Policy Analysis

Even if an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal proves unattainable for now, Washington and Riyadh should still seek ways to enhance military and defense cooperation in order to advance common interests and prepare for future security challenges.

Watch a conversation featuring the U.S. and Bahraini ambassadors to each other's countries as they discuss the bilateral security and economic relationships one year after the signing of a major agreement between the two nations.

The incumbent president is set to win another term, but shifting opposition politics at home and geostrategic realities abroad could raise bilateral bumps down the road.

A longstanding partner to IRGC-QF and Lebanese Hezbollah, STK is one of the most notorious Iraqi militias in terms of its involvement in human rights abuses and rampant criminality.

Despite wartime security and economic challenges, the kingdom is holding its first election since a modernization plan was formulated in 2021.

The politicized corruption of the country’s best intelligence agency has exploded into a major eavesdropping scandal directed from the prime minister’s office, and Washington should adjust bilateral intelligence sharing accordingly.

The island has objected to Chevron’s export proposals with Egypt and might look for other partners.

Previous civil war combatants are now fighting a financial and resource war over the country’s vast wealth, but Washington and UNSMIL can still exert more leverage than other players if they so choose.

The new amendment has been met with concerns as it is believed to promote child marriage, raising the stakes of this proposed amendment and its potential implications.

Weapons bans have proven to be a fickle tool historically, so why did they work in Riyadh’s case?

Israel’s most significant military operation in the territory since the second intifada highlights the growing danger of a new front opening alongside the Gaza war.

The agreement has not led to the expected levels of economic growth, but Washington can still use it to bolster the bilateral relationship, encourage reform, and open up other markets in Africa.

Effective counter-narratives are required to weaken the group's ideological appeal, especially the propaganda targeting Kurdish populations.

Kirkuk’s future remains uncertain due to the lack of any consensus-based projects between the governorate’s political actors. Even if these longtime rivals find a way to participate in the local government, it is possible that a slight grievance could devolve into political deadlock.

New strategic realities and the ever-present challenge of enforcement would make it difficult to reinvigorate the heavy international sanctions regimes seen in past years.

The United States and its partners should take several immediate steps to avoid an environmental disaster, counter the Houthi spin about the incident, and prevent the group from creating other hazmat emergencies in the Red Sea.

As the war in Gaza seemingly winds down, the old rules no longer apply in the north.

The group has sought to build legitimacy and prepare for a postwar role in Gaza by engaging with various countries since October, but the death of Ismail Haniyeh will complicate those efforts.

Israeli and Lebanese experts join two former U.S. officials to discuss what each party was thinking before, during, and after this weekend’s exchange of strikes—and whether war in the north has become inevitable regardless of near-term de-escalation.

The greatest concern for small communities in Iraq is the failure of the state to regain its strength and ability to manage the country independently.