The Irrationality of Iran Vilification

by Danny Sjursen “Everywhere you look, if there is trouble in the region,” Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters on a mid-April visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, “you find Iran.” I must admit that when I stumbled across that… Continue Reading →

The Boomerang Impact of Trump’s Israel-Palestine Policies

by Thomas Buonomo Donald Trump’s policies toward Israel and Palestine will exacerbate conflict in the Middle East, increasing the probability that the United States will become more militarily engaged there. His promise to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and his… Continue Reading →

Can Kuwait Facilitate a Thaw in Saudi-Iranian Relations?

by Giorgio Cafiero Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid traveled to Tehran late last month to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. While making his rare visit to the Iranian capital, Kuwait’s top diplomat… Continue Reading →

The Erosion of West-Saudi Relations

by Eldar Mamedov On December 14, the European Parliament adopted a report on the E.U.’s common foreign and security policy, which expresses the assembly’s views on key issues in the E.U.’s external relations. Among other positions, the E.P. condemned the… Continue Reading →