Toward a Strategic Partnership? Takeaways From the First EU-GCC Summit
On November 27, AGSIW will host a discussion with Luigi Di Maio, EU special representative for the Gulf.
President, AGSIW
Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman is president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. He previously served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq from 2016-19 and U.S. ambassador to Kuwait from 2014-16. From 2013-14, he served as a senior advisor in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, working on Iraq issues and the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Silliman was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq from 2012-13, minister counselor for political affairs in Baghdad from 2011-12, and deputy chief of mission in Ankara, Turkey from 2008-11. He joined the Department of State in 1984.
Silliman served as director and deputy director of the Department of State’s Office of Southern European Affairs, as political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, and as the regional officer for the Middle East in the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. He worked as a political officer in Islamabad, Pakistan, in the Office of Soviet Union Affairs, as the desk officer for Lebanon, and as a staff assistant to the assistant secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. Silliman began his career as a visa officer in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and a political officer in Tunis, Tunisia.
In 2018, Silliman received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from President Donald J. Trump. He has received numerous awards from the Department of State, including the Secretary’s Award for Public Outreach in 2007 and senior performance awards. Silliman received the Sinclaire Language Award in 1993 and the W. Averell Harriman Award for outstanding junior officer in 1988 from the American Foreign Service Association. He retired from the Foreign Service in April 2019 after 35 years.
Silliman received a Bachelor of Arts in political science, summa cum laude, from Baylor University in Texas, where he was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a Master of Arts in international relations from the George Washington University. Silliman speaks Arabic and French. He is married and has two adult children.
In addition to his position as president of AGSIW, Silliman also serves on the board of advisors of the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, which helps American businesses expand their international business and trade ties, especially in the Middle East and Gulf region. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy.
On November 27, AGSIW will host a discussion with Luigi Di Maio, EU special representative for the Gulf.
On October 22, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Oman's economic reforms.
On October 9, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the U.S. presidential election and what it means for U.S.-Middle East policy.
On September 18, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Yemen.
On May 22, AGSIW hosted a roundtable on developments in Kuwait.
On June 11, AGSIW convened its 10th annual Petro Diplomacy conference.
On April 15, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Kuwait's April 4 parliamentary elections.
AGSIW experts explain the regional trends they’ll be following most closely as the year unfolds.
On January 9, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable with its leadership and scholars as they looked ahead and assessed trends likely to shape the Gulf region and U.S. foreign policy during the coming year.
On October 12, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
On June 27 and 28, AGSIW convened its ninth annual Petro Diplomacy conference.
On June 1, AGSIW and the Middle East Institute co-hosted a discussion on Turkey's presidential election results.
On May 31, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Kuwait's upcoming parliamentary elections.
On April 27, AGSIW hosted a discussion on a new poll conducted by Almustakilla, the Independent Institute of Administration and Civil Society Studies.
On April 21, AGSIW and the Middle East Policy Council co-hosted a Capitol Hill conference on security in the Middle East.
On March 21, AGSIW hosted a conversation with Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East.
On March 9, AGSIW hosted a discussion reflecting on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq ahead of the 20th anniversary.
On March 3, AGSIW hosted a conversation with Barbara A. Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs.
On February 24, AGSIW hosted a conversation with H.E. Sarah Al Amiri, UAE minister of state for public education and advanced technology.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein’s public outreach and official meetings seem to have put Iraq back on the policy agenda in Washington. But both sides will need to take further steps to sustain the positive momentum.
AGSIW experts explain the regional trends they’ll be following most closely as the year unfolds.
AGSIW hosted a virtual private roundtable with its leadership and scholars as they looked ahead and assessed trends likely to shape the Gulf region and U.S. foreign policy during the coming year.
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper delivered the keynote address at UAE Security Forum 2022: Expanding Regional Partnerships for Security and Prosperity.
On December 14, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Alina L. Romanowski, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
AGSIW convened the 2022 UAE Security Forum on November 17, where U.S., UAE, and regional partners gathered to find creative solutions to some of the region’s most pressing challenges.
On Thursday September 8, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the current political crisis in Iraq.
As part of AGSIW’s Ambassadors Series, H.E. Mohammed A. Al-Hadhrami, ambassador of Yemen to the United States, discussed local developments in Yemen as well as ongoing international and domestic efforts to bring the conflict in the country to an end.
On May 31, AGSIW hosted researchers and guests from the Chicago Project on Security and Threats to present findings and insights into political violence across the globe for 2021.
“International and Regional Involvement in the Middle East" is a bimonthly workshop series launched in September 2021, co-hosted by AGSIW and the University of Haifa.
On April 28, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Tim Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen.
On April 20, AGSIW hosted a workshop examining the question of state and culture in Saudi Arabia.
