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  • The $2.8 Billion Hole in U.S. Sanctions on Iran

    For months, as Iran-backed groups attacked U.S. forces and allies in the Middle East, the Biden administration hailed its efforts to restrict Iran’s oil revenue — and the country’s ability to fund proxy militias. The Treasury secretary told Congress that her teams were “doing everything that they possibly can to crack down” on illegal shipments, and a senior White House adviser said that “extreme sanctions” had effectively stalled Iran’s energy sector. But the sanctions failed to stop oil worth billions of dollars from leaving Iran over the past year, a New York Times investigation has found, revealing a significant gap in U.S. oversight.

  • U.S. collaborates with allies, partners at Saudi-led Spears of Victory exercise

    Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)’s KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and experts across the fields of command and control, security forces, and other critical operations deployed to the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Spears of Victory exercise Feb. 4-15, at King Abdulaziz Air Base. Spears of Victory includes eight countries and is one of the largest multinational exercises hosted by a U.S. partner in the region. The exercise provides opportunities to develop tactical proficiency, improve interoperability, strengthen military relationships and increase flexibility to address existing and emerging threats. The multilateral exercise builds confidence by familiarizing operators with a wide array of aircraft in various contingency scenarios.

  • U.S. Ambassador to KSA test drives Humvee Saber at WDS

    A different flavor from the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney, in the American Humvee Saber at the World Defense Exhibition.

  • Visualizing the Rise of the U.S. as Top Crude Oil Producer

    Over the last three decades, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have alternated as the top crude producers, but always by small margins. During the 1990s, Saudi Arabia dominated crude production, taking advantage of its extensive oil reserves. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 42% of the country’s GDP, 87% of its budget revenues, and 90% of export earnings. However, during the 2000s, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia in production during some years, following strategic investments in expanding its oil infrastructure. The majority of Russia’s oil goes to OECD Europe (60%), with around 20% going to China.

  • Visualizing the Rise of the U.S. as Top Crude Oil Producer

    Over the last three decades, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have alternated as the top crude producers, but always by small margins. During the 1990s, Saudi Arabia dominated crude production, taking advantage of its extensive oil reserves. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 42% of the country’s GDP, 87% of its budget revenues, and 90% of export earnings. However, during the 2000s, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia in production during some years, following strategic investments in expanding its oil infrastructure. The majority of Russia’s oil goes to OECD Europe (60%), with around 20% going to China.

  • The Race to Make This Dying U.S. Lake the ‘Saudi Arabia of Lithium’

    California’s toxic Salton Sea has enough lithium to make the U.S. self-sufficient in the mineral, which is a key component of rechargeable batteries. WSJ explores the tech being developed to extract it—and what it means for the future of domestic production

  • How Should the U.S. Respond to a Middle East Crisis Threatening Its Policy and Personnel?

    The October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel created an immediate crisis for the President Joseph R. Biden Jr. administration’s policy of promoting greater regional integration and upholding stability and security in the Middle East. That agenda is coming under intensified pressure, most dramatically by the killing of three U.S. service personnel and the wounding of dozens more by a drone strike in Jordan that the White House blames on Iranian-backed militias.

  • How Should the U.S. Respond to a Middle East Crisis Threatening Its Policy and Personnel?

    The October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel created an immediate crisis for the President Joseph R. Biden Jr. administration’s policy of promoting greater regional integration and upholding stability and security in the Middle East. That agenda is coming under intensified pressure, most dramatically by the killing of three U.S. service personnel and the wounding of dozens more by a drone strike in Jordan that the White House blames on Iranian-backed militias

  • Blinken meets MBS in Saudi Arabia as U.S. pushes for post-war deal

    During his previous visit to Israel last month, Blinken told Israeli leaders that Saudi Arabia wants to normalize relations with Israel after the Gaza war ends, but it won't agree to any deal if the Israeli government doesn't commit to the principle of a two-state solution.

  • Saudi Arabia pushes for U.S. defence pact ahead of presidential election

    Saudi Arabia would be willing to accept a political commitment from Israel to create a Palestinian state, rather than anything more binding, in a bid to get a defence pact with Washington approved before the U.S. presidential election, three sources said. Months of U.S.-led diplomacy to get Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel and recognise the country for the first time were shelved by Riyadh in October in the face of mounting Arab anger over the war in Gaza.