"*" indicates required fields

Subscribe

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy

Subscription Settings

Arab Gulf States Institute

Saudi-Indian Ties Poised for Cautious Growth

For Riyadh, developing stronger ties with India could yield sought-after economic dividends, but it comes with a mixed bag of regional and international implications.

Robert Mogielnicki

11 min read

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 22. (Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS)

Baghdad’s Financial Squeezing of Kurdistan Undermines U.S. Interests

Baghdad is weaponizing economic levers to punish the Kurdistan region for signing energy pacts with U.S. firms and for aligning with President Trump’s commercial diplomacy.

Yerevan Saeed
Yerevan Saeed

8 min read

Masrour Barzani, prime minister of Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, left, walks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department, May 23, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).

Aramco and the Saudi Government Budget

Payments by Aramco are still the key driver of government revenue in Saudi Arabia despite the notable increase in non-oil revenue, particularly from the value-added tax, in recent years.

9 min read

President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tour the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The U.S.-China-Iran Oil Triangle in Flux

The coming weeks will offer clarity about whether President Trump’s claim – “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran” – signals an informal recalibration of Washington’s Iran sanctions strategy or a tactical feint without lasting repercussions.

John Calabrese
John Calabrese

16 min read

Chinese Foreign Minister Wag Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu listen to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazeem Gharibabadi speak during a meeting regarding the Iranian nuclear issue at Diaoyutai State Guest House on March 14 in Beijing, China. (Pool Photo via AP)

Jun 26, 2025

Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene

On June 26, AGSI opened a photography exhibition showcasing the work of 15 contemporary photographers from across the Gulf.

Image: Al Moutasim Al Maskery, Tree of Life, gallery shot. Courtesy of the artist. (Credit: AGSI)

Jun 24, 2025

Petro Diplomacy 2025: The GCC Energy Sector: Transformation, Diversification, and Global Ambition

On June 24, AGSI convened its Petro Diplomacy conference for the 11th consecutive year.

A row of oil pumps work in the desert oil fields of Sakhir, Bahrain, June 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Jun 23, 2025

U.S. Strike on Iran: Regional and Diplomatic Fallout

On June 23, AGSI hosted a discussion on the United States' attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

President Donald J. Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 21, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Carlos Barria/Pool via AP)
President Donald J. Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 21, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Carlos Barria/Pool via AP)

Jun 16, 2025

Assessing Iranian, U.S., and Gulf Reactions and Options Following Israel’s Unprecedented Attack on Iran

On June 16, AGSI hosted a discussion on Israel's attack on Iran.

Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)
Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 13. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)

Jun 12, 2025

Yemen at a Crossroads: Navigating Political Shifts and Economic Turmoil

On June 12, AGSI hosted a discussion on developments in Yemen.

Yemenis walk past vendors in the market in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)
Yemenis walk past vendors in the market in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Jun 3, 2025

A Conversation With Ambassador Claire Le Flécher

On June 3, AGSI hosted a conversation with Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, the former French ambassador to Kuwait.

Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right.
Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right. (Credit: AGSI)

May 27, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ambitions: Diversification and Sustainability?

On May 27, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's investment in sports.

Saudi Arabia fans cheer prior of the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, November 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Saudi Arabia fans cheer before a World Cup soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, November 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

May 20, 2025

Assessing the U.S. Military Response to the Houthis: Implications for Yemen and Red Sea Security

On May 20, AGSI hosted a discussion on the United States' policy toward the Houthis.

A police trooper stands on the rubble of a building destroyed by U.S. air strikes in Sanaa, Yemen April 27. (REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)
A police trooper stands on the rubble of a building destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, April 27. (REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)

May 19, 2025

A Golden Age for U.S.-Gulf Relations? Assessing President Trump’s Middle East Tour

On May 19, AGSI will host a discussion on Trump's visit to the Gulf.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, President Donald J. Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, President Donald J. Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

May 15, 2025

Will Trump’s Visit Mark a New Chapter in U.S.-Saudi Relations?

On May 15, AGSI hosted a discussion on Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. (Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. (Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS)

May 13, 2025

U.S.-UAE Relations: A Conversation With H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash

On May 13, AGSI and MEI co-hosted a private discussion with H.E. Anwar Gargash.

Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman in conversation with H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash. (Credit: MEI)
Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman in conversation with H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash. (Credit: MEI)

Saudi Architecture and the Quest for Identity: An Initiative Transforming the Kingdom

In Saudi Arabia, architecture is not just about shelter – it is about storytelling.

A drone view shows a cityscape in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 1. (REUTERS/Mohammed Benmansour)

Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene

On June 26, AGSI opened a photography exhibition showcasing the work of 15 contemporary photographers from across the Gulf.

Rahina: A Jeweler’s Ode to Dhofari Heritage

Through Rahina, Fatma al-Najjar is exploring her Dhofari heritage and tapping into ancestral memories, one piece of jewelry at a time.

10 min read

AGSI Remembers Ambassador Frank G. Wisner