Iran’s Desperate Gamble: Widening the War
Only hours after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory began, Tehran launched barrages of missiles and drones at the other Gulf states, essentially transforming its neighbors into bargaining chips...
Manama
Israel’s Top General Meets With Arab Counterparts in Bahrain
The chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Herzi Halevi, met with senior Arab generals in Bahrain this week, Axios reported on June 12. Generals from Bahrain,...
Flash Briefs
Did Hamas just prove the Abraham Accords right?
Four days after Hamas began its massacre of Israeli civilians, King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed his country’s parliament, telling lawmakers that Jordan’s “compass...
Op-eds
Egypt and Jordan Condemn Israeli Response to Hamas Massacre
Latest Developments Egypt and Jordan on October 21 condemned Israel’s military response to the October 7 massacre by Hamas. Speaking at a peace summit in Cairo, the leaders of both Arab nations denounced...
Flash Briefs
The Dangers of Iran’s Cyber Ambitions
Bahrain chooses alignment with Israel over submission to Iran
Since the announcement of the Abraham Accords in August 2020, ties between Bahrain and Israel have grown steadily, reaching a milestone last week when an Israeli military aircraft, carrying Defense Minister...
Op-eds
Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: November
Policy Tracker
Expand Israel-Arab-US military drills to counter Iran and its proxies
Naval forces from Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are conducting a five-day multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea. The exercise marks the first...
Op-eds
Violence in Yemen, Gaza, and Iraq Isn’t Coincidental, Even Though the White House Wishes it Was
Recent flareups of violence in the Middle East are the outcome of a major policy shift by an administration that prefers to avert its eyes from the truth.
Op-eds
Iranian Proxies in Bahrain Determined to Sabotage Peace With Israel
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani made history on Wednesday, becoming the first-ever minister from the island kingdom to conduct an official visit to Israel. The visit marked the second meeting...
Insights
Welcome to a Brand-New Middle East
Israel’s pacts with the UAE and Bahrain go far beyond the tenuous “cold peace” with Egypt and Jordan. They could even help end the conflict with the Palestinians.
Op-eds
COVID-19 in Bahrain
As low oil prices and the pandemic strain Bahrain’s state budget, Manama may seek economic assistance from its Gulf neighbors. Less certain, however, is whether those neighbors will come to the island...
Policy Briefs
Gulf States are Poised to Play a Major Role in Trump’s Peace Plan—When He Unveils One
This year saw a slew of activity from the Gulf states embracing Israel. What could 2019 have in store, particularly if the long-awaited Trump peace plan is released?
Op-eds
New Aid Package for Bahrain Signals Trouble
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait will provide a $10 billion aid package to cash-strapped Bahrain, building on a deal originally announced in June. Coming on top of a $10 billion injection already pledged by Gulf states in 2016, the deal is a further sign of Bahrain’s brewing economic crisis.
Policy Briefs
Kuwait and Oman Are Stuck in Arab No Man’s Land
Just over a year ago, four of America’s Arab allies — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt — severed relations with Qatar, another key U.S. ally. They enac...
Op-eds
Bahraini Bank Investigations Offers Powerful Example for Treating De-listed Entities
The Bahraini government last week...
Policy Briefs
U.S. Sanctions Bahrainis Linked to Iran-Backed Group
The State Department on Friday designated two Bahrainis with ties to Iran as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, thereby den...
Policy Briefs
Should the United States Sell Fighter Jets to the Gulf?
The timing and phasing of recent U.S. arms deals in the Middle East underscore the complicated balance for the United States of addressing the concerns and needs of multiple partners in the regio...
Op-eds
Iran Stirs Up More Trouble in the Gulf
Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ external operations wing the Quds Force, ...
Op-eds
Why is President Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia important now?
US President Barack Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week for meetings with King Salman and other leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council appears first and foremost to be about reassuranc...