The Exclusionary Turn In GCC Politics

by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen The sudden rupture in diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Canada has thrown a spotlight on the regional political dynamics that have placed unprecedented and potentially irreversible strains on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Over the past… Continue Reading

Can a GCC Reconciliation Summit at Camp David Succeed?

by Gregory Aftandilian After sporadic but unsuccessful attempts by Washington since the summer of 2017 to end the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) crisis, the Trump Administration is now contemplating inviting leaders of the council countries this autumn to Camp David… Continue Reading

The UAE in Yemen: With a Lot of Help from its Mercs

by David Isenberg The UAE has participated in the ongoing, Saudi-led war in Yemen largely through its use of a disparate collection of mercenaries, or to use the accepted euphemism, “private military contractors” (PMC). In 2011, the UAE hired Erik… Continue Reading

OPEC and President Trump: His Tweets Don’t Matter

by Thomas W. Lippman There are several possible explanations for the tweet President Trump sent out on Wednesday criticizing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for the continuing rise in the price of oil. One is that he simply… Continue Reading