Economic Cooperation as Political Insurance
Since Iran signed the nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015, Tehran has seen a flood of foreign visitors. Nine heads of state, 16 […] More
Middle East
U.S. Military Aid to Egypt Continues Despite Democratic Struggle
Islamic militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) in November 2014, after a deadly attack […] More
Failure to Vet 100%
The U.S. government has continued providing military support to Egypt despite the 2013 military coup that overthrew then-president Mohamed Morsi. Moreover, the U.S. State Department […] More
Differences and Distrust
The U.S. and Egypt remain allies although relations have been strained since the 2011 Egyptian revolution, which resulted in the ousting of then-President Hosni Mubarak. […] More
The Anti-ISIS Coalition Makes First Real Gains in Libya
The UN-backed Government of National Accord’s Misratan-led Bunyan Al Marsus operation room made significant gains against IS this week, advancing to within 30km Sirte. So […] More
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation of Saudi Leaders
Saudi Arabia is confronting a pivotal moment in its history. While the Kingdom navigates unprecedented regional and economic challenges, the Saudi royal family is orchestrating […] More
Setting Lofty Goals
Ripple effects have been felt across the Kingdom as the Saudi royal family transitions to a new generation of leaders. According to former U.S. Ambassador […] More
The Ruling Family Remains Poised
For almost a century, Kool-Aid experts on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia saw little more than gloom and doom, imminent collapse of the ruling family, […] More
Eye on ISIS in Libya: The Anti-ISIS Coalition Update
Three interlinked conflict dynamics are discernible from last week’s developments on the ground: 1) increased lawlessness and militia rivalry in Tripoli and the western region; […] More
How to Read Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy has taken on a new face. In Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, and elsewhere, Saudi military intervention has signaled a drastic shift from […] More
It’s Complicated
As dynamics in the Middle East continue to shift, Saudi Arabia has taken on a more aggressive foreign policy approach. According to Perry Cammack, Middle […] More
Through the Prism of Iran
Arguably any nation’s foreign policy begins with an understanding of its security concerns. To understand Saudi Arabia’s current foreign policy, often confusing to many given […] More
Avoid Repeating Mistakes
Five years after the Arab Spring, enough dust has settled to allow for a clear analysis of U.S. policy in Libya at the time of […] More
Bold Action Needed
Libya’s failure to build a democratic, stable, constitutional, and sovereign government in the wake of the anti-Gadhafi uprisings in 2011 has not been the fault […] More
Leaving the Oil Spigot Open
On April 17, the thirteen members of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and five other major producers met in Doha to negotiate a long-awaited […] More
The Lack of Trust
The international oil market has been in a state of chaos over the past two years, as prices dropped more than 75 percent. Last month, […] More
Volatility in the Market
In November 2014, the thirteen members of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) shocked oil markets by announcing that, in order to “restore market […] More
Experts Doubt Aleppo "Regime of Calm"
Strikes and continuous violence have strained the fresh Aleppo cease-fire the United States and Russia brokered this week, leaving experts doubtful any cessation of hostilities […] More