At the end of January, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched a suicide attack against a Saudi frigate in the Red Sea. This was only Iran’s latest provocation against American allies in the Middle East. The Saudis have been one of Tehran’s prime targets—from backing the Houthis in Yemen as a proxy force against Riyadh, to setting fire to two Saudi diplomatic missions last year. The concern in Riyadh is that Washington has not been listening to its regional partners. However, in a marked change from the Obama years, the Trump administration recently sent a stern warning to the Iranians, putting them on notice and imposing a new round of sanctions on the Islamic regime, all the while consulting with senior leadership in Riyadh.
What can American allies in the Middle East expect with the change in administrations: the firm posture of a superpower whose leadership has guided the Persian Gulf for nearly seven decades, or a continuation of the previous administration's policies that left friends unsure and adversaries emboldened? To address these issues, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion with Middle East experts including Hudson's Michael Doran, the Atlantic Council's Mohammed Alyahya, and the Arabia Foundation's Ali Shihabi. Hudson Senior Fellow Lee Smith moderated the discussion.
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion of how the US can build a more resilient and flexible energetics base—one that can meet sustained demand while accelerating the development and fielding of new capabilities.
Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders from industry, government, academia, and defense to discuss the latest developments in the US-China AI competition.
Join House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow on Congress’s role in revitalizing America’s defense industrial base.
Hudson welcomes Karel Řehka, former chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, to discuss the changing security environment in Europe and its implications for the Czech Republic, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the transatlantic alliance.
