RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, December 09, 2011, FORCE
Bruce Riedel writes on the longstanding alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Riedel discusses the countries’ military and nuclear partnerships, arguing that understanding the Saudi-Pakistani relationship is crucial to understanding the future of both countries and the nuclear balance in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, December 01, 2011, The Brookings Institution
Daniel L. Byman, coauthor of The Arab Awakening,
looks at how al Qaeda has fared in the wake of the Arab Spring, arguing that supporting democracy in the region, even if it leads to governments wary of cooperating with the United States, is necessary for successful counterterrorism measures. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, November 23, 2011, The Brookings Institution
Althought the king's health continues to decline, the ruling power of Saudi Arabia will remain with the princes who have been running the kingdom, writes Bruce Riedel. Riedel, coauthor of The Arab Awakening, explores what impact leadership changes would have on the U.S.-Saudi partnership, particularly in light of challenges created by the Arab Awakening. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, November 01, 2011, The National Interest
Bruce Riedel writes that the selection of 78-year-old Prince Nayef to succeed Prince Sultan as the new crown prince of Saudi Arabia ushers in the beginning of several changes at the top of the royal family and cabinet. Riedel explains what this could mean for U.S.-Saudi relations. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, October 28, 2011, Foreign Policy
Daniel Byman argues there is reason to believe that Iran's senior leadership was responsible for the plot to assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir. Byman writes that the United States and the international community should take this threat seriously. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, October 22, 2011, The Daily Beast
The death of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan after a long illness begins the kingdom’s royal succession process, a family affair with major implications for the stability of the nation and the region, says Bruce Riedel. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth M. Pollack, October 19, 2011, SPIEGEL
Kenneth Pollack comments on the alleged Iranian plot to murder the Saudi ambassador to the United States. According to Pollack, Iran's leaders may have been spurred on by a weak U.S. economy and troop withdrawals in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Ömer Taşpınar, September 20, 2011, USA Today
While much of the attention in the decade after September 11 has been focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now on the unrest across parts of the Middle East and North Africa, Michael O'Hanlon and Ömer Taşpinar examine progress in other major Muslim countries. They find that, on the whole, many are considerably better off now than they were 10 years ago. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, August 24, 2011, The National Interest
Bruce Riedel analyzes how Saudi Arabia has become the guarantor of the counterrevolution in the Middle East, and argues that Washington must engage in quiet discourse with the royal family in order to maintain the U.S.-Saudi alliance while supporting new revolutions across the region. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC
On June 28, 2011, the Saban Center at Brookings hosted a policy forum addressing Saudi Arabia's position in the wave of revolution sweeping the Middle East. Speakers discussed how Saudi Arabia has managed to limit reform and how the country will deal with current challenges, including a youth bulge and significant unemployment. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Shadi Hamid, May 27, 2011, bloggingheads.tv
In a video debate, Shadi Hamid discusses President Obama's Middle East speech, the current situations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and broader implications for U.S. policy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, May 20, 2011, The Brookings Institution
In reaction to President Obama's May 19 speech on American policy toward the Middle East, Suzanne Maloney writes that despite any direct reference to Saudi Arabia, the president's remarks signaled a mutual recognition of the manifest distance in the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Leigh Nolan, May 2011, The Brookings Institution
As the winds of revolution sweep across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia faces immense challenges to its traditional ruling balance. Leigh Nolan describes these challenges, which range from regional tensions to socioeconomic unrest and poverty, and concludes that while there is a compelling case for political liberalization, Saudi Arabia must first improve governance and accountability. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin S. Indyk, April 07, 2011, The Washington Post
With regimes falling throughout the Middle East and North Africa and the Obama administration working to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Libya, a matter of vital strategic importance awaits the urgent attention of policymakers on the oil-rich Arabian peninsula. Martin Indyk comments on Saudi Arabia's fragile monarchy, and on the need for Obama to negotiate a new compact with King Abdullah. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Salman Shaikh, March 23, 2011, Foreign Policy
While U.S. and international attention is focused largely elsewhere in the region, especially Libya, Salman Shaikh warns that the violent crackdown against protesters in Bahrain may pose a bigger threat to the entire region's stability. According to Shaikh, the situation in Bahrain is exposing long-time tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and, if left unchecked, could trigger the next regional war. Read More