Virtual Briefing Series | Is the Iran War Triggering a Realignment in the Gulf?

The US-Israeli war with Iran has catalyzed shifting alliances and forced a rethink of security assumptions in the Middle East. The Gulf, in particular, is at the center of this geopolitical recalibration, with countries like the UAE bearing the brunt of Iran’s attack. What will these shifting regional dynamics mean for US-Gulf relations? The briefing featured Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy at MEI, whose career has included time at the National Security Council. The briefing also featured Tareq Alotaiba, a Fellow at the Middle East Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School, who served for 12 years in the UAE government across economic policy, foreign affairs, and national security. Our experts discussed the impact of the Iran war on Gulf states; the formation of a new alliance between the UAE and Israel; the options for US foreign policy in this changing context; and what all these shifts mean for a region in flux. Photo credit: BANDAR ALGALOUD / SAUDI KINGDOM COUNCIL / HANDOUT