Riyadh

Peace for Land, Not Land for Peace

“Land for peace,” the mantra since Camp David, has brought the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to a dead end, with Palestinian militias remaining active despite the promise of statehood. It’s now time to reverse this broken policy into “peace for land,” where Palestinian acceptance of Zionism earns them territory to govern themselves. A version of this model is being tested in Gaza as part of President Trump’s peace plan. Its success is imperative. Its failure risks more of the same.

Lebanon Must Become Independent of Saudi Arabia Too

If Lebanon’s Shia are to finally divorce Iran and reclaim patriotism for their nation, other sects must also place Lebanon’s national interests above the diktats of foreign patrons. That means the...

Why was Sharaa Invited to Washington, but not Aoun?

For all his efforts, Joseph Aoun deserves Washington’s active support to enable him to accomplish even more. Until late 2024, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a U.S.-designated terrorist with...

Beyond the U.S.-Israel MOU: The Case for a Strategic Partnership Agreement

In one’s personal life and in the life of a nation, it is good to have friends. It is even better to have capable and motivated friends, especially when one confronts increasingly formidable enemies...

A good nuclear deal won’t put Saudi Arabia on a path for the bomb

What was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looking for on his visit to Washington in return for his trillion-dollar investment pledge? There were jets, a defense agreement, and what could possibly...

Saudi Crown Prince Touts $1 Trillion Investment in U.S. During Meeting With Trump

Latest Developments MBS Investment and Diplomatic Ties: President Donald Trump warmly greeted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on November 18, signaling a closer relationship...

Why Normalization with Israel Will Revive Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia risks irrelevance by tying its future to the failed Palestinian cause. Saudi Arabia is rapidly losing regional relevance, with Sunni rivals Qatar and Turkey encroaching on its traditional...

What Washington Should Demand From Riyadh Before Providing the F-35

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is coming to Washington on Tuesday — and he has a wish list. Near the top of that list is Washington’s approval for Riyadh to procure up...

Normalizing Ties Between Saudi Arabia and Israel Should Be Trump’s North Star When MBS Visits White House

November is shaping up to be an historic month at the White House. After welcoming Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to the Oval Office on November 10, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will...

Sharaa in Washington: A Turning Point for Syria

The question for Damascus is what comes next, with Sharaa showing that he is ready for the global prime time.   Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited the White House on Monday for a historic...

Sharaa To Be First-Ever Syrian Leader To Visit White House

In a meeting no one could have predicted just a year ago, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on November 10. It will be the first time a Syrian...

The Palestinians Must Apologize to the Lebanese

A Palestinian apology could pave the way for reconciliation by confronting the historical injustices inflicted on Lebanon. On October 26, Palestinian gunmen manning a checkpoint at Beirut’s Shatila...

Patient Extremism: The Many Faces of the Muslim Brotherhood

8 UN Failures in Yemen

The United Nations has been active in Yemen for a decade, yet the country remains one of the poorest places on Earth. The country is at war with itself and home to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who kidnap...

Game Over for Hamas

President Trump does not lend his name to a plan lightly. His 21-point program to end the Gaza War has garnered unprecedented support from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan,...

Freedom for Iran: Learning From U.S. Support for Polish Anti-Communists in the 1980s

Saudi Arabia and Nuclear-Armed Pakistan Sign ‘Comprehensive’ Mutual Defense Pact

Mutual Defense Agreement: Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact on September 17, strengthening the longstanding security partnership between the two...

The Saudi-Qatari Competition for Influence in Syria

With the Syrian state still in its formative stage, lacking a defined political identity, two Gulf monarchies – Qatar and Saudi Arabia – are seeking to dominate Syria. This competition will only intensify...

Five years later, President Trump’s Abraham Accords show that peace really does lead to prosperity

Five years ago, President Donald Trump made the historic announcement that Israel would normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. Thus two historic peace treaties were signed...

Donald Trump Set a Nuclear Precedent. Now He Must Enforce It

Stopping nuclear proliferation in the Middle East will require a consistent policy, not just sporadic interventions.