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The Gulf Region
Saudi Arabia and International Summitry: Hard Try, and Harder Times Ahead
Commentary, 27 November 2020
Michael Stephens
The Saudis hosted a G20 summit overshadowed by the pandemic. It is not what they wanted, but the kingdom is working hard to reposition its international footprint.
Tags: The Gulf Region
Kuwait’s Leadership Change Leaves More Question Marks for the Gulf Cooperation Council
Commentary, 14 October 2020
Michael Stephens
The death of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah after a 14-year reign might have passed under the radar of the casual Middle East observer, but it marks an important milestone in the history of Arab and Gulf affairs.
Tags: Unpacking the MENA, The Gulf Region
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan: Unease and Reassurance Amid Changing Regional Realities
Commentary, 25 August 2020
Kamal Alam
Reports of cooling relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are incomplete. Behind the scenes, Pakistan’s top military officer is helping recast the relationship on a more solid footing.
Tags: Pakistan, The Gulf Region
In the Chaos of Syrian Geopolitics, Russia Remains Dominant
Commentary, 15 May 2020
Kamal Alam
The Russians appear to be expressing dissatisfaction with the Syrian president. But these are mere rumblings; the Syrian government is consolidating, and Russia is there to stay.
Tags: Turkey, Iran, The Gulf Region, Russia, Syria
Europe and the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Middle East
Commentary, 6 April 2020
Tobias Borck
The pandemic preoccupies Europe. But the continent should not lose sight of potential new crises in the Middle East.
Tags: Egypt, Iran, The Gulf Region, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Israel, Middle East and North Africa
"“We’re in a three-way Mexican stand-off with three big players in the room all saying, ‘if you screw that guy over there, you are screwing me over, so I’m going to screw you over,’” said Michael Stephens, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “It’s a strange triangular discussion from which no side wants to back down and all are going to feel the pain.”
"
Saudi oil war: ‘The beauty is you can blame it on the Russians’
In The News, 17 March 2020 Tags: United States, The Gulf Region, RussiaPages
Saudi Arabia and International Summitry: Hard Try, and Harder Times Ahead
Commentary, 27 November 2020Michael Stephens
The Saudis hosted a G20 summit overshadowed by the pandemic. It is not what they wanted, but the kingdom is working hard to reposition its international footprint.
The Gulf Region
Kuwait’s Leadership Change Leaves More Question Marks for the Gulf Cooperation Council
Commentary, 14 October 2020Michael Stephens
The death of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah after a 14-year reign might have passed under the radar of the casual Middle East observer, but it marks an important milestone in the history of Arab and Gulf affairs.
Unpacking the MENA, The Gulf Region
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan: Unease and Reassurance Amid Changing Regional Realities
Commentary, 25 August 2020Kamal Alam
Reports of cooling relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are incomplete. Behind the scenes, Pakistan’s top military officer is helping recast the relationship on a more solid footing.
Pakistan, The Gulf Region
In the Chaos of Syrian Geopolitics, Russia Remains Dominant
Commentary, 15 May 2020Kamal Alam
The Russians appear to be expressing dissatisfaction with the Syrian president. But these are mere rumblings; the Syrian government is consolidating, and Russia is there to stay.
Turkey, Iran, The Gulf Region, Russia, Syria
Europe and the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Middle East
Commentary, 6 April 2020Tobias Borck
The pandemic preoccupies Europe. But the continent should not lose sight of potential new crises in the Middle East.
Egypt, Iran, The Gulf Region, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Israel, Middle East and North AfricaPages
What is Behind Qatar–Gulf Tensions?
Multimedia, 8 June 2017Why is Qatar facing censure and sanctions from its Gulf neighbours? RUSI Research Fellow Michael Stephens helps explain.
Tags: The Gulf Region
The Conflict in Yemen: The Coalition Perspective
Multimedia, 21 March 2016Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Assiri, spokesman of the Arab coalition, gives a briefing on the current Saudi-led military operation in Yemen. Chaired by Sir Simon Mayall.
Tags: The Gulf Region
UK Basing Posture Renews Naval Capability
RUSI Defence Systems, 7 March 2018James Shinnie
With new UK facilities opening in Oman and Bahrain, an examination of these future bases offers helpful insights into the shape of UK strategic international engagements post-Brexit.
The Gulf Region, RUSI Defence Systems, Maritime Forces
Anything but Strait-Forward: The Saudi Agenda in Yemen
RUSI Newsbrief, 2 March 2018R T Howard
Saudi Arabia’s investment in the war in Yemen may have more to do with pipelines and maintaining control of the region’s shipping lanes than previously thought.
