Experts in the News

As Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablish ties, when it comes to defense and security, Saudi officials are not looking to replace the U.S. with China. “Riyadh still thinks in English,” fellow Yasmine Farouk told the New York Times. "But after years of feeling that the United States has become a less reliable ally, the Saudis are expanding their alliances wherever they can."

Despite few deals emerging from bilateral talks, Abu Dhabi & Doha ties have developed. The meetings, fellow Kristian Ulrichsen says, indicate that behind-the-scenes issues "have progressed to the level where the relationship seems to be fully back on track.”

"The UAE, and possibly Saudi Arabia, appear to have concluded that isolating Syria has only deepened its ties to Iran while failing to dislodge Assad, a counterproductive outcome,” fellow Annelle Sheline says of Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud's comments on the Arab region's consensus against Syria’s isolation. “In general, it has become obvious that international isolation is hurting the Syrian people.”

As oil prices are predicted to remain high, political tensions and economic shocks will continue to outlive the war. "The conflict will continue to sharpen economic divides in the Middle East and add pressure on energy-rich Gulf states to assist those that are struggling,” fellow Kristian Ulrichsen says.

"It has been clear since the start of the Russian invasion a year ago that America’s regional partners in the Middle East … were not going to take sides or get involved in the great power competition," the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East’s Kristian Ulrichsen told CNN.