Mohammed bin Salman’s growing repression emboldens opposition abroad and creates more challenges for the rising leader.
Oman’s growing influence in Syria could make it an increasingly important diplomatic actor there, though the Sultanate must tread carefully.
GCC countries are caught up in Chinese-U.S. competition over tech infrastructure. A failure to appease both powers risks endangering critical relationships.
Iran’s economic crisis remains heavily connected to its enmity with the United States. The best tool for economic diversification and sustainable development is an end to the four decades of animosity between Tehran and Washington.
Sada asked experts to analyze potential flash points for the next U.S. administration—ranging from the globalization of Libya’s war to the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and increasing authoritarianism and violations of civil liberties and human rights.
Military training cooperation has become a distinctive feature of the UAE’s foreign policy and a major tool for expanding geopolitical leverage.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is likely heading toward a confrontation with the Iran-backed paramilitaries, which could threaten his fledgling coalition.
Following the emir’s recent health crisis, new questions emerge about who is jockeying for power and what succession scenarios may play out in the near future.
While the Egyptian and Ethiopian dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has high stakes for local stability, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are well-positioned to play a leading role in mediating the conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s economic hurdles also pose as opportunities as the country prepares for a post-pandemic world.
The shifting relationships between armies and civil society are revealing new balances within defense structures.
A renewed NATO-Middle East cooperation can strengthen the security architecture of the Middle East.
The war in Yemen is now entering its sixth year and is moving toward a new phase that relies heavily on local proxies.
Despite economic obstacles facing the two countries, Turkey and Iran strive to cement economic relations and maintain their multifaceted relations.
In the last decade, Saudi Arabia’s approach to the porous frontier with Yemen has gradually shifted from patronage for and cooperation with local tribes to incremental militarization.
Russia’s increased involvement in Libya marks a turning point in the conflict, making an Ankara-Kremlin rapprochement all the more likely.
Following the Riyadh Agreement, Iran’s approach to conflict resolution in Yemen takes a multilateral form.
Aramco’s upcoming IPO is a step toward the expansion of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) into a parallel budget under the control of the crown prince.
As local actors strengthen their influence, the fragmentation of Yemen is becoming a more urgent threat for peace talks and Yemenis’ wishes.
Aside from controlling arms spending, Saudi Arabia’s defense sector reform remains stalled.