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Thursday, March 12, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. / Eastern Time
Registration is NOT REQUIRED to view the program.
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Background and Context
Following twelve days of intense military conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East may have fundamentally shifted. As Iran targets critical energy, aviation, and security and civilian infrastructure, Gulf states have been forced out of their strategic hedging postures and directly into the crosshairs of a regional war. This panel brings together leading diplomatic, political, and security analysts to break down the implications of this new reality. We will explore how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, and their neighbors are managing the delicate balance between maintaining some modicum of operational neutrality while facing serious threats to their security and economic visions. Topics will include an overview of the Middle East energy sector, the future of GCC-Iran relations and of U.S. military presence, and how GCC nations are adapting defensive strategies. With energy flows disrupted and diplomatic channels strained, our experts will discuss how the GCC can navigate the crisis to preserve regional order.
Moderator:
- Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, Former Washington D.C. Bureau Chief and Host of Min Washington, Al Jazeera | Bio
Featured Speakers:
- Mr. Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News, Saudi Arabia | Bio
- Amb. Michael Gfoeller, Independent Consultant on International Politics and Economics; Former Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Riyadh | Bio
- Mr. Norman T. Roule, Non-Resident Senior Adviser, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Former Iran Intelligence Manager Directorate of National Intelligence | Bio
- Mr. David H. Rundell, Author of Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads; Former Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy in Riyadh | Bio
- Dr. Sara Vakshouri, Center for Energy Security and Diplomacy Chair Institute for World Peace; Founder and President, SVB Energy International | Bio