Qatari Emir’s Timely Visit to Washington

by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visits the White House on July 9 at a critical moment for security and stability in the Persian Gulf and the broader region. Recent developments in Afghanistan and… Continue Reading →

Fate of Saudi Religious Scholars on Death Row

by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen and Giorgio Cafiero Last month, the London-based Middle East Eye reported that three Saudi religious scholars—Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, Awad al-Qarni, and Ali al-Omari—were going to receive the death penalty after the end of Ramadan. The report… Continue Reading →

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 →

Tempering Expectation with Realism in Mohammed bin Salman’s London Visit

by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s March 7 visit to London provides a fleeting opportunity for Britain’s embattled government to put aside for a day the chaotic uncertainty of the torturous Brexit negotiations and pursue its plan… Continue Reading →