In each episode I'll interview newsmakers from the US and Middle East, with additional commentary from our 'on-the-ground' correspondents.
Most Recent: Episode #40
‘Tech That’: Sam Blatteis, former head of Google Gulf Government Relations, takes us inside the Middle East Digital Boom
Sam Blatteis, CEO of The MENA Catalysts, explains the continued potential and vitality of the digital economy and high tech sectors in the Gulf, post-COVID; the Gulf’s commitment to the knowledge economy, and how it has become a differentiator in a fragmenting Arab world; why the US is still the partner of choice for Gulf governments, but why and how the US-China competition for influence in the region may be heating up; the synergies between the Gulf and Silicon Valley; and more
- UAE minister draws on the past to seize possibilities of AI future (al-monitor.com)
- Gulf states’ quest to find ‘new oil’ turns to hydrogen (al-monitor.com)
- Hi-tech rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh heats up (al-monitor.com)
- Diplomacy in the Gulf follows the money (al-monitor.com)
Explore Our Archives
Who are the Syrian Kurdish women fighters who took down the Islamic State? Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the inside story Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021
Yemen may be best opportunity for regional diplomacy with Iran, says Mohsen Milani Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021
Ethiopia showing ‘no political will whatsoever’ to reach deal on Nile Dam, says Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021
Hebah Fisher on why podcasts are becoming the medium of choice for Arab youth by Andrew Parasiliti Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021
Can Syria be stitched back together again? Not any time soon, says analyst Elizabeth Tsurkov Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021
Things are going to get tougher’ in US-Turkey relations, says Amberin Zaman Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021
Arab youth turning to podcasts for expression, culture, and connection, says Leila Hamadeh Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021
Former Pentagon Official Mick Mulroy makes the case for US staying power in Middle East Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020
Al-Monitor correspondents Hagedorn, Lucente and Szuba on what to expect from Biden Administration in the Mideast Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020
Mahmoud Abbas has ‘frozen’ the Palestinian movement, says Daoud Kuttab Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020
Israeli scholar Micky Aharonson breaks down Putin’s strategy in Israel, Iran and Syria Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020
Biden Administration should give early priority to setting clear expectations for Saudi policy Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020
Turkey may no longer be model partner, but US has interest in finding common ground where it can Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020
‘Creative diplomacy’ very much an option for US and Iran under Biden Administration Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020
Bahrain committed to both normalization with Israel and two-state solution, says ambassador to US Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020
H.R. McMaster discusses Iran and the Trump record in the Middle East Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020
‘Foregone conclusion’ that Erdogan is rooting for Trump in US presidential election Friday, Oct. 30, 2020
US democracy promotion in the Middle East ‘largely discredited,’ says Steven Cook of Council on Foreign Relations Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020
How the GCC states balance the US and China, and why the Gulf may prefer Trump over Biden Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020
Closing US embassy in Baghdad would be ‘incredibly irresponsible,’ says former US ambassador to Iraq Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020
GCC rift ‘pained the late Emir the most,’ says Kuwaiti scholar Alanoud Alsharekh by Andrew Parasiliti Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020
Van Hollen says Iran is metaphor for failed Trump foreign policies by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2020
For Israeli Arabs, peace agreements with UAE and Bahrain bring opportunities and mixed feelings Thursday, Sep. 17, 2020
Putin’s Syria Strategy and the US presidential election by Andrew Parasiliti Thursday, Sep. 10, 2020
Update from Iraq with Al-Monitor’s Ali Mamouri by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Sep. 2, 2020
'The sky’s the limit' for Israel-UAE deal, says Israel’s ambassador to the United States by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020
CNBC’s Hadley Gamble talks about Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and women journalists covering the Middle East by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020
Mina Al-Oraibi discusses how UAE got ahead of COVID-19 pandemic and pulled off Mars Mission, why she has faith in Iraq’s potential, and more by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020
Sultan Al-Qassemi discusses social, political and cultural trends in modern and contemporary Arab Art by Andrew Parasiliti Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2020
US Rep. Elissa Slotkin: US should be ‘clear eyed’ about Russian attempts to ‘thwart, target and engage’ US forces Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2020
Cengiz Candar discusses his new book, “Turkey’s Mission Impossible: War and Peace with the Kurds” Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2020
US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook discusses Trump Administration’s policy toward Iran Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2020
Israeli and Palestinian UN ambassadors discuss annexation, the Trump Peace Plan and the prospects for direct talks Wednesday, Jul. 1, 2020
Qatar Amb. Meshal Al-Thani talks about COVID-19, Iran, plans for the World Cup, divisions within the GCC, and more Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2020
Amberin Zaman breaks down US-Turkey relations and the Kurdish question in Syria Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2020
Gilles Kepel discusses his new book "Away from Chaos: The Middle East and the Challenge to the West" Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2020
UAE Ambassador Yousef Al-Otaiba talks about COVID-19, the region, and prospects for governance in the post-pandemic future Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2020
Hagel talks about the Middle East, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, and Joe Biden Wednesday, May. 27, 2020
What will be Netanyahu’s legacy? Wednesday, May. 20, 2020
On the Middle East - Trailer Monday, Apr. 27, 2020
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