Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
As the Biden administration attempts to promote democracy and human rights in the Middle East, it will confront the deep-seated belief among Arabs that U.S. policies are unfair to their central causes and biased in favor of the ruling elite of their countries.
Houthi control of Ma’rib would not only remodel the balance of power on the ground but reframe ongoing peace processes too.
The regional competition revolving around Bab al-Mandab and its coastal extension is affecting the course of the war in Yemen.
The Sultanate of Oman’s policies toward women are inconsistent, not particularly progressive, and do not enjoy strong government support.
Biden’s decisions regarding Yemen are not a departure from those of previous administrations, simply part of the United States’ slow transition from direct support to one of the warring parties to seeking the role of a mediator in the conflict’s resolution.
The law of the Oman Council bolstered the government’s control not only in the unilateral decisionmaking process but also granting it the right to reject any proposed law submitted by the Council.
Saudi Arabia is building a new megacity to woo international partners. But the plans may pit Saudi against its long-time partner, the UAE.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman says that the time has come to pressure Saudi Arabia and the UAE to withdraw from Yemen so that the country can resume to the peace process and restore a Yemeni state.
The fruitless protracted blockade of Qatar not only failed to reform Doha’s “destabilizing behaviors,” but also strengthened Iranian-Qatari relations for the foreseeable future.
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.