Introduction:
As the Ukrainian war continues, the Biden administration is under more pressure to contain Russia and lower domestic gas prices. This has created a window of opportunity for Saudi Arabia to play a central role in stabilizing the global energy market. Thus, senior U.S officials have made increasing efforts to improve relations with Riyadh. These dynamics have led to speculations about the future of relations between the U.S. and the GCC States in general, and U.S.-Saudi relations in particular. Many political analysts now believe that following Biden’s Middle East trip, these relations would enter a new and vital phase that will have long-lasting implications for regional security.
Discussing this topic in-depth, the key speakers of this webinar will address the following issues:
- Change and Continuity in Biden’s Approach towards Relations with the GCC States;
- Main Goals and Likely Outcomes of Biden’s Middle East Trip;
- JCPOA Revival and Stronger US Relations with the GCC States.
Speakers:
Dr. Mehran Kamrava is a Professor of Government at Georgetown University Qatar and the Director of the Center for International and Regional Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar. He has written numerous books and journal articles about Iran and the Middle East. His works that specifically concern the developments in the Persian Gulf include The Routledge Handbook of Persian Gulf Politics, Troubled Waters: Insecurity in the Persian Gulf, and The International Politics of the Persian Gulf.
Giorgio Cafiero is the CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Washington, DC. Mr. Cafiero is also an adjunct fellow at the American Security Project and an affiliate at the Mena Center. Additionally, he is an analyst at London-based advisory Rosa & Roubini Associates. Mr. Cafiero has spoken about Persian Gulf-related issues at conferences throughout his career. His research interests include geopolitical and security trends in the Arabian Peninsula and the broader Middle East.
