Saudi Arabia

This post is part of an AGSIW series on Saudi Vision 2030, a sweeping set of programs and reforms adopted by the Saudi government to be implemented by 2030. Accessing diverse funding sources is front and center of Saudi Arabia’s new policy reform, which propelled the kingdom to issue its first international $17.5 billion bond offering on October...

On September 28, the U.S. Congress handed President Barack Obama his first veto override while in office. The emotional and political potency of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was illustrated by the lopsided vote: Only one senator and 77 members of the House of Representatives opposed the bill. The law allows Americans...

OPEC oil producers are reaping the rewards of their September 28 agreement in principle to reduce production levels, with oil prices rising to the highest levels in more than a year and now trading in a $50-52 per barrel (bbl) range. That’s a gain of around $5/bbl on average over the past three weeks or...

Saudi State and Society React to JASTA Saudi Arabia and its fellow Gulf states were quick to react to the passage of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) by the U.S. Congress and, in an equally overwhelming vote, its override of the presidential veto of the bill. Still the negative, yet cautious, tone...

The U.S. Congress’ swift and decisive override last week of President Barack Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) may have been momentarily euphoric for the bill’s supporters. The political and emotional power of “justice for the 9/11 families” was reflected in the strikingly lopsided vote tallies. The Senate managed only...

In a significant policy reversal, OPEC members opted to revert to their traditional market management strategy of production targets to reduce the global oil supply glut during meetings that took place on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers, September 26-28. The producer group reached a collective understanding on the need to reduce...

This post is part of an AGSIW series on Saudi Vision 2030, a sweeping set of programs and reforms adopted by the Saudi government to be implemented by 2030. Saudi Arabia’s economic reform efforts kicked into gear this week with announcements that public salaries are to be slashed and generous perks like long paid holidays are to be...

A showdown on Capitol Hill over what is potentially one of the most far-reaching and consequential pieces of foreign policy legislation in many years was set up on Friday, September 23, when U.S. President Barack Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). The act, which would allow U.S. citizens to sue foreign...