Why Is Saudi Arabia Abandoning Peace?
In the last few months, Riyadh has turned away from US-aligned partners in the Middle East.
Salman of Saudi Arabia
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...
Op-eds
Syria appoints new president amid widespread diplomatic engagement efforts
In a move that will have significant implications for Syria and its international relations, Ahmed Sharaa was named the country’s president on January 29. The appointment is expected to provide...
Op-eds
Egypt’s relationship with Hamas: What does history tell us?
October 7 deeply impacted Egypt, however, Cairo has not appeared to excoriate Hamas for the attack, leaving questions about how this all transpired.
Op-eds
War Goal Is Destruction of Hamas, Not Gaza Occupation Says Israel
When asked to describe post-war Gaza, “Hamas will be gone. We’ll destroy Hamas,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 9. He added, “What we have to...
Flash Briefs
Will China Replace America in the Gulf Region? Saudi Chinese Relations and Potential Obstacles
In December 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia and held two summits: One with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz and his son Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) and another...
Op-eds
Could the Saudi-Iranian deal lead to peace with Israel?
Saudi Arabia’s appointment of a new information (media) minister hinted that the kingdom was getting closer to bilateral peace with Israel.
Op-eds
3001 Arabian nights
The Saudi crown prince means to transform the kingdom
Op-eds
Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: May
Policy Tracker
The Time Is Now for Saudi Arabia To Normalize Relations With Israel
Here’s a news flash for Saudi Arabia: Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is looking to fundamentally restructure the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The only way for Riyadh to stop what’s coming...
Op-eds
Russia-Saudi Rapprochement?
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia on Monday. During the visit, the two sides signed numerous agreements, most notably on oil and investment. Even as Moscow and Riyadh differ in their...
Policy Briefs
Trump Is Crude. But He’s Right About Saudi Arabia.
On the strategic questions that matter in the Middle East, the president is cleareyed.
Op-eds
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
Two Cheers for Rex
I rarely find myself thinking along similar lines as fellow Foreign Policy contributor Stephen Walt. Nevertheless, just as I was contemplating an article that would take note of a few o...
Op-eds
The man who would be Saudi king
Mohammad bin Salman is a young man in a hurry. When I visited Saudi Arabia back in February he was only the deputy cro...
Op-eds
Trump Travels to Saudi Arabia to Tackle Extremism
President Donald Trump departs today on his first trip abroad since his inauguration. He will spend the weekend in Saudi Arabia, where his conversations with Muslim leaders are expected to focus...
Policy Briefs
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Saudi Arabia Still Hostile To Israel
Before visiting Jerusalem in several days, President Trump will stop in Saudi Arabia for meetings with Islamic leaders to discuss joint efforts against extremism. He may wish to start with Saudi...
Op-eds
The kingdom, the power and the petroleum
Saudi Arabia is changing. When government officials here tell you that, you take it with an oversized grain of salt. But when Saudi human rights activists say the same, you pay attenti...
Op-eds
Don’t Let Wahhabism Off the Hook
Now that American victims of terrorism can sue Saudi Arabia on allegations of facilitating 9/11, the kingdom's counterterrorism record is under the microscope like never before....
Op-eds
Saudi Arabia Strikes Back
For those concerned about the fallout from President Barack Obama and his administration’s nuclear deal with Iran — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actio...