Episode 35 of The 966 includes a terrific conversation with author, thought leader, and emerging markets expert Afshin Molavi, Senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and founder and editor of the Emerging World newsletter (eworld.substack.com). The hosts talk with Afshin about his recent piece, ‘Putin’s Bomb and the Global Shrapnel’ which examines the international ramifications of the Russian war into Ukraine, including the impact on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The hosts also talk about recent Saudi foreign policy moves, a new task force from the US navy which should bolster Saudi security, and much more in the program’s ‘Yallah’ segment.
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1:17 – Saudi Arabia made interesting headway in four different foreign policy areas this week. Significant developments in Saudi Arabia’s relationships with and interests in Iran, Lebanon, Turkey and Yemen. The 966 kicks off by talking about each of these for Richard’s one big thing this week.
9:19 – The U.S. Navy’s new multinational task force will deploy to the waters around Yemen and in the Red Sea to help protect Saudi Arabia and ensure the security of trading routes in the critical waterways.
Lucien’s one big thing this week is the significance of the new task force and timing of the announcement. that on Wednesday, the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said that the task force would ensure a force presence and deterrent posture in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and Gulf of Aden, according to reports.
The waters around Yemen are a key passageway for oil and global trade, and vessels have in the past been targeted by the Houthis and other nefarious forces.
The new task force is the fourth under the CMF command, joining three others – CTF 150 (Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf), CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy), and CTF 152 (Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf).
The task force would ensure a force presence and deterrent posture of the coast of Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
When asked about the air raids from Yemen on U.S. partners Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Cooper said the task force would impact the Houthi’s ability to obtain the weaponry needed for such attacks, saying, “we’ll be able to do it more vibrantly and more directly than we do today,” Cooper added.
16:24 – The 966 talks with Afshin Molavi, author, thought leader, and emerging markets expert. Afshin is Senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and founder and editor of the Emerging World newsletter (eworld.substack.com).
The hosts talk with Afshin about his recent piece, ‘Putin’s Bomb and the Global Shrapnel’ which examines the international ramifications of the Russian war into Ukraine, including the impact on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.
The piece talks about the various ways in which – Beyond the immediate human impact of the death and destruction in Ukraine…”there is the feel of tectonic plates crunching, of certainties crumbling, of history spinning a new web that will entangle us all.”
1:17:00 – Yallah! Six top storylines in Saudi Arabia this week to get you up to date before the weekend.
•On Saturday the Hajj Ministry announced that it “has authorized one million pilgrims, both foreign and domestic, to perform the hajj this year.” According to The National pilgrims traveling from overseas are expected to constitute 85% of the total number. In 2020 and 2021 Saudi authorities significantly reduced the number of pilgrims allowed in order to combat the spread of Coronavirus. In 2020, only 1,000 pilgrims were permitted to participate. In 2021 the number was 60,000.
•Citigroup is back in Saudi Arabia, per the WSJ. The third-biggest U.S. bank has again found favor in the kingdom as one of the foreign lenders helping the Kingdom modernize its economy. “They paid their dues,” said a senior Saudi official. “They were in the penalty box long enough. They’re back in the game.”
•According to a report in The Telegraph, two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson, along with European Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter as well as five-time tour winner Kevin Na are among those expected to join the $225 million rival. The final details are still being confirmed, according to LIV Golf, per the report, but the plan is to announce some of the players who are planning to join in the weeks ahead.
•An average of 54% of survey respondents from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said they believe cryptocurrency should be used as currency. Still, a significant proportion of the respective countries’ respondents believe certain obstacles are stopping cryptocurrencies from going mainstream, according to a report in bitcoin.com.
•According to a report in Bloomberg, Uber’s woes continue in Saudi Arabia. Wait times for cars have soared since the government enforced a rule last year that all drivers must be Saudis. While that’s part of a broad push to create jobs for citizens, it ruled out the millions of foreign migrants in the country.
•Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index, also known as IPI, grew by 22.3 percent in February compared to the same month of 2021. This was the highest year-on-year growth rate during the last three years, the General Authority for Statistics added, according to Arab News. IPI’s positive growth for the tenth month in a row is attributed to higher production in the three sub-sectors; mining and quarrying, manufacturing and electricity and gas supply.
