As part of its series “The Trump Administration and the GCC Countries,” AGSIW was pleased to host a roundtable discussion with Dr. Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The discussion focused on the future of U.S.-UAE relations and the challenges facing the UAE and the new U.S. administration in the region. Read more
The overall improvement in U.S.-Russian relations that the new Trump administration envisioned has not materialized as Washington and Moscow continue to disagree on a number of important issues such as sanctions, Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and NATO. The United States and Russia, though, do have several common interests in the Middle East. Both oppose the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and both have good relations with most Middle Eastern governments. Still, differing Russian and U.S. attitudes toward Iran, in particular, will serve to limit – but not eliminate – the degree to which they can cooperate in the region. Read more
The campaign along the Red Sea coast of Yemen is a miniature version of the problems facing the Saudi-led coalition seeking to reinstate the legitimate president of Yemen to power. The expected battle to wrest Hodeidah, Yemen’s largest Red Sea port, from control of the insurgent Houthis, brings these problems into sharp focus. Read more
Gulf states are turning to technology as a placement for outward investment and as a source of generating jobs and economic growth in domestic markets. The diversification effort away from oil and gas markets has increasingly focused on two priorities: first, to invigorate nascent private sector activity within Gulf states; second, to place state investment funds internationally in high growth sectors that will generate a steady stream of revenue. Read more
Altitude sickness, frostbite, and severe weather conditions are just a few of the obstacles climbers have to overcome en route to the summit of Mount Everest. Women from the Gulf have endured all of that, in addition to challenging conservative norms at home. “Convincing my parents to let me go on this expedition was even more difficult than planning this trip altogether,” said Raha Moharrak, who was the first, and to date is the only, female from the Gulf to have conquered the summit of Mount Everest. Read more
أعلن الرئيس دونالد ترامب عمليا الحرب ضد الكتلة اليمينية المتشددة في الحزب الجمهوري المعروفة باسم "تجمع الحرية" لأنها عارضت خطة الضمان الصحي التي اقترحها، وتعهد "بمحاربتهم" في الانتخابات النصفية في عام 2018. وكشفت صحيفة وول ستريت جورنال أن مستشار الأمن القومي السابق مايكل فلين أبلغ مكتب التحقيقات الفيدرالي (أف بي آي) ولجان الاستخبارات في الكونغرس التي تحقق بالتدخل الروسي في الانتخابات استعداده للمثول أمامهم ولكن بشرط منحه حصانة ضد مقاضاته في المستقبل موحيا بأن لديه معلومات جوهرية اطلع على المزيد
In addition to original content, AGSIW.org in Arabic is regularly updated with new Arabic translations of AGSIW's analysis. New translations include:
The honeymoon between the Trump administration and the Gulf Arab countries is a welcome respite after years of mutual doubts and recriminations. However, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Unfortunate and avoidable disappointment can follow on quickly, once the glow of initial infatuation wears off. Read more
The successful meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Moscow on March 28 indicates that the two leaders have similar views not just on Syria, but on several other issues. Still, areas of disagreement between them remain, even when it comes to issues on which they’re broadly cooperative. Read more
In the Media
Speaking with Le Monde, AGSIW Executive Vice President Ambassador Stephen A. Seche commented on U.S. forces involved in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen: "Talks may have taken place with American military officials regarding the reinforcement of the U.S. naval presence in the Red Sea in order to support a coalition assault on Hodeidah.” Additionally, Seche appeared on Al Arabiya discussing the situation in Yemen.
Outreach
On March 29, AGSIW Executive Vice President Ambassador Stephen A. Seche spoke with Saudi Royal Air Force officers at the National Defense University in Washington, DC about the war in Yemen.
Position Title: Visiting Scholar Department/Team: Senior Resident Scholars Period: Fall 2017 Location: Washington, DC
Job Summary: Visiting Scholars are individuals who possess a PhD or equivalent professional experience, and whose primary purpose for residence at AGSIW is to conduct independent research. 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. AGSIW will provide a stipend that can be used to cover living expenses, travel costs, or incidental research expenses. Read more
