Why does Biden want Saudi-Israeli normalization so badly? Marc Lynch - September 20, 2023 The Abraham Accords may define a new regional order.
Biden promises to fight transnational corruption. But will the U.S. target friends as well as foes? Victor Peskin and Mieczysław Boduszyński - December 20, 2021 Washington tends to avoid confronting allies, this research shows
Tunisia has its first-ever female prime minister. That’s not as good for democracy as it sounds. Sivan Hirsch-Hoefler, Lihi Ben Shitrit, and Julia Elad-Strenger - October 12, 2021 Around the world, would-be authoritarians have been ‘pinkwashing’ policies that undermine democracy. Our research finds that it works.
Why do some Muslim-majority countries support China’s crackdown on Muslims? Jonathan Hoffman - May 3, 2021 Western countries have condemned the repression in Xinjiang, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt praised China’s efforts to restore ‘safety and security’
Jordan detained a prince. The government’s determined to squash political dissent. Jillian Schwedler - April 5, 2021 Criticizing the king is considered an act of terrorism
Saudi Twitter blew up with support for the crown prince. How much of it is genuine? Andrew Leber and Alexei Abrahams - March 8, 2021 Tweets in support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman racked up after a U.S. report implicated him in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi Arabia just lifted Qatar’s 43-month blockade. How did this rift end? Coates Ulrichsen - January 8, 2021 A new agreement appears to cover these three points
Kuwait’s leader has died. The royals are now fighting over who will be crown prince. Sean Yom - September 30, 2020 The next-generation leaders have a history of feuding among themselves
Saudi Arabia is launching an oil price war. That’s risky. Jim Krane - March 22, 2020 Without oil revenues, the monarchy could be in trouble
2020 is the year to worry about nuclear weapons Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer - January 5, 2020 The confrontation between the United States and Iran is just the beginning
Looking back at the Middle East’s 2019: Surprises from Trump, Saudi power moves, protests and more Stephanie Dahle - December 29, 2019 Here are 5 takeaways.
Saudi Arabia held secret talks with Iran to ease regional tensions. Are they holding back the U.S.? Peter Henne - December 13, 2019 Arab Gulf countries are restraining the United States from war with Iran.
Lebanon’s economic crisis didn’t happen overnight. So how did it get to this point? Hannes Baumann - October 22, 2019 Here’s why the government’s latest response doesn’t meet protesters’ demands.
Are cyber-operations a U.S. retaliatory option for the Saudi oil field strikes? Would such action deter Iran? Jacquelyn Schneider - October 1, 2019 This strategic response can have complicated trade-offs
Saudi, UAE Twitter takedowns won’t curb rampant disinformation on Arab Twitter Marc Owen Jones - September 24, 2019 Recent activity by social media networks to rein in bot and troll networks is only a token gesture.
Iran’s nuclear program seems to be accelerating. Will Saudi Arabia take a similar path? Eliza Gheorghe - July 12, 2019 In a multipolar world, curbing nuclear transfers becomes more difficult.
Why Jordan’s identity can’t be bought Sean Yom and Katrina Sammour - June 24, 2019 The deal of the century promises billions of dollars — and a future of regional instability.
How is MBS’s consolidation of power affecting Saudi clerics in the opposition? Raihan Ismail - June 3, 2019 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Islamic Summit
Trump changed U.S. policy toward Libya. This is why it matters. Mieczysław P. Boduszyński and Christopher K. Lamont - May 2, 2019 The Trump administration’s about-face on Libya leaves few options in the face of a dramatic escalation of violence.
How Saudi Arabia uses women’s rights reforms against women’s rights and reform Nermin Allam - March 29, 2019 The crown prince’s approach to women’s rights still excludes feminists.
Does the decline of U.S. power matter for the Middle East? Marc Lynch - March 19, 2019 Perceived or not, declining American primacy has real effects.
Why Saudi Arabia is turning to Asia Jonathan Fulton - March 5, 2019 Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman visited Pakistan, India and China in a growing effort to diversify Saudi foreign relations.
The Trump administration wants to sell nuclear technology to the Saudis — without a nuclear agreement. That’s alarming. Matthew Fuhrmann - February 21, 2019 Here are the three reasons it’s worrisome.
The Senate and intelligence community rebuked Trump on national security this week. James Goldgeier, Elizabeth N. Saunders, and Sarah Binder - February 2, 2019 Here's why that matters — a lot.
