The Gulf Region

Anything but Strait-Forward: The Saudi Agenda in Yemen

R 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.

Why Have Three Gulf States Introduced the Draft? Bucking the Trend on Conscription in Arabia

Zoltan Barany

Politics, economics and security help to explain why some Gulf countries have adopted conscription.

Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Anti-Terrorism Effort: A Coalition of the Willing or an Anti-Iran Front?

Kamal Alam and Wajahat S Khan

Saudi Arabia’s new Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has been hailed as an historic organisation which will not only serve a military purpose but also take the ideological fight against those who use terror in the name of Islam.

Israel and Saudi Arabia: The Best of ‘Frenemies’

Joseph Millis

Saudi Arabia and Israel appear to be putting aside decades of enmity due to a fear of Iran's nuclear ambitions and its actions in the region. Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship?

"“The problem is as much about appearing to not capitulate to the other side as it is trying to solve any problems,” said Michael Stephens of the Royal United Services Institute in London. “Given the hypersensitivity of both sides to appearing weak,” he said, “it makes the problem considerably harder to solve.” "

Trump’s Bid to End Saudi-Qatar Stalemate Ends in Recriminations

"“I am very concerned that there is absolutely no way to de-escalate this,” said Michael Stephens, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a think tank in London. “I don’t see how a deal can be made at the current time unless something dramatic changes.” "

Arab Nations Demand Qatar Shut Al Jazeera, Cut Islamist Ties and Detail Funding