Khashoggi’s Disappearance Belies Saudi Reform Narrative

by Emile Nakhleh The disappearance and possible murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi lay bare the “reform” lies that Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) has been spouting about his so-called opening up of Saudi society. His thuggish attitude and vicious actions… Continue Reading →

Journalist’s Disappearance Challenges Fragile Middle Eastern Pragmatism

by James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia and Turkey, despite being on opposite sides of Middle Eastern divides, are cooperating in Syria to enable youth and women to acquire skills that would either allow them to compete in the job market or turn… Continue Reading →

Fragility of Middle East Alliances Becomes Ever More Apparent

by James M. Dorsey Three recent developments lay bare the fragility of Middle Eastern alliances and a rebalancing of their priorities: the Russian-Turkish compromise on an assault on the rebel-held Syrian region of Idlib, the fate of troubled Abu Dhabi airline Ettihad,… 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 →

Who Will Benefit from Yemeni Oil Exports?

by Rauf Mammadov and Theodore Karasik Yemen is fracturing into microstates. Localism is driving politics in the country more than ever before. Unanswered questions about who in Yemen will benefit from the local production of oil in southern Yemen will… Continue Reading →