Riyadh

September 16, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi, Natalie Ecanow

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...

September 16, 2025 | Bonnie Glick |

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...

August 18, 2025 | Henry Sokolski, Andrea Stricker

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.

August 5, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi, Natalie Ecanow

Qatar Is Powering Syria

For Syria, Qatar’s money is power. On July 31, the Qatar Fund for Development announced plans to fund a surge of natural gas deliveries to Syria. Deliveries began on August 2. The gas, which is flowing...

July 30, 2025 | Clifford D. May |

Choose the Druze

Syria’s endangered minorities deserve protection

July 24, 2025 | |

‘Firm and Supportive Stance’: Saudi Arabia to Invest $6.4 Billion in Syria

Billions From Riyadh: Saudi Arabia announced on July 24 new investments in Syria totaling $6.4 billion. The deal was confirmed at a conference in Damascus by Saudi Investment Minister...

July 23, 2025 | Mark Dubowitz |

The Saudi Factor

July 23, 2025 | Mark Dubowitz, Koby Gottlieb

A Deal with the Houthis Is No Deal at All

Until the Houthis see the costs of their aggression, the Yemeni Islamist group will continue to threaten stability in the Red Sea.

July 11, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Ahmed Al-Shara’s Foreign Jihadist Problem

The man President Donald Trump hailed as a “tough guy” who will bring stability to Syria is empowering extremists tied to Al Qaeda.

July 8, 2025 | Jonathan Schanzer |

Netanyahu’s gift to Trump marks a ‘historic horizon’ for Mideast peace

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited President Donald Trump at the White House Monday, he celebrated his country’s victory over the Islamic Republic of Iran — after a brief but intense...

June 30, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel: Now the Dominant Military Power in the Middle East?

Israel: A Regional Hegemon with Iran Defeated? In the wake of Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, it has become clear that Israel’s military is now among the strongest in the Middle East....

June 26, 2025 | Craig Singleton |

Where Was Xi Jinping in Iran’s Hour of Need?

Tehran expected a bulwark from Beijing. Instead it got a bystander.

June 24, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Victory over Iran gives Trump the chance to reshape Mid East with trade deals

Israel’s decisive victory over Iran’s Islamist regime has set Tehran’s nuclear plans back years at the least. It has also created a unique opening to normalize ties between Jerusalem...

June 19, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Why Are Gulf Countries Not Speaking Out Against Their Rival Iran?

Since 1979, Iran has been a problem for Arab Gulf capitals. Tehran has exported its radical Islamism and terrorism across the region, built loyalist militias, agitated popular opinion against Gulf governments,...

June 9, 2025 | John Hardie |

Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: June

Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines of very positive, positive, neutral, negative, or very negative for the areas they watch.

June 9, 2025 | Steven A. Cook, Sinan Ciddi

The Struggle for Syria

On May 14, President Donald Trump stood smiling with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and Syria’s self-declared leader, Ahmed al-Shara’a, on the sidelines of the President’s visit...

June 6, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Delegation from eastern Syria meets with government in Damascus

A delegation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) met with the new Syrian government in Damascus on June 1. The talks are aimed at fully integrating the autonomous eastern...

June 3, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

As Iran Retreats, Islamist Turkey and Qatar Surge in Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a Sunni, entered the stadium of Beirut’s Sports City to watch the classic football game between the two rival teams Nijmeh and Ansar. When the Shia supporters of...

June 2, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Natalie Ecanow

Turkey and Qatar Are Buying Into Syria. The US Should Be Wary of Their Motives

With Washington’s blessing, Qatar and Turkey are cementing their role in post-Assad Syria. On May 29, Syria signed a $7 billion memorandum of understanding with the United States, Qatar, and Turkey to...

May 22, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Has the Era of Extremism Ended in the Middle East?

On May 20, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the U.S. decision to engage with the new Syrian government in Damascus. Rubio said that an unstable Syria has historically...