The shutdown is just the finale. Here are five takeaways from the Republican Congress’s chaotic 2018. Sarah Binder - December 27, 2018 Five takeaways from a year of one-party rule.
What the Mattis resignation tells us about how Trump is damaging the military’s credibility Michael Robinson - December 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81861" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Defense Secretary Jim Mattis welcomes Vice
Three reasons that Jim Mattis’s resignation is not just unusual — but startling Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81843" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary
Last week showed how Trump’s management of his team is hurting his own foreign policy. It’s only going to get worse. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81377" align="alignleft" width="960"] Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of
Qatar will leave OPEC. Here’s what this means. Jeff Colgan - December 6, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81214" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The headquarters of the Organization of
Mohammed bin Salman’s comeback tour Sarah Yerkes - December 6, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81172" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, right,
The G-20 summit was overshadowed by other news. But there wasn’t much to overshadow anyway. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 3, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80963" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Group of 20 leaders, including (first
Why is the Senate challenging Trump on Yemen? Jordan Tama - November 30, 2018 Here’s what you need to know.
Sometimes autocrats strengthen their power by expanding women’s rights. Here’s how that works. Daniela Donno and Anne-Kathrin Kreft - November 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80512" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addresses
After Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia’s economic future is uncertain Karen Young - October 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79287" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Has Mohammed bin Salman finally gone too far? Coates Ulrichsen - October 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78928" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
What is the Global Magnitsky Act, and why are U.S. senators invoking this on Saudi Arabia? Jordan Tama - October 12, 2018 Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi has not been seen since he
Saudi Arabia just expelled the Canadian ambassador in Riyadh. Here’s why. Thomas Juneau - August 7, 2018 A bombshell hit the usually very quiet world of Canada-Middle
The big gains for women’s rights in the Middle East, explained Feryal Cherif and Benjamin Bishin - July 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75893" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hessah al-Ajaji drives her car on
On Israel’s 70th anniversary, what does the region think? Dana El Kurd - May 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73331" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Palestinian man throws leaflets dropped
A new U.S. policy makes it (somewhat) easier to export drones Michael Horowitz and Joshua Schwartz - April 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72517" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump holds a chart highlighting
Why Gaza’s ‘March of Return’ isn’t dominating Arab headlines Marc Lynch - April 13, 2018 On Friday, March 30, Israeli troops killed more than 20
Trump meets Qatar’s emir today. But efforts to resolve the Persian Gulf dispute have already stalled. Coates Ulrichsen - April 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72019" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stands with
Three things to know about Trump’s Jerusalem gambit Marc Lynch - December 7, 2017 President Trump announced a radical departure in U.S. Middle East
Offering pensions can help autocrats stay in power longer Magnus Rasmussen and Carl Knutsen - December 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66851" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes
Why did Saudi Arabia target billionaire media tycoons in its purge? Marwan Kraidy - November 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66354" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin
What Saudi Arabia’s purge means for the Middle East Marc Lynch - November 6, 2017 International and domestic crises dominated Saudi Arabia over the weekend. On Saturday,
How states can wield ‘official Islam’ to limit radical extremism Michael Robbins and Lawrence Rubin - November 3, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65731" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Worshipers arrive for Friday prayers at
Saudi Arabia finally let women drive. Don’t mistake it for democratic reform. Stéphane Lacroix - October 5, 2017 In September 2017, Saudi Arabia granted its female citizens the
How a few young leaders are shaking up foreign policy in the Gulf Cooperation Council Russell Lucas - August 11, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62243" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Why a controversial Iraqi Shiite cleric visited Saudi Arabia Fanar Haddad - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr visited
Who is Saudi Arabia’s new crown prince? Coates Ulrichsen - June 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60252" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The new crown prince of Saudi
What’s going on with Qatar? Coates Ulrichsen - June 1, 2017 Tensions have resurfaced in a sustained media onslaught that has
Why is Saudi Arabia’s king spending a month in Asia? Jonathan Fulton - March 6, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54964" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Arabia's King Salman appears with
Here’s why Saudi Arabia is loosening its restrictions on women Yu-Ming Liou and Paul Musgrave - June 27, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42883" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi women vote during municipal elections
At this week’s OPEC meeting, expect much ado about nothing Jeff Colgan - May 31, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41293" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Ali al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's petroleum minister,
Breaking the Saudi rules of succession David Roberts - May 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_25371" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] An undated handout image released
Has Saudi Arabia already won its Yemen war? Silvana Toska - May 15, 2015 Despite the current humanitarian ceasefire, Saudi Arabia’s military operation in