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

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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.”

Weathering Chinese and Russian Competition in Arabia and the Gulf: Implications for United States Interests, Policies, and Strategy

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On March 8, 2023, the National Council convened an online briefing program on “Weathering Chinese and Russian Competition in Arabia and the Gulf: Implications for United States Interests, Policies, and Strategy.” The program explored implications for the region and the United States of evolving relationships between Russia, China, and countries in Arabia and the Gulf. The specialists examined how shifting strategic dynamics can be viewed through different sets of lenses.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Context Provider:

  • Dr. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO; Author, inter alia, of Arab States of The Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum.

Featured Specialists:

  • Mr. David H. Rundell, Author of Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads, Former Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations International Advisory Board Member.
  • Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller, Former United States Diplomat, and Consultant on Foreign Affairs and International Security.

Moderator:

  • Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member; Former U.S. Department of State Senior Military Advisor; Former U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia Defense and Army Attache; HyphenPoint LLC President.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“Weathering Chinese and Russian Competition in Arabia and the Gulf: Implications for United States Interests, Policies, and Strategy” podcast (.mp3)

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

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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.

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) 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.

The Strategic Importance of the Middle East and North Africa: The Strengths and Limits of Oil and Gas Wealth, and the Challenge of Climate Change

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On February 23, 2023, the National Council hosted an online briefing program examining Center for Strategic and International Studies Emeritus Chair in Strategy Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman’s recent report, “The Strategic Importance of the Middle East and North Africa: The Strengths and Limits of MENA Oil and Gas Wealth and the Challenge of Climate Change.” Dr. Cordesman highlighted some of the data in the report and discussed how geopolitical dynamics are shaping the region.

 

 

Joining the program were:

Featured Specialist:

  • Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies Emeritus Chair in Strategy; Formerly Served the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy, and State, and the White House National Security Council

Moderator:

  • Mr. 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.

Welcome:

  • Mr. Patrick Mancino, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Executive Vice President and Director of Development.

Audio and video recordings of the program are available above and below, and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere.

“The Strategic Importance of the Middle East and North Africa: The Strengths and Limits of Oil and Gas Wealth, and the Challenge of Climate Change” podcast (.mp3)

Visiting AlUla, Madain Saleh/Hegra, Tabuk, and NEOM: Heritage, Modernity, and Hospitality

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عربی AR

An Exploration of the Northwest Region of Saudi Arabia

Traveling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for nearly three months was a rich and beguiling experience.

Saudi Arabia is located in southwest Asia. It shares land borders with Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen; and maritime borders with Bahrain, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, and Sudan. Saudi Arabia’s land in 95% desert. Rub’ al Khali (also known as the Empty Quarter), the world’s largest continuous sand desert, occupies its south. The Kingdom’s population is over 35 million.

Location of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a globe

Saudi Arabia has mountains, beaches, coral reefs, grasslands, and forests. Its human history stretches back more than 7,000 years.

Saudi Arabia is the 13th largest nation in terms of land area. The United States is about five times bigger than the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is four times the size of France, Western Europe’s largest country.

Several times in the last decade, I travelled to the then-closed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the Executive Vice President at the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

In 2019, the Kingdom opened its doors and actively started encouraging tourism as part of its Vision 2030 strategic initiative. Increasing numbers of visitors are now discovering that Saudi Arabia is unexpectedly diverse. I couldn’t wait to return.

I departed New York City in the winter of 2022 for a stay in the Kingdom.

Map of Saudi Arabia

On a geological timescale, the Arabian Peninsula is young. It separated from the main African continent approximately 25 million years ago, creating the Red Sea. It is no surprise that Saudi Arabia’s desert has much in common with the Sahara. Indeed, the sands have the same orange coloration due to the presence of iron oxides.

A ten hour flight from New York’s JFK Airport landed me in Jeddah. A quick change of planes and a two-hour flight later, I reached Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport. My first destination was Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. I wanted to visit with my friends for a few days before heading out on my adventure.

For a week, I watched the splendor of the sunrise over the Gulf on Al Aziziyah beach.

sky glowing orange as the sun rises over trees and water

The mornings never disappointed.

Setting sun and moon in the sky above palm trees and water

The evenings did not disappoint either…

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زيارة العُلا، مدائن صالح / الحِجر، تبوك، ونيوم: التراث والحداثة والضيافة

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English

استكشاف المنطقة الشمالية الغربية من المملكة العربية السعودية

كانت تجربة السفر لما يقارب ثلاثة أشهر الى المملكة العربية السعودية تجربة ساحرة وثرية ومشبعة بالتراث العميق والعريق.

تقع المملكة العربية السعودية في الجنوب الغربي من قارة آسيا. تشترك في الحدود البرية مع العراق والأردن والكويت وعُمان وقطر والإمارات العربية المتحدة واليمن; وتتشارك الحدود البحرية مع البحرين ومصر وإريتريا وإيران والسودان. 95٪ من أرض المملكة العربية السعودية صحراء (المعروف باسم الربع الخالي) أكبر صحراء رملية متواصلة في العالم وتقع جنوب المملكة العربية السعودية. يبلغ عدد سكان المملكة العربية السعودية أكثر من 35 مليون نسمة.

