On July 26, 2021, Dr. Michael Bell, on behalf of NESA’s Director, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Terry Wolff presented Major General Mohammed Al-Ruwaili, Commandant of the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College (SAF CSC), with the NESA Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes MG Al-Ruwaili’s long and ardent support for the NESA-led transformation program at Read More >
Saudi Arabia
Strategic Survey Seminar: The Middle East and U.S. National Security
From 27 to 29 July, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a three-day webinar series to explore key political, military, and socio-economic dynamics impacting the wider Middle East and U.S. security policy. The webinar was joined by various internationally recognized scholar-practitioners, primarily intended for both U.S. and foreign military officers, Read More >
Senior Leader Engagement with the Rasanah Institute
3 August 2021 – On Tuesday, representatives from the Saudi Arabia National Defense University Strategic Implementation Office (SANDU SIO) and from the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) conducted a Senior Leader Engagement with the Rasanah International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah IIIS) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SANDU SIO Provost and Read More >
The Implications of Low Oil Prices and Economic Diversification in the Middle-East
By: LTC Meteb Almarri, QAT Air Force, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 21 June 2021 Introduction: The Middle East is a global producer and exporter of oil. The region enjoys high returns from oil sales to many countries around the world. The Middle East has relied heavily on Read More >
One-Year into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Yemen: An Opportunity to Refocus Foreign Powers’ Attention and End a War?
By: LtCol Michael von Normann, German Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 14 June 2021 Introduction: More than six years into the Saudi-led intervention, the situation in Yemen is no longer a concern to Yemenis alone. This conflict is a clear example of the permanent struggle between regional Read More >
A Turkish-Saudi Rapprochement Could Promote Stability in the Region
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a NESA Alumnus and a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She holds a PhD in politics from the University of Exeter and is an affiliated scholar with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Khatib frequently Read More >
The IOR Economic Condition: Energy, Trade and Infrastructure
In the newest iteration of the NESA MARSEC Digital Series, economic conditions in the Gulf region are explored for impacts on maritime security. NESA Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat gives his thoughts on the Gulf economy and the direction to which trend lines point for the future. The event was moderated by NESA’s Jeff Payne. The Read More >
The Need to Stand Up an Emergency Response Task Force in the Gulf
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib, August 31 2020 No matter who wins the United States presidential election in November, Iran will remain a focal point for United States foreign policy. Whether the Trump Administration continues its maximum pressure policy or a new Biden Administration plans on a return to the JCPOA, a back channel for Read More >
Missile Defense Basics
NESA Professor David DesRoches discusses the basics of the Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems and explains why some systems are not effective against cruise missiles and drones. The video also covers technological advancements to the Iranian missile arsenal and explains why Saudi forces are the most effective at interception. The views presented in this Read More >
How does Coronavirus Affect Stability in the Middle East?
Sam Marrero, NESA Center The validity of coronavirus data coming out of Middle Eastern countries may be uncertain, but most Middle Eastern countries – save Iran and Turkey – appear to avoiding a catastrophe of causalities. Take for example, Egypt, an under-resourced country of almost 100 million, which as of May 8th 2020 reported a Read More >