Gulf Int'l Forum

We are excited to announce the Third Annual Gulf Studies Symposium will take place April 9–11, 2026 in Doha, Qatar. Workshop applications are open until August 15. The seven workshop themes are as follows: Geopolitics, Economy and Innovation, Governance and Reform, Defense and…

"Iran’s attempt to repair ties with Azerbaijan faces deep-rooted mistrust, growing Israeli influence, and Baku’s strategic pivot toward Turkey and the West." Read the full article from @BanafshKeynoush here: gulfif.org/bakus-distance…

New Dr. John Calabrese: "The #Iran-#Israel war thrust #China into a nuclear crossroads—testing its global leadership, challenging its strategic ambiguity, and redefining its regional role amid a collapsing nonproliferation regime." gulfif.org/ambiguity-no-m…

"Driven by the stakes of its own survival and economic future, #Qatar plays an outsized role in global mediation efforts—yet regional instability now could threaten its diversification plans, U.S. investments in Qatar, and #Doha’s financial commitments in the #UnitedStates."…

"Shared economic interests and strategic concerns make a strong #India-#UAE partnership more attractive than ever." Read the full article from @Dr_J_Calabrese here: gulfif.org/what-india-uae…

"#Pakistan has helped the #Gulf states secure their territories and build their militaries in return for handsome strategic rewards." Read the full article from @Umarkarim89 here: gulfif.org/the-evolving-n…

"Syria’s new government unravels Iran’s regional axis, offers the GCC fresh avenues for influence, and tilts the emerging Middle East order in favor of an increasingly assertive Turkey." Read the full article from @MahmoudianArman here: gulfif.org/damascus-reset…

"The #Gulf nations have long seen their classrooms as vehicles for generating patriotism—but also as hotbeds for threatening foreign ideologies." Read the full article from Dr. Hind Al Ansari here: gulfif.org/the-gccs-histo…

"Damascus needs funds, and the Gulf states need a stable Syria receptive to their interests." Read the full article from @fuadshahbazov here: gulfif.org/the-gulf-showe…

New Ameer Alsamman (@Ameerovve): "Iran’s position today increasingly resembles that of the Ottoman Empire in its final days—a barely functional state, held together by its neighbors who fear the anarchy that might result if it collapsed." gulfif.org/too-weak-to-di…

"The U.S. strikes on #Iran on June 22 may have set back #Tehran’s nuclear program, but they left the #GCC states to pick up the pieces—to salvage diplomacy, restore dialogue, and avert further escalation after missiles rained over #Doha." Read the full article from…

New Dr. @SamRamani2: "#SaudiArabia is leveraging its vast mineral wealth, global partnerships, and state-backed capital to position itself as a critical hub at a time when the rules of international trade are being rewritten." gulfif.org/mining-a-multi…

"While #Iran seeks to avoid full-scale war, it is prepared to endure a prolonged conflict—rejecting any imposed peace that threatens the Islamic Republic’s survival." Read Dr. @BanafshKeynoush's recent analysis: gulfif.org/tehrans-defens…

This week, in partnership with JIME-@IEEJ_Japan and @waseda_univ, we hosted a simulation workshop titled "Strategic Adaptations: Understanding GCC and Asian Reactions to Evolving Security Challenges" in Tokyo. The workshop focused on three timely and pressing case studies…

"The Splintering of the Axis of Resistance" Dr. Robert Mason discusses the fate of #Iran's Axis of Resistance after the confrontation with Israel. Read article here: gulfif.org/the-splinterin…

New Dr. Robert Mason: "#Iran’s regional proxy network may lose its benefactor, but these militant groups are more than capable of surviving on their own." Read article here: gulfif.org/the-splinterin…

At our expert panel discussion "Strategic Risks and Energy Market Impacts of the #Iran-#Israel Conflict on the #GCC and Global Economies," Dr. @justindargin breaks down the risks of a #HormuzStrait closure—and how #Gulf states might respond. Watch panel here:…

At our panel discussion "Strategic Risks and Energy Market Impacts of the #Iran–#Israel Conflict on the #GCC and Global Economies," @aliamoub on how potential prolonged instability could affect Gulf states' diversification strategies: "I think it won't derail them, but it could…

STARTING IN 20 MINUTES! Virtual panel on how the #Iran–#Israel confrontation is affecting global energy markets and #GCC economies. Featuring: @reziemba, @aliamoub, Dr. @justindargin, and Dr. Harold York. Live-stream link: youtube.com/watch?v=gjLZ_t…