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Thursday, October 1, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. / Eastern Time
Registration is NOT REQUIRED to view the program.
Submit questions to the specialists: questions@ncusar.org
Background and Context
Please join the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) for a conversation with two influential minds in international security and strategy on Middle East geopolitics.
His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal—the former chief of Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence Directorate, a seasoned diplomat, and the KFCRIS Chairman—will provide insights into how the Gulf views the ongoing war, the unique security anxieties driving contemporary sovereign decisions, and the delicate diplomatic maneuvers being employed behind the scenes to mitigate further escalation and regional devastation.
General David Petraeus—former CIA director, retired U.S. Army four-star general, and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute—will offer his unparalleled tactical, operational, and strategic assessment and analyze current U.S. military posture, regional deterrence efficacy, and the systemic risks of a broader multi-theater escalation.
Beyond the theater of war, their discussion will explore how the current conflict is altering oil production schedules and global energy markets, threatening vital maritime transit chokepoints like the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, and unsettling international financial markets.
They will also discuss the fiscal resilience of U.S. and Gulf economies and the broader supply chain fallout threatening global trade stability amid prolonged maritime insecurity. A dedicated focus of the event will be the importance of the Mecca Agreement, what it is and what it is not.
This timely conversation promises to be a master class in geopolitics and an essential briefing for understanding the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Moderator:
- Dr. Abderrahim Foukara, Distinguished Fellow for U.S.-Arab Affairs and Media Leadership, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Former Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera | Bio
Speakers:
- HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and to the United States; Former Saudi Arabian General Intelligence Directorate Director General | Bio
- Gen. David Petraeus (U.S. Army Retired), Partner, KKR; Chairman, Global Institute; Chairman, KKR Middle East; Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency | Bio