Shortly after the beginning of the Russian military intervention in Syria in September 2015, then-U.S. President Barack Obama predicted that Moscow would soon find itself in a quagmire there. Two and a half years later, though, Russia appears to have been far more successful with far fewer of its forces in Syria than the United States was with far more forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In late February, the Saudi General Directorate of Public Security announced it will allow women to serve in the military with the rank of soldier. Candidates have flooded the online application process, even though there are many restrictions on a woman’s eligibility based on age, height, weight, marriage status to foreigners, and physical location of her guardian. The expansion of opportunities for women in the Saudi labor market is moving quickly. In a shake-up of military top brass and new ministerial appointments, Tamadur bint Youssef al-Ramah became deputy labor minister, marking a step closer to including more women in the Saudi Cabinet. Women’s labor force participation is probably the most important factor in medium-term economic growth in the kingdom.
قبل وصول ولي عهد السعودية الأمير محمد بن سلمان إلى واشنطن في 19 من الشهر الجاري أجرى الرئيس دونالد ترامب اتصالات هاتفية معه ومع نظيره الإماراتي الشيخ محمد بن زايد، فضلا عن أمير قطر الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني. كما أوفد ترامب المبعوثين تيموثي ليندركينغ نائب مساعد وزير الخارجية لشؤون الخليج العربية في وزارة الخارجية والجنرال المتقاعد أنتوني زيني في محاولة أخيرة للتوسط لحل النزاع بين قطر من جهة والسعودية ودولة الإمارات، تمهيدا لقمة بين الولايات المتحدة ودول مجلس التعاون الخليجي تأمل واشنطن أن تعقدها في شهر آيار/مايو المقبل في منتجع كامب ديفيد في ولاية ماريلاند قرب واشنطن
In addition to original content, AGSIW.org in Arabic is regularly updated with new Arabic translations of AGSIW's analysis. Recent translations include:
Many diplomats and observers now see Yemen’s three-year-old civil war as yet another crisis that has barreled out of control. The conflict began in September 2014 when Houthi rebels from the north and groups loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized Sanaa, taking President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi hostage, first figuratively and then literally. Peter Salisbury is a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
On February 28, AGSIW hosted a closed workshop on economic and political relations between the GCC countries and East Asia followed by a public panel discussion. Gulf Arab states already enjoy robust and well-established trade relations with East Asia, especially in the energy sector. These ties are emerging as the basis for expanded cooperation in other areas, including military and intelligence collaboration, arms sales, and technology transfers, in particular with China. For many East Asian countries, dependence on oil and gas imports is a strategic and security concern. Expanding and consolidating economic, diplomatic, and military ties to East Asia is, similarly, a key element of foreign policy strategy for several of the GCC countries.
Speaking with The National, Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, AGSIW president, commented on the Gulf Cooperation Council dispute and the role of the United States: "The Quartet’s [UAE, Saudi, Egyptian, and Bahraini] concerns about Qatar’s foreign policies go well beyond a neighbourly spat." She continued, "The US will need to assist in identifying the key areas for resolution and maybe play the role of guarantor to a final agreement that all the players would commit to."
Executive Vice President Stephen A. Seche discussed the Yemen conflict on BBC World News. Speaking with the Cipher Brief, Seche commented on short-term needs in Yemen, including the delivery of food and additional aid. For Axios, Seche commented on a joint resolution introduced in Congress to pull U.S. support from the conflict in Yemen.
Speaking with Deutsche Welle, Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan commented on the generational gap in Saudi Arabia, noting that young Saudis entering the job market will be most affected by new government policies. Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young commented on Saudi military spending for The Wall Street Journal.
Position Title:Program and Digital Media Intern Period: May – August 2018 Location: Washington, DC Deadline: March 15
Job Summary: The Internship Program at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington provides talented students and recent graduates with a three-month (or longer) training opportunity designed to encourage professional and personal development. We encourage out-of-the-box thinking and value fresh perspectives. Interns will receive a monthly stipend. Read moreVisiting Scholars
Department/Team: Senior Resident Scholars Period: Fall 2018 Location: Washington, DC Deadline: March 15
About the Candidate: Visiting scholars are individuals who possess a PhD or equivalent professional experience. The length of stay for a visiting scholar is typically a semester or academic year. AGSIW is actively seeking candidates with significant regional experience and fluency in written and spoken Arabic. Read more
