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Saudi Arabia

EnergyChina, European Union, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States

The Complicated Geopolitics of U.S. Oil Sanctions on Iran

Amy Myers Jaffe

The U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal sets in motion a complex power play that introduces new risks for global oil markets. It is often said, perhaps with some…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyIran, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, United States

Saudi Arabia Pressured Palestinian Authority to Accept Saudi-backed Israel-Palestine Peace Deal

Joshua Ball

More evidence of closer ties between Israel and Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman reportedly informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he must support the Israeli-Palestinian peace deal…

EnergyChina, European Union, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States

The Unholy Alliance That Explains Why Renewable Energy is Trouncing Nuclear

David Toke

If recent trends continue for another two years, the global share of electricity from renewables excluding hydropower will overtake nuclear for the first time. Even 20 years ago, this nuclear decline would…

Defense & SecurityFrance, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States

U.S. Allies More Likely to Take Unilateral Action in 2018

Joshua Ball

Increased possibility of unilateral action by U.S. allies due to lack of clarity surrounding the Trump Administration's foreign policy. Under the administration of Donald Trump, the United States has been…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyIsrael, Jordan, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States

Palestinians Would Get Limited Sovereignty in Saudi-Proposed Peace Plan

Joshua Ball

The Saudi Crown Prince reportedly gave the Palestinian President two months to respond to the proposed peace plan. A Saudi-backed proposal for a peace plan between Israelis and Palestinians would…

Defense & SecurityIran, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism, United States

Non-State Actors: Terrorist Groups and Insurgencies

Joshua Ball

Threats from terrorist and insurgent groups will persist and are likely to become more decentralized in their nature. The terrorist threat is likely to increase as the means and the…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyNorth Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United States

White House Signals Secretary of State Rex Tillerson May Be Replaced by CIA Director Mike Pompeo

Joshua Ball

The White House reportedly plans to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson may have to resign by the beginning of…

Defense & SecurityIran, ISIS, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United States

The Race for Syria after the Islamic State

Udi Dekel

Increasing signs are pointing to the impending fall of the Islamic State in Syria, which has suffered a series of defeats in recent months. The territory in eastern Syria that…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyIran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States

Geopolitical Shifts in the Middle East

Cyril Widdershoven

The emergence of a Russian-Iranian-Turkish triangle is a new reality. The Western hegemony in the MENA region has ended, and not in a shy way, but with a long list…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyIran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Plan for Modernization—and better ties with Israel

Joshua Ball

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is working to “westernize” the Kingdom and change people’s mindsets when it comes to Israel. This report comes from Twitter user Mujtahidd, an account…

Defense & SecurityIran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United States

What to Watch For in Post-ISIS Iraq and Syria

Zachary Laub

As the campaigns to wrest the Islamic State from the territory it held in Iraq and Syria near completion, new conflicts may arise if old political arrangements prevail. The self-proclaimed…

Defense & SecurityChina, Energy, European Union, Foreign Policy, France, International Security, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Northern Africa, Oil, OPEC, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United States

Converging Economic and Demographic Trends Threaten Security in the Middle East and North Africa

Joshua Ball

With oil prices unlikely to recover to levels of the petroleum boom governments may have to limit cash payments and subsidies. In the meantime, social networks have provided new tools…