On November 10, AGSIW held a conversation with Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, former Saudi ambassador to the United States. Following the surprising election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, the discussion focused on the future of U.S.-Saudi relations and the challenges facing a new administration in the region. Prince Turki's remarks were covered by Reuters as well as in Arabic by The Huffington Post.
Like most of the rest of the world, including the U.S. political class (leading Republicans no exception), the Gulf Arab states awoke this morning to find that the American people have elected Donald J. Trump to be the next president of the United States. All indications leading up to the vote had been for a narrow but clear Hillary Clinton victory. Read more
The world reacted with surprise to the election of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. president, and the Gulf Arab states are no exception. While many Gulf citizens expressed concern regarding the numerous negative statements President-elect Trump has made about the Gulf states and Muslims, the official response of Gulf states has been more muted and diplomatic. Displaying tolerance and abidance to international political norms, Gulf leaders officially congratulated Trump. Read more
Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented bond sale to international investors raised $17.5 billion in October. The timing was impeccable. Given Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, markets could be bracing for several months, or more, of volatility and uncertainty. While the immediate reaction for U.S. debt issues is an expectation that Trump’s infrastructure spending promises could result in higher yields for U.S. Treasury bonds, there is also the uncertainty of his comments during the campaign that made light of possible U.S. default on debt payments. Read more
الصدمة الكبيرة التي لحقت بالهيكل السياسي الأمريكي إثر انتخاب دونالد ترامب رئيسا للولايات المتحدة ستستمر تردداتها لزمن طويل. ولن تسلم نتيجة لذلك العلاقات الدولية والتحالفات المتشعبة التي تعتمد عليها أمريكا منذ عقود، وخاصة إذا أصر ترامب على تنفيذ بعضا من الوعود التي تعهد بها لأنصاره خلال حملته الانتخابية الطويلة مثل تهميش حلف شمال الأطلسي (الناتو) أو التعاون العسكري والتنسيق السياسي مع روسيا في سوريا، أو داخليا إذا نفذ وعده بتقويض قانون الرعاية الصحية، الذي يعتبر أهم إنجاز للرئيس باراك أوباما اطلع على المزيد
Like millions of other Americans, I watched Tuesday night’s election results first with cautious optimism, then creeping foreboding, followed by mounting alarm giving way, ultimately, to utter horror. A uniquely unqualified, unfit, and potentially dangerous man has been swept to power by outraged rural and exurban voters drawn to his populist demagoguery. Read more
Call it an “American intifada”. The election of Donald Trump was a virtual rebellion by the rural and suburban lower-middle class against the educated urbanites who usually define American culture and society. It was not just an uprising against Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. It was as much against the leadership of the Republican Party, the media and all parts of the bureaucracy, including the military leadership. In short, the entire American establishment.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, AGSIW President Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba discussed the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and the expectations of President-elect Donald Trump. Wahba noted that Trump is likely to tone down his rhetoric upon becoming president: "After the inauguration, like any new American president he's going to look at the facts, consult with advisors, and act in the American national interest, everywhere." Wahba added, "I think a lot of the rhetoric we heard in the election campaign will disappear."
Speaking about potential Middle East policy for Trump regarding his pledge to move the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish told Newsweek Trump "would be crazy to do it." He noted, "It would break a strong tradition in U.S. policy that dates back to 1947." Additionally, AGSIW Research Associate Yerevan Saeed spoke with Australian SBS about anxiety among minorities and protests in the United States following Trump's victory, as well as what a Trump administration foreign policy might mean for the Middle East, particularly the region's Kurdish population.
Outreach
On October 31, AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young spoke about changing demographics in the Middle East and North Africa region at the National Defense University's Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies.
Position Title: Grant Writer Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: Part Time (20 hours/week, no benefits) Location: Washington, DC
Job Summary: The grant writer will primarily be responsible for identifying funding opportunities and developing and writing grant proposals for AGSIW. The grant writer will work closely with AGSIW staff and scholars to build effective funding proposals around AGSIW’s broad-based research and programmatic agenda. The candidate will be responsible for managing all pre-award activities including: researching new prospects, identifying funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, developing budgets, and tracking proposal deadlines. The candidate will also be responsible for submitting and monitoring proposals. Read more
Position Title: Research and Program Intern Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: January through May 2017 Location: Washington, DC Deadline to Apply: November 15
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
