Has Saudi Arabia Finally Gone Too Far?

by Thomas W. Lippman In the 75-year history of the improbable alliance between the United State and Saudi Arabia, the Saudis have taken many actions and adopted many policies that infuriated the White House or Congress or both. They participated… Continue Reading

Saudi and Emirati Stakes in China’s Ascendancy

by Giorgio Cafiero and Bridgett Neff Although the United States remains an extremely powerful force in the Middle East, the strategically flawed and disastrous invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, the financial crash of 2008, and the chaotic fallout… Continue Reading

The Afrin Factor in Turkey-UAE Relations

by Giorgio Cafiero When they view Aden, Aleppo, Basra, Gaza, Ghouta, Mosul, and blockaded Qatar, Turks see grave injustices suffered by people in Arab lands once ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Such a perspective informs a popular Turkish narrative that… 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

Trump’s Bumbling Middle East Dance

by Mitchell Plitnick Both Barack Obama and Donald Trump wanted to change US policy toward both Israel-Palestine and Iran. When Obama arrived in the Oval Office, he brought an ambitious foreign policy plan with him. He wanted to diminish the… Continue Reading