Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Khaled al-Sabah’s visit to Tehran on January 25 was officially billed as a bilateral meeting, but also widely reported to have included a broader outreach to Iran by Kuwait’s partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Iran’s major regional rival, Saudi Arabia. The GCC was at least in part responding to repeated overtures from senior Iranian officials for dialogue. What is the basis for this outreach and the tensions it must overcome? Why is it happening now? And is a meaningful thaw between Iran and the Gulf Arab countries possible? Read more
While the United Arab Emirates and India have maintained a relatively healthy bilateral relationship, cooperation has recently appeared to be growing. A climate of fiscal austerity prompted by low oil prices has driven the Gulf Arab states to build and strengthen global partnerships. This comradery was highlighted in late January when India welcomed a high-profile delegation led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and including the ministers of economy, foreign affairs, and defense, to name a few. Read more
U.S. financial markets reacted swiftly to the weekend’s flurry of mixed messages generated by President Donald J. Trump’s executive order on refugee policy and immigration restrictions affecting citizens and dual nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. The Dow Jones average declined nearly 200 points by the end of trading on Monday January 30. More importantly, investors have begun to lower expectations about any stimulus that a Trump economic policy might produce in infrastructure investment and a reduction of labor market and financial regulations. Read more
تؤكد مواقف واجراءات ادارة الرئيس ترامب الجديدة المتعلقة بالشؤون الخارجية والأمنية مع مرور كل يوم ابتعادها عن اتباع الأساليب الدبلوماسية المعهودة والأعراف والمقاييس المتعارف عليها إن كان في التعامل مع الحلفاء أم في الرد على الخصوم. وحفل الأسبوع الثاني للرئيس ترامب بأكثر من مثال على رغبته بزعزعة المسلمات التقليدية، إن كان في كيفية صنع القرار في البيت الأبيض من خلال التعاون بين الرئيس مع مجموعة صغيرة من مساعديه المقربين منه، حيث يتم أحيانا استبعاد الوزارات والأجهزة البيروقراطية الأخرى عن عملية صنع قرارات تتعلق باختصاصاتها أو إبلاغها في الدقائق الأخيرة قبل إعلان هذه القرارات، أو في تجاهل التقاليد البروتوكولية التي تتحكم بالعلاقات مع الدول الأخرى بما فيها الصديقة والحليفة اطلع على المزيد
Outreach
On January 30, AGSIW President Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba participated in the Atlantic Council panel, "Does the Iran Nuclear Deal Help or Harm US Interests in the Middle East?" During the discussion, Wahba noted that she opposed the new hurdles to immigration and foreign visitors, calling the restrictions offensive to Muslim-majority countries and harmful to U.S. national security.
On January 6, AGSIW Visiting Scholar Mark N. Katz participated in a roundtable at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he discussed Russia's relationship with the Trump administration and what this means for its strategy in the Middle East.
Position Title: Research and Program Intern Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: May through August 2017 Location: Washington, DC
Job Summary: The Internship Program at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW) provides talented students and recent graduates with a three-month (or longer) unpaid training opportunity designed to encourage professional and personal development. As a newly established organization, we encourage out-of-the-box thinking and value fresh perspectives. AGSIW will provide interns with a transportation stipend for the duration of the internship. Read more
