Newsletter: Gulf GCC approves military command center as tensions simmer Gulf states are moving to strengthen their collective military capabilities by establishing a new command center in Kuwait. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: FutureVerse Does Middle East have Nvidia problem? Nvidia shares tumbled this week as the company launched an independent investigation, sparking fallout that could reach all the way to the Middle East. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Explainer UAE selling Saudi oil highlights new Gulf energy realities News surfaced on Nov. 10 that the UAE has reportedly marketed 1.87 million barrels of Saudi crude salvaged from a damaged supertanker for sale, marking an exceptional example of energy cooperation between Gulf rivals. United Arab Emirates
GCC to build military command center in Kuwait as region simmers: What to know GCC countries have stepped up their joint defense efforts with the announcement of a new forward command center to be headquartered in Kuwait, as tensions between Iran and the US continue to escalate. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Syria denies sending troops to fight Houthis in return for Saudi loans By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Gulf’s $3 trillion US investment drive faces post-midterm Trump reckoning By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Gulf Gulf states step up China diplomacy as Trump’s lame-duck session nears By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Biden aide, Saudi crown prince discussed Israel normalization: report Axios reports that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed Saudi Arabia's potential diplomatic ties with Israel during his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. News Brief
Iran's FM says Saudi Arabia talks have progressed 'good distance' Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's comments came after Saudi Arabia confirmed the two rivals held their first round of talks with Tehran's new hard-liner government. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia says it welcomes Biden's order to release 9/11 files The Saudi Embassy in Washington said it hoped the documents' declassification would put an end to the "baseless allegations against the kingdom." Saudi Arabia
Intel: US family seeks Biden's help freeing detained Saudi aid worker The United States said it’s urging Saudi Arabia to resolve the case of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, an aid worker sentenced to prison for allegedly running a Twitter account critical of the kingdom’s rulers. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to require vaccination proof for foreign tourists Saudi Arabia has imposed some particularly strict travel measures recently amid regional concerns about coronavirus variants. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to impose travel ban for visits to 'red list' countries Citizens who travel to countries including the UAE, Indonesia and Turkey are at risk of penalties including a three-year ban on travel. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khalid describes 'great' meeting with Blinken Saudi Arabia’s deputy defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, is the most senior Saudi official to visit Washington under the Biden administration. Saudi Arabia
Iran reports progress in talks with Saudi Arabia Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said talks between the two regional powers will continue. Iran
Saudi Arabia plans second national airline in tourism push The additional airline would help position the Gulf state as a global logistics hub, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said. Saudi Arabia
The Takeaway: Pragmatism is the new watchword in US-Turkey relations Plus: A fresh start for Israel; Iran’s hard-line front-runner on the issues; Egypt’s faltering Palestinian mediation; Saudi-Syria talks; Golani’s makeover. Turkey
The Takeaway: US ties with Egypt loom large again Picking up the pieces in Gaza; the uneasy, uncertain peace between Israel and Hamas; PLO and Hamas still can’t find common ground; Russia on the diplomatic sidelines; desert kingdom looks to build forest; and more! Egypt
Vaccinated Saudis free to travel abroad as ban lifted Saudi Arabia on Monday rolled back an international travel ban that has remained in place since March 2020. Saudi Arabia