Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama, is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute.
Joyce Karam is a journalist with decades of experience covering the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, and international affairs. She currently works as the senior news editor for Al-Monitor, author of its China-Middle East Daily Briefing, and an adjunct professor with George Washington University’s
Brief Analysis
Join us for an expert conversation previewing President Trump's upcoming trip to the Middle East. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
This month, President Trump will embark on a pivotal Middle East tour that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, three of America’s most influential partners in the Gulf region. With global markets in flux and tensions simmering across multiple fronts, he is expected to pursue groundbreaking initiatives in energy, technology, and economic cooperation, potentially paving the way for multi-billion-dollar agreements that define America’s international legacy for years to come.
What can U.S. officials do to facilitate the economic windfall and strategic wins the administration has promised? How might the trip shape Washington's next steps on negotiations with Iran, Saudi normalization with Israel, and escalation in Gaza? More broadly, how can the president use the trip to reassert diplomatic influence in a region defined by shifting alliances and rising competitors? To discuss these questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with Dennis Ross, Emile Hokayem, and Joyce Karam.
Watch a live webcast of this event starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Dennis Ross is the Institute’s Davidson Distinguished Fellow, a former senior official and Middle East envoy in the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations, and author of the new book Statecraft 2.0: What America Needs to Lead in a Multipolar World (Oxford University Press).
Emile Hokayem is the director of regional security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, specializing in Middle East politics, security, and conflict analysis. His many publications include a recent Financial Times article on President Trump’s upcoming trip to the region.
Joyce Karam is a journalist with decades of experience covering the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, and international affairs. She currently works as the senior news editor for Al-Monitor, author of its China-Middle East Daily Briefing, and an adjunct professor with George Washington University’s Department of Political Science.
The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Florence and Robert Kaufman Family.
