Expert Q&A: The Gaza Deal — and the ‘Trump Effect’
EXPERT INTERVIEW — On the day the Israeli cabinet voted to approve the long-awaited ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza, The Cipher Brief spoke with a former advisor […] More
Saudi Arabia
The ‘New Middle East’ That Awaits Donald Trump
EXPERT INTERVIEW — Less than two months before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. president, the headlines from the Middle East are […] More
How a U.S.-Saudi Deal Could Reshape the Middle East
SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS — It’s a tantalizing dream for diplomats and longtime observers of the Middle East: A grand bargain that would normalize relations between […] More
Arab Autocrats Flex Muscles Against Their People – Yet Again
OPINION — Amid protests against the Israeli war on Gaza around the world, including on American university campuses, Arab autocrats from Jordan to Morocco have […] More
The Latest
How the World’s “Middle Powers” Will Influence Future Conflict
OPINION — U.S. President Joseph Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met at the White House last week amidst a rapidly deteriorating global security […] More
What’s at Stake in Biden’s Push toward Saudi-Israeli Normalization?
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — The Biden administration is reportedly taking serious steps to push forward with efforts to negotiate a deal that would see official diplomatic […] More
Netanyahu: Israel’s Renowned Statesman Lost on the International Stage
OPINION — Over the course of his many decades in Israeli politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earned a reputation as Israel’s premier statesman and the country’s most savvy politician. […] More
Can Riyadh Leverage Failed Negotiations?
OPINION — Two months ago, the Saudis took unprecedented public steps to show the Houthis (and the world) they were serious about ending their involvement in the […] More
Saudi Arabia’s Disengagement from Yemen Will Be Messy
OPINION — The logic behind Saudi Arabia’s latest diplomatic maneuver was clear. Riyadh faced a major threat from the Iran-led axis, and when the U.S. […] More
A Coming Year of Change in the Middle East
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Change is a constant in the Middle East as the past several months have demonstrated with focused attention on protests in Iran, […] More
We Really Need to Fix the Saudi Problem
OPINION — In the annals of US history in the Middle East, there are few moments ingrained in the psyche of US government officials more […] More
Dynamics in the Middle East are Shifting, but in which Direction?
The dynamics of the Middle East are changing. From a protracted pandemic to a rise in Chinese interest and influence in the region and a […] More
Where Are Six Years of War in Yemen Going?
EXPERT ANALYSIS — At a time when western officials are focusing their attention toward national security threats posed by China, the war in Yemen is […] More
How will Saudi Pro-Reform Activists Respond to Biden’s Approach to MBS?
Emile Nakhleh is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer and founding director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program Office. Nakhleh is currently […] More
President Biden’s Middle East: A Briefing with Norman Roule
President Joe Biden’s administration is aiming its Middle East agenda on adhering to campaign promises, examining current policies and undoing some that were enacted under […] More
An Activist, A Prison Sentence and the US-Saudi Special Relationship
Emile Nakhleh is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer and founding director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program Office. He is currently […] More
How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?
The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to presenting multiple opinions to […] More
An Energy Market Check In
ENERGY — 2020 has taken a toll on the world’s energy market, but just how bad is it? Experts say COVID-19, economic shutdowns and a […] More
Selling F-35s to Saudi Arabia Risks an Arms Race
The Cipher Brief’s Academic Incubator program partners with colleges and Universities across the country to highlight the voices of the next generation of national security […] More