Pivot or Remain in Place? Examining the U.S. Military Presence in Arabia and the Gulf

Posted on June 29, 2023 by NCUSAR

On June 29, 2023, the National Council convened an online briefing program “Pivot or Remain in Place? Examining the U.S. Military Presence in Arabia and the Gulf.” The conversation analyzed the military and economic dimensions, geopolitical implications, and knock-on effects of the proclaimed American pivot to Asia.

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialists:

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow; former Defense Attaché of Qatar to the United States; former Official Spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Defense
Ms. Kirsten Fontenrose, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Senior Gulf Affairs Fellow; President of Red Six International, an advisory firm providing U.S. government approved technical expertise to partner nations on defeating drones
Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member; Former Senior Military Advisor to U.S. Department of State; Former U.S. Defense and Army Attaché to Saudi Arabia; HyphenPoint LLC Principal

Moderator and Discussant:

Colonel (Ret.) David Des Roches, U.S. Department of Defense National Defense University Near East/South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Associate Professor; National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Senior International Affairs Fellow

Context Provider:

Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO

A video recording of the program is available above.

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Fellow Nawaf Al-Thani Visits the Virginia Military Institute

Posted on March 13, 2023 by NCUSAR

Last month, National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani visited the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia (VMI), with a delegation of Council leaders. During the visit, Sheikh Nawaf spoke to academy cadets about dynamics of small state security, and he met with VMI faculty, cadets, and leadership. Joining Sheikh Nawaf in the Council delegation were Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony, who has a long association with VMI; Board Member Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, a former Senior U.S. Department of Defense official serving in the GCC region; together with Council Executive Vice President Patrick Mancino.

(Left) National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani with Virginia Military Institute Superintendent Retired Major General Cedric Wins. (Right) Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani speaks to VMI cadets about small state security dynamics.

Sheikh Nawaf is the former Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché of Qatar to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in the rank of Brigadier General as well as the former Official Spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Defense. In recognition of his service, he has received numerous distinguished commendations and citations from the Qatar Armed Forces along with several NATO militaries and multinational organizations. Sheikh Nawaf joined the National Council as a Fellow last fall and was a featured speaker at the Council’s 31st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference.

(Left to Right) National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony, Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani, and Board Member Abbas Dahouk meet with Virginia Military Institute leadership in Lexington, Virginia.

Dr. Anthony is a 1962 graduate of VMI where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in History. He attended on a four-year, all-expenses State Cadetship Award after the completion of his U.S. Army active duty military service. At VMI, Dr. Anthony was elected president of his class all four years in addition to serving as president of the Corps of Cadets’ governing bodies during his First Class (Senior) Year. In 2012, he served as Dean’s Visiting Chair in International Studies and Political Science, where he taught VMI’s first-ever course on “Politics of the Arabian Peninsula.”

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Fellow Nawaf Al-Thani Visits West Point

Posted on February 28, 2023 by NCUSAR

In early February, National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani visited the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York (USMA at West Point), with a delegation of Council leaders. During the visit, Sheikh Nawaf met with academy cadets, faculty, and leaders and also spoke to a class of cadets. Joining Sheikh Nawaf in the Council delegation were Board Member Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk, a former West Point foreign language instructor and a former Senior U.S. Department of Defense official serving in the GCC region; Senior International Affairs Fellow Colonel (Ret.) David Des Roches, a member of the USMA West Point Class of 1986 and currently a Professor at the U.S. National Defense University; together with Council Executive Vice President Patrick Mancino.

While visiting the United States Military Academy at West Point, National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani met with academy leaders including the Dean of the Academic Board Brigadier General Shane Reeves.

(Left) National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani and the Council’s delegation met with select West Point cadets, including a cadet from Qatar. (Right) Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani addresses a class of West Point cadets.

U.S.-Arab Relations Defense Dimensions [2022 Arab-US Policymakers Conference]

Posted on November 2, 2022 by NCUSAR

The 31st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, Arab-U.S. Uncertainties: What Lies Ahead?, convened at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., on November 2-3, 2022. These are some of the conference proceedings.

