![](/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/region-middle-east.jpg)
Latest Articles about Saudi Arabia
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Putin-and-Salman-2-640x360.jpg)
Was King Salman’s Visit to Moscow a Turning Point in Russian-Saudi Relations?
When Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was welcomed in Moscow, on October 5–8, both Russian and Saudi media sources rushed to call his visit an important milestone in bilateral relations (TASS, October 8). But with the initial euphoria from Salman’s trip to... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/80772948_derna.jpg)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/putin-salman-640x480.jpg)
Arms and the King in Saudi-Russian Relations
Vladimir Putin described Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s visit to Moscow as “momentous” (see EDM, October 10; RIA Novosti, October 5); and it certainly was. In similar fashion, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented that the Saudi monarch’s visit constituted a “turning point in... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/King-Salman-bin-Abdulaziz-al-Saud-and-Vladimir-Putin-October-5-EDM-October-10-2017-640x427.jpg)
Russia Is Steered Back Toward Petro-Stagnation
The “historic” trip of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud to Moscow, last week (October 4–7) was an affair long on ceremony, featuring a massive delegation, but rather uncertain regarding the real results. The first ever royal visit (which had been rescheduled several times) was... MORE
Breaking the Female Militant Mold: A Look at AQAP’s Wafa al-Shihri (a.k.a. Um Hajr al Azadi)
The involvement of Saudi women with jihadist militancy is rare, and there are few examples of female militants carving out a new role, one different from the kind of feminine behavior usually sanctioned in jihadist circles. Among those few women is Wafa al-Shihri (a.k.a. Um... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/1_32-620x344-2.jpg)
Qatar’s Role in the Libyan Conflict: Who’s on the Lists of Terrorists and Why
The Middle East diplomatic crisis that has set a coalition of Arab states against Qatar has inevitably spilled over into Libya. A number of those states party to the dispute have been involved in a proxy war, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/China-Qatar-640x398.png)
China-Qatar Relations in Perspective
On June 5, Saudi Arabia announced it was cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar and closing its land border in response to Qatar “supporting terrorism.” Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates quickly joined, and all denied airspace overflight rights to Qatari airlines. Saudi Arabia and... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6527418-3x2-940x627-640x427.jpg)
Yemen’s Houthi Missiles Keep Saudi Arabia Mired in Conflict
Missiles launched at Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi fighters have proved to be wildly inaccurate as regards their targets but largely effective in terms of their media impact, frustrating Saudi claims to have eroded the fighters’ capabilities. Indeed, concerns over Yemen’s missile stockpiles have proved... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Moscow-protests-June-12-EDM-June-12-2017-640x445.jpg)
Mess in the Middle East Opens Few Opportunities for Russia
Russia’s best chances to claim a prominent role in the Middle East usually come amidst a regional escalation of tensions. But the confluence of diplomatic rows, terrorist attacks and air strikes at the start of June did not exactly play into Moscow’s hands. As usual,... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/479-640x361.jpg)
The Battle for Yemen: A Quagmire for Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The Saudi- and Emirati-led war in Yemen has been ongoing for 26 months. The war, which began on March 26, 2015 and was ambitiously named “Operation Decisive Storm,” has achieved none of its stated intentions (al-Arabiya, March 26, 2015). The primary aim was the reinstallation... MORE