Egypt, RUSI Newsbrief, The Gulf Region, Sudan, Maritime Forces
Why Have Three Gulf States Introduced the Draft? Bucking the Trend on Conscription in Arabia
RUSI Journal, 17 January 2018Zoltan Barany
Politics, economics and security help to explain why some Gulf countries have adopted conscription.
RUSI Journal, The Gulf Region, Military Personnel, Middle East and North Africa
Saudi Arabia’s Quiet Revolution
RUSI Newsbrief, 5 July 2016Gerald Butt
A shift in power to a younger generation and a recognition of the need for more transparency will have a long-lasting impact on Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy, its economy and its politics.
RUSI Newsbrief, The Gulf Region
Lessons from the Greek Debt Crisis for Gulf Monetary Union
RUSI Newsbrief, 25 September 2015Omar Al-Ubaydli
Far from an ideal blueprint for success, the Eurozone and its current woes could be instructive for the GCC in its pursuit of monetary union
RUSI Newsbrief, The Gulf Region, European UnionPages
Ending the Suffering in Yemen: What Can Be Done?
Events, 17 April 2018This joint event with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) will look at the drivers of the conflict, the humanitarian impact and the view from the West.
RUSI International, The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
Saudi Arabia’s Reforms: Countering Extremism in a Changing Kingdom
Events, 8 March 2018A discussion on how Saudi Arabia’s social reforms will impact the Kingdom and its continued cooperation with the UK on counter-extremism.
RUSI International, The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
A Conversation with Qatar Defence Minister HE Dr Khalid Bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah
Events, 17 January 2018HE Dr Khalid Bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah, Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, discussed the pressing security issues for Qatar, the wider region and relations...
The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
'Without Glory but Without Disaster': 50 Years after the British Withdrawal from Aden
Events, 4 December 2017RUSI is hosting a conference with the support of Durham University, the British-Yemeni Society and the MBI Al Jaber Foundation to mark 50 years since Britain's withdrawal from Aden (also known as...
The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
Crises or opportunities? A reflection on the economic, political and security challenges to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Events, 16 May 2016A lecture by HRH Prince Turki al Faisal bin Abdulaziz al Saud on the future of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.
The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
"“We’re in a three-way Mexican stand-off with three big players in the room all saying, ‘if you screw that guy over there, you are screwing me over, so I’m going to screw you over,’” said Michael Stephens, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “It’s a strange triangular discussion from which no side wants to back down and all are going to feel the pain.” "
Saudi oil war: ‘The beauty is you can blame it on the Russians’
In The News, 17 March 2020 Tags: United States, The Gulf Region, Russia
"Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, told the BBC the photos "probably prove" the tanker was attacked, but it was not clear what with. "
Gulf tanker attacks: Iran releases photos of 'attacked' ship
In The News, 14 October 2019 Tags: Iran, The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
"“If he [the prince] does meet people it will have to be on the sidelines,” said Michael Stephens, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London."
Will leaders shake his hand?
In The News, 25 November 2018 Tags: RUSI International, The Gulf Region, Middle East and North Africa
"“MBS needs to shore up regional support following an extremely difficult period, in which both his and the kingdom’s prestige and power have taken a serious blow,” said Michael Stephens, London-based RUSI research fellow for Middle East Studies. “It will no doubt be the first step in a series of measures to reassert his position on the world stage as a leader.""
Saudi Prince Visits Allies in First Trip Since Khashoggi Murder
In The News, 22 November 2018 Tags: RUSI International, The Gulf Region
"Militarily the UK's departure from the EU is unlikely to see a weakening of relations, said Peter Roberts, the director of military sciences at the influential Royal United Services Institute. "Political ambitions remain high [in the UK] and I think the UK's future will remain intertwined with the Gulf. There is a shared history and energy security, which the UK is hugely reliant on. "I don't see any change in term of permanent basing, rotation of forces or exercises either. The Gulf is one of the highest priority areas for the government.""
ANALYSIS: UK trading 'soft power' for hard cash in post-Brexit arms deals with Gulf
In The News, 29 March 2018 Tags: Military Sciences, The Gulf Region, Defence Policy, UK
What Does Biden’s Victory Mean for the Indo-Pacific?
Episode Five: New Technologies, Old Methods in Terrorism Financing
Episode Six: FATF’s Strategic Review