“U.S.-Arab Relations Defense Dimensions: Missiles, Proxies, Mines, Drones, and More”

Featuring:

Sheikh Nawaf bin Mubarak bin Saif Al-Thani – National Council Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow; former Defense Attaché of Qatar to the United States; former Official Spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Defense.

Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk – National Council Board of Directors Member; former Senior Military Advisor to U.S. Department of State; former U.S. Defense and Army Attach´ to Saudi Arabia; HyphenPoint LLC Founding Principal.

Mr. David Des Roches – U.S. Department of Defense National Defense University Near East/South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Associate Professor; National Council Senior International Affairs Fellow.

The Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference is the signature annual symposium organized and administered by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations.

Nawaf bin Mubarak bin Saif Al-Thani Joins National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations as Fellow

Posted on October 4, 2022 by NCUSAR

Washington, D.C.: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org] is pleased to announce that Sheikh Nawaf bin Mubarak bin Saif Al-Thani has been named a Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow. Serving in a personal capacity and offering his own individual views, Sheikh Nawaf joins a group of respected individuals who further the National Council’s educational, bridge-building mission through their scholarship and analysis. The Council’s Fellows and Scholars do not have a governing role in the organization. They contribute strategic support through their cutting-edge insights, research, and understanding of the complex global challenges facing Americans and Arabs alike.

A man in a suit and tie with a lapel pin showing the flag of Qatar

Sheikh Nawaf bin Mubarak bin Saif Al-Thani is the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations first Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony remarked, “We are honored that Sheikh Nawaf Al-Thani has accepted our invitation to join the Council as its first Distinguished International Defense Affairs Fellow. His record of public service is extensive, and the Council will benefit from his ability to provide critical frames of reference on defense and strategic issues in the Gulf too often absent in regional analyses. We look forward to sharing what he has to offer. Having the opportunity to benefit from Sheikh Nawaf’s views on geo-strategic issues will be very valuable for the Council as we work to continuously improve, strengthen, and expand our U.S.-Arab relations leadership development and educational efforts.”

Accepting his appointment, Sheikh Nawaf noted that he was “honored” to receive the National Council’s invitation. He added, “I have always appreciated Dr. Anthony’s vision and the Council’s mission. As I am pursuing my academic and research interests in the field of small state security I find it of great relevance to add a voice that represents the Arab and Gulf region that focuses on defense and security through the lens of research and the support of academe. The Council, with its reputation and resources, offers an excellent platform for me to contribute to the academic discourse.”

National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President & CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony (left) with Sheikh Nawaf bin Mubarak bin Saif Al-Thani (right) at the National Council’s office in Washington, D.C.

Sheikh Nawaf has served in Qatar’s Armed Forces since 1996, including as the former Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché of Qatar to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in the rank of Brigadier General as well as the former Official Spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Defense. He has an extensive background working with Qatar’s friends, partners, and allies, and has been a leader pioneering new roles through the growth and development of the Qatar Armed Forces. In recognition of his service, he has received numerous distinguished commendations and citations from the Qatar Armed Forces along with several NATO militaries and multinational organizations. Sheikh Nawaf has also been a columnist for Al-Arab and Al Raya daily newspapers (Qatar), and a lecturer at various institutions including Georgetown University. He holds a Master’s Degree from King’s College London and is currently a pursuing his PhD research at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom.

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations: Founded in 1983 and based in Washington, D.C., the National Council is an American non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization. The Council pursues its educational mission through a diverse array of programs, projects, events, and activities. Each is dedicated to enhancing American awareness and appreciation of the extraordinary benefits that the United States has long derived from its special relationships with countries in the Arab region – and vice versa.

At the center of the National Council’s efforts to advance American knowledge and understanding of Arab culture, societal dynamics, and systems of governance – and the nature and extent of their impact on U.S. national security, economic, and related interests – are the Council’s flagship education, training, and leadership development programs. These are designed to elevate the leadership skills and empirical Arab-centric educational experiences of the emerging generation of young Americans and Arabs. Upon their shoulders will rest the responsibility for ensuring that the relationships between the American and Arab peoples are continuously deepened, improved, and sustained far into the future.

Information about the Council can be found at ncusar.org.