The U.S.-Israel-Iran war has reopened the question of the security relationship between the Gulf and the United States with an intensity and controversy not seen before. The debate is no longer confined to the traditional notion of a protective umbrella that guarantees the security of oil supplies in exchange for a substantial American military presence. Instead, it has… Continue reading Reframing the Gulf Regional Security Architecture 

The Arab Gulf region stands at a pivotal moment. After more than five decades of economic planning largely shaped by imported models, external expertise, and prescribed solutions, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are moving into a new phase, one that calls for locally driven economic thinking, greater regional self-reliance, and the confidence to forge an independent path.… Continue reading Why the Gulf Must Build Its Own Economic Playbook 

Iran’s announcement that “non-hostile vessels” will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is the latest—and perhaps clearest—illustration of how oil has become a weapon of war. In a letter to the International Maritime Organization, Tehran framed the restriction of certain vessels as a lawful act of self-defense, explicitly linking access to the world’s most critical… Continue reading Who Pumps the Oil… and Who Controls It?