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  • Mapping the Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Middle East

    The United States maintains a considerable military presence in the Middle East, with forces in more than a dozen countries and on ships throughout the region’s waters. That presence has expanded in 2024 as the United States focuses on deterring and defeating threats from Iran and its network of armed affiliates in the region, including Hamas (Gaza Strip), Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Houthis (Yemen), and several Iraq- and Syria-based militant groups.

  • U.S. to send more warships, fighter jets to Middle East to bolster defenses

    The U.S. military will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Friday, as Washington seeks to bolster defenses following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah. The U.S. is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran - one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.

  • Top U.S. general in the Middle East as U.S. and Israel prepare for possible Iran attack

    The U.S. general in charge of American forces in the Middle East arrived in the region on Saturday as preparations continue for a possible attack against Israel from Iran in retaliation for the assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, two U.S. officials said.

  • Commentary: The Limits of a U.S.-Saudi Security Deal

    At a time when many countries are hedging their bets amid the emerging great-power competition among China, Russia, and the United States, why would the Saudis double down on their historic reliance on Washington? In short, they want what neither China nor Russia can provide: security.

  • U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss Yemen as Israel-Hezbollah tension grows

    A senior U.S. delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks about the situation in Yemen and the recent escalation between Israel and Houthi rebels, three U.S. officials said. The U.S. delegation is headed by Brett McGurk, the White House's top Middle East adviser, U.S. officials said. The State Department's top Middle East diplomat Barbara Leaf, the U.S. envoy for Yemen Tim Lendeking and the Pentagon's top Middle East official Dan Shapiro are also part of the delegation.

  • Don’t bomb Beirut: U.S. leads push to rein in Israel’s response

    The United States is leading a diplomatic dash to deter Israel from striking Lebanon's capital Beirut or major civil infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights, five people with knowledge of the drive said. Washington is racing to avert a full-blown war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah after the attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan killed 12 youths at the weekend, according to the five people who include Lebanese and Iranian officials plus Middle Eastern and European diplomats.

  • Why Gulf National Oil Companies Are Investing in U.S. LNG

    Saudi Aramco and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company are investing in U.S. liquefied natural gas projects, signaling their confidence in long-term gas demand and ambitions to become global gas players. These deals reinforce the commercial appeal of U.S. LNG and suggest that Gulf national oil companies represent a new pool of capital for global gas investment. It is notable that some of their first forays into international LNG have occurred in the United States, especially in a period of shakier policy support in Washington for LNG exports. The deals suggest that Washington’s relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are improving.

  • U.S. Exports to the Arab World Jump By 12 Percent to $65.3 Billion

    According to data released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. goods exports to the Arab world jumped 12 percent to $65.3 billion in 2023, marking the first year-on-year increase in U.S. exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) since the COVID era in 2021.

  • U.S. Oil Production Develops Massive Lead Over Russia And Saudi Arabia

    For the first time, global oil consumption surpassed 100 million barrels per day in 2023. The demand for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene has returned to or exceeded pre-2019 levels, although there are variations across different regions. Global gasoline consumption slightly exceeded its pre-COVID level at 25 million barrels per day, while kerosene, despite showing strong growth of 17.5% in 2023, has not yet returned to its peak levels from 2019.

  • U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Lenderking’s Travel to Saudi Arabia and Oman

    U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking is traveling to Saudi Arabia and Oman this week to continue discussions with partners regarding recent Houthi detentions of UN, diplomatic, and international NGO staff and efforts to secure an immediate end to reckless Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways.  Houthi detentions and attacks threaten progress toward achieving a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen and obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemenis and people in need across the region.