Resolving Libya’s Civil War

by Giorgio Cafiero The world’s most complicated ongoing civil war erupted in Libya in mid-2014. Forces aligned with the internationally recognized albeit extremely weak government in Tripoli—the Government of National Accord (GNA)—are fighting those loyal to the secular-leaning House of… Continue Reading

Senate Resolution Potentially Changes Middle East Dynamics

by James M. Dorsey A draft US Senate resolution describing Saudi policy in the Middle East as a “wrecking ball” and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “complicit” in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if adopted and implemented, potentially… Continue Reading

Turkey vs. Saudi Arabia: Will the U.S. Have to Pick a Side?

by Derek Davison In the mid-twentieth century, U.S. Middle East policy rested primarily on its alliances with three major regional players: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. The alliance with Iran was, of course, broken in the wake of the 1979… Continue Reading

Khashoggi Rejiggers Middle East At Potentially Horrible Cost

by James M. Dorsey The fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, assuming that his disappearance was the work of Saudi security and military officials, threatens to upend the fundaments of fault lines in the Middle East. At stake is… Continue Reading

Can the GCC Survive the Qatar Crisis?

by Derek Davison  Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It was on June 5, 2017, that four nations—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and… Continue Reading