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Saudi Arabia

Better the Saudis We Know

Saudi Arabia is dismayed by President Obama’s Middle East policy. Its leaders feel that he does not play by the rules that have governed the Saudi-American alliance for decades: The United States provides security guarantees in return for the Persian Gulf states’ reliable stewardship of their oil reserves and support for American regional dominance.

Sudden Saudi Policy Shift in Doha Injects a New Level of Volatility into Oil Markets

The April 17 Doha meeting of major oil producers ended in disarray after Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic czar, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), abruptly blocked the deal to “freeze” oil production because Iran was not party to the formal agreement. After months of uncertain negotiations by officials from Russia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia,...

What to Expect from the U.S.-GCC Summit

When President Barack Obama visits Saudi Arabia on April 20-21 and meets with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, he will be tackling one of the most important, but deeply strained, U.S. international relationships. Although some Americans, including Obama, have questioned how strategically important the Middle East remains to the United States, both U.S. policy and interests...

Prospects Dim for Doha Agreement on Oil-Production Freeze

Major oil producers are gathering in Doha for an April 17 meeting aimed at stabilizing volatile oil prices, which have plummeted 70 percent since mid-2014 and upended oil-dependent economies. The severity of the oil price shock has forged a somewhat fragile coalition of the willing to “freeze” production levels in a bid to reduce historic...

The Yemeni Factor in the Saudi Arabia-Sudan Realignment

The recent regional alignment between Saudi Arabia and Sudan sheds light on a shift in the Saudi geopolitics of aid. Following an announcement at the end of February of the suspension of a major military aid package to Lebanon, Riyadh granted $5 billion in military aid to Khartoum, marking a change of alliance for the...

King Salman of Saudi Arabia receives Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during his arrival in Riyadh on November 10, 2015.

Yemen: After the War, Securing a Long-Term Peace

As the Saudi intervention in the conflict in Yemen enters its second year, there is reason for some optimism that an end to the hostilities may be near.

Clinton, Trump, and Riyadh: How Saudi Arabia Sees the U.S. Presidential Election

The White House recently announced that U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia in April as part of an overseas trip, with additional stops in Germany and the United Kingdom. The statement came as no surprise; the United States and the countries that constitute the Gulf Cooperation Council—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—had agreed...

Riyadh Book Fair 2016: A Political Memorandum from New Rulers

Book fairs are generally occasions to promote new titles and track literary and cultural trends. However, in Saudi Arabia, a book fair is a unique occasion to get a sense of the current political air. This year, the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen dominated the fair, alongside hints of a social opening. Together they deliver a...