AGSIW hosted a discussion with Vice Admiral Bob Harward, former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and current executive vice president for international business and strategy at Shield AI.
On March 23, AmCham Abu Dhabi and AGSIW hosted a briefing on the role of the U.S. business community within the wider U.S.-UAE relationship.
On March 2, AGSIW hosted a roundtable discussion with Abdullah Al Awadhi, director of foreign relations for the speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly.
Iraq’s final reparations payment to Kuwait may open the door to increased cooperation, but competing visions and shared security concerns will shape the future.
AGSIW experts explain the regional trends they’ll be following most closely as the year unfolds.
AGSIW hosted a session as part of Gulf Intelligence’s Global UAE Energy Forum 2022: “What’s in Store for the Gulf Region in 2022?”
AGSIW's leadership and scholars assessed trends likely to shape the Gulf region and U.S. foreign policy in 2022.
From December 7-9, UAESF 2021 assessed geopolitical trends in the region.
On July 13, AGSIW hosted a discussion of Robert Mogielnicki's recent book, "A Political Economy of Free Zones in Gulf Arab States."
On June 17, AGSIW hosted H.E. Aisha Al Abdooli, acting assistant undersecretary for green development and climate change for the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Al-Hajraf provided insights on the GCC's current state of affairs following the Al Ula summit and renewed hopes for increased cooperation among its member countries.
AGSIW hosted a media briefing with Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman on the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue.
As part of AGSIW’s Ambassadors Series, Ambassador Motaz Zahran discussed a range of domestic and international issues impacting Egypt, including relations with the United States and the Gulf Arab states.
On February 26, AGSIW hosted a conversation with Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Abdulaziz Al Sager.
AGSIW hosted a virtual private roundtable with its leadership and scholars as they looked ahead to assess trends likely to shape the Gulf region during the coming year.
AGSIW experts explain what regional trends they’ll be following most closely as the year unfolds.
On January 19, AGSIW hosted a roundtable with H.E. Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
AGSIW hosted a session as part of Gulf Intelligence’s Global UAE Energy Forum 2021: “Outlook on the Year Ahead.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Iraq Business Council, in partnership with AGSIW, hosted a roundtable discussion on the latest developments in Iraq and the region featuring Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman and Ali Alfoneh.
AGSIW held a briefing on Iraq for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs with Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, Hussein Ibish, Ali Alfoneh, and Ambassador Feisal al-Istrabadi.
The recent health issues of Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah have revived concerns about succession in Kuwait.
For the sixth consecutive year, AGSIW convened its Petro Diplomacy conference, this year virtually.
As part of the sixth annual Petro Diplomacy conference, Wilkinson discussed the ongoing energy transition and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on energy producers.
On October 7, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion on the future of Kuwait's leadership.
On August 27, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable on the future of U.S.-Saudi relations.
On June 10, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion examining the future of the Popular Mobilization Forces and their relationship with the new Iraqi government.
On May 14, AGSIW hosted a virtual private roundtable with Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, former advisor to the minister of energy, industry, and mineral resources of Saudi Arabia, and member of the board of directors of AGSIW.
On April 15, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion analyzing the future of the U.S. military and diplomatic presence in Iraq.
AGSIW experts explain what regional trends they’ll be following most closely as the year unfolds.
Fareed Yasseen, ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States, examined the recent crises in Iraq, the fallout from the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran’s Quds Force commander Major General Qassim Suleimani, as well as the future of U.S.-Iraqi relations.
Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman discusses internal Iraqi dynamics amid tensions between the United States and Iran.
On January 23, AGSIW hosted a panel discussion examining the recent crises in Iraq and the fallout from the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran’s Quds Force commander Major General Qassim Suleimani.
On January 8, AGSIW hosted a conversation considering the trends likely to shape the Gulf region in 2020.
For the fourth consecutive year, AGSIW convened the UAE Security Forum, where U.S., UAE, and regional partners gathered to find creative solutions to some of the region’s most pressing challenges.
On November 14, AGSIW hosted a workshop on the future of U.S. Gulf relations, featuring remarks by Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, undersecretary for international affairs of the kingdom of Bahrain.
HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud provided his perspective on U.S.-Saudi relations and domestic and regional challenges facing the kingdom’s leadership.
At this roundtable, part of AGSIW’s Iraq Initiative, H.E. Fuad Hussein discussed the wider government effort to rebuild the country after the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
For the fifth consecutive year, AGSIW convened its Petro Diplomacy conference, bringing together private and public sector stakeholders to discuss emerging trends in energy markets and regional politics.
AGSIW hosted a roundtable discussion with Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, chairman of Hedayah, the International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism; Maqsoud Kruse, executive director of Hedayah; and Yousef Al Obaidli, director-general of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center.