent thaw in relations between Ankara and Abu Dhabi removes a significant external impediment to progress.

Mar 14, 2022

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Ben Fishman

Brief Analysis

A British Trip to Secure Extra Saudi Oil?

Boris Johnson’s expected visit reflects both the urgency of the crisis and the chill between Riyadh and the White House.

Mar 14, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Illustration of chess pieces and the Russian and Ukrainian flags - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

How Will the Ukraine Crisis Affect Middle East Policy?

Three experts discuss whether the war might alter Washington’s calculus on rapprochement with Turkey, regional military deployments, and wider great power competition.

Mar 10, 2022

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Soner Cagaptay
Grant Rumley

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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Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

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Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

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