Location of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a globe

تتمتع المملكة العربية السعودية بالجبال والشواطئ والشعاب المرجانية والمراعي والغابات. حيث يمتد تاريخها البشري إلى أكثر من 7000 عام.

تُعد المملكة العربية السعودية من أكبر دول الشرق الأوسط مساحة وهي تحتل المركز الثالث عشر من حيث مساحة الأرض. ولو نظرنا الى مساحة الولايات المتحدة الامريكية تُعتبر أكبر بخمس مرات من المملكة العربية السعودية. ايضاً، تُعتبر مساحة المملكة العربية السعودية أربعة أضعاف مساحه فرنسا التي تُعتبر أكبر دولة في أوروبا الغربية.

سافرت في الماضي عدة مرات إلى المملكة العربية السعودية التي كانت مغلقة آنذاك بصفتي نائب الرئيس التنفيذي في مؤسسة هانتسمان للسرطان.

في عام 2019 فتحت المملكة العربية السعودية أبوابها لتبدأ بنشاط في تشجيع السياحة كجزء من مبادرتها الإستراتيجية لرؤية 2030. تُشير الأعداد المتزايدة من الزوار إلى ان المملكة العربية السعودية اصبحت متنوعة بشكل لا يُصدق. لم اتحمل انتظار العودة.

غادرت مدينة نيويورك في شتاء عام 2022 للإقامة في المملكة.

Map of Saudi Arabia

تُعتبر شبه الجزيرة العربية حديثة العهد على النطاق الزمني الجيولوجي. فمنُذ ما يقرب من 25 مليون سنه انفصلت الجزيرة العربية عن القارة الافريقية، وأحدثت البحر الأحمر. ليس من المستغرب أن صحراء المملكة العربية السعودية تتشابه كثيراً مع الصحراء الكبرى في قارة افريقيا. فالرمال لها نفس اللون البرتقالي لاحتوائها على أكاسيد الحديد.

استغرقت رحلتي من مطار جون كنيدي بنيويورك الى مدينة جدة ما يقارب عشر ساعات وأربعون دقيقة بالطائرة. عندما وصلت كان هناك تغيير سريع للطائرات بسبب تغير خط سير الرحلة المتجهة الى مدينه الدمام وبعد ساعتين وصلت الى مطار الملك فهد بالدمام. وجهتي الاولى بالمملكة العربية السعودية كانت المنطقة الشرقية. اردت قضاء بعض الوقت للتأقلم على المنطقة الشرقية قبل الانطلاق في مغامرتي، ولمدة اسبوع شاهدت شروق الشمس المذهل على الخليج على شاطئ العزيزية.

sky glowing orange as the sun rises over trees and water

وقت الشروق مبهج.

Setting sun and moon in the sky above palm trees and water

حتى وقت الغروب مبهج ايضاً.

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Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League Spring 2023 Conferences

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A listing of Youth Leadership Development Program / Model Arab League Spring 2023 Conferences is available on the program’s website.

Egyptian Business and Parliamentary Leader Mohamed Abou El Enein Joins National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations International Advisory Board

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Washington, D.C.: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to announce that Egyptian business and parliamentary leader His Excellency Mohamed M. Abou El Enein has joined the National Council’s International Advisory Board. The Board provides strategic support to the Council’s Board of Directors together with its Founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony remarked, “We are honored that His Excellency Mohamed Abou El Enein has accepted our invitation to join the Council’s Advisory Board. The diversity of his successful endeavors in the commercial, public service, and philanthropic sectors serve as a testament to his future-focused analytical abilities. His Excellency is an accomplished ‘bridge builder’ who has advanced Egypt’s relationships and cooperation efforts in Africa, Europe, the United States, and beyond. He will be an extraordinarily valuable advisor and strategic conceptualizer as we work to continuously improve, strengthen, and expand the Council’s U.S.-Arab relations leadership development and cross-cultural educational efforts.”

man in suit speaks into a microphone at a podium

H.E. Mohamed M. Abou El Enein, Vice President of the Egyptian Parliament, Cleopatra Group Chairman and Founder, and Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Honorary President, has been a featured keynote speaker at several of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Annual Policymakers Conferences in Washington, D.C.

His Excellency Mohamed Abou El Enein is a businessperson, investor, and public servant. He has served in the Egyptian Parliament since 1995 and is currently the legislature’s Vice President. He previously served as Chairman of the Housing, Public Utilities, and Construction Committee from 2000 to 2005 and Chairman of the Industry and Energy Committee from 2005 to 2011. A dedicated philanthropist, His Excellency’s charitable foundation works to improve literacy, social development, and health services in Egypt.

As the Founder and Chairman of the Cleopatra Group, one of the largest investment companies in Egypt, His Excellency has led projects and commercial ventures throughout the country. His brand Ceramica Cleopatra is one of the world’s largest producers of ceramics, porcelain, and sanitary ware, and its products are exported to over 100 countries. The Cleopatra Group also has ventures in agriculture, mining, real estate, tourism, media, technology, and aviation.

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