DOCSLIB.ORG

Asan Report Saudi Arabia in 2030 the Emergence of a New Leadership

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Asan Report Saudi Arabia in 2030 the Emergence of a New Leadership Asan Report Saudi Arabia in 2030 The Emergence of a New Leadership Joseph A. Kéchichian August 2019 About Author The Asan Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, non-partisan think tank Joseph A. Kéchichian with the mandate to undertake policy-relevant research to foster domestic, regional, and Dr. Joseph A. Kéchichian is Senior Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research & international environments conducive to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the CEO of Kéchichian & Associates, East Asia, and the world-at-large. LLC, a consulting partnership that provides analysis on the Arabian/Persian Gulf region, specializing in the domestic and regional concerns of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Yemen. He held the post of Senior Writer with the Dubai-based Gulf News between 1 January 1995 and 31 August 2017, and served as the Honorary Consul of the Sultanate of Oman in Los The King Faisal Center for Research and Angeles, California, between 2006 and 2011. Islamic Studies Kéchichian received his doctorate in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1985, where he also taught (1986-1988), and assumed the assistant deanship in Established in 1983, the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) international studies (1988-1989). Between 1990 and 1996, he labored at the Santa aims at supporting and developing research and studies that spread King Faisal’s vision Monica-based RAND Corporation as an Associate Political Scientist, and was a and expand knowledge on topics such as Islamic studies, politics, sociology and heritage. lecturer at the University of California in Los Angeles. The author of fifteen published books, his latest titles areThe Attempt to Uproot Sunni- Arab Influence: A Geo-Strategic Analysis of the Western, Israeli and Iranian Quest for Disclaimer Domination [A translation of Istihdaf Ahl al-Sunna (Targeting Sunnis), by Nabil Khalifé], Sussex Academic Press, January 2017; From Alliance to Union: Challenges Facing Gulf Cooperation Council States in the Twenty-First Century, Sussex, 2016; ‘Iffat Al Thunayan: An Views and opinions contained herein are the author’s and should not be attributed to Arabian Queen, Sussex, 2015; Legal and Political Reforms in Sa‘udi Arabia, Routledge, any officials affiliated with the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, 2013; as well as the forthcoming The Arab Nationalist Advisor: Yusuf Yassin of Sa‘udi any Saudi Arabian national, or the Government of Saudi Arabia. The author is solely Arabia. responsible for any errors that remain in the document. For practical purposes, and with minor exceptions, the research scope stops on 31 December 2018. Table of Contents Chapter 3. Regional and Global Trials 79 Acknowledgements 08 American Challenges 80 Ties with the United States of America: The Obama Terms 81 A Note on Transliteration 10 Ties with the United States of America: The Donald Trump Juggernaut 102 “Together We Prevail” 111 Preface 12 Relations After the Khashoggi Affair 114 Ties with Russia 119 Introduction 18 Ties with Asian Powers 124 The Islamic Republic of Pakistan 125 Methodology 20 The Republic of India 128 The People’s Republic of China 130 Chapter 1. Succession and Primogeniture 23 The Republic of Korea 136 King Salman Changes the Succession Mechanism 28 Ties with Europe 142 Muhammad bin Nayif as Heir Apparent 32 Relations with the United Kingdom 142 Muhammad bin Salman as Heir Apparent 33 Relations with France 145 Ties with the Arab World 149 Chapter 2. The Quest for Consolidation 41 Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring 151 Internal Challenges 42 The GCC and the Qatar Crisis 153 Potential Remedies and Economic Transformations 49 The GCC Defense Challenge 160 The Vital Role of the Religious Establishment 54 The War for Yemen 161 A Necessary Update of the Kingdom’s Legal Conundrum 66 Ties with Iran and the Threat from the Revolution 163 Chapter 4. The Consequences of the Khashoggi Affair 173 List of Figures Disturbing Developments that Targeted Saudi Arabia 176 Objective Muhammad bin Salman 179 2 October 2018 181 Figures 1. King of Saudi Arabia: Salman bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al Sa‘ud 30 The Khashoggi Assassination 188 Figures 2. Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family Tree 37 The Mysterious Khashoggi 200 Figures 3. Government Revenue and Expenditure in Saudi Arabia, 46 2010-2018 Chapter 5. Succession in Saudi Arabia after the Khashoggi Affair 203 Figures 4. Saudi Arabia Vision 2030: Key Goals and Themes 53 The Initial Aftermath 204 Figures 5. The Qa‘abah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah 58 Focus on Muhammad bin Salman Before 2 October 2018 206 Figures 6. Saudi Arabia Granted Women the Right to Drive 70 Fallout of Recent Events on Succession Matters 209 Figures 7. King Salman and President Obama 83 Sophisticated Speculations 212 Figures 8. Heir Apparent Muhammad bin Salman and President 105 Succession after the Khashoggi Affair 214 Trump The Evolving Aftermath 217 Figures 9. United States Arms Exports, 2018 112 Figures 10. Arms Imports by Saudi Arabia, 2018 112 Chapter 6. Succession and Rule 225 Figures 11. King Salman and President Xi Jinping 133 King Salman’s Rule and Leadership Preferences 227 Figures 12. Heir Apparent Muhammad bin Salman and President 138 Muhammad bin Salman Becoming King 232 Moon Jae-in Muhammad bin Salman Appoints Heir 240 Figures 13. Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, 2019 157 Speculation on Rule until 2030 242 Figures 14. Jamal Khashoggi 183 08 09 Acknowledgments At the outset, this report was intended to be a follow-up to my 2015 Succession Challenges Sa‘ud al-Sarhan, have encouraged me as well and I thank both doctors for their in the Arab Gulf Monarchies, which was published as an Asan Institute Report in unwavering support. It is rare to find a true center of research in the Arab World December 2015 [http://en.asaninst.org/contents/succession-challenges-in-the-arab- and I am delighted to be associated with one. gulf-monarchies/], and was well received in both its original English version as well as the Korean transliteration. Dramatic changes over the course of three short years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia necessitated a rewrite of various sections of my original essay, and I sincerely thank the Asan Institute for Policy Studies for this expanded publication opportunity. As a frequent guest in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, I am privileged to be associated with one of the world’s leading think-tanks, and those who attend, and/or participate in, the annual Asan Plenum will vouch that it is one of the most meaningful such assemblies anywhere. My sincere appreciation goes to Dr. Ji-Hyang Jang, a Senior Fellow at Asan as well as the Director of its Middle East and North Africa Center, for shepherding the first two drafts of the report through the vetting process. Dr. Jang is one of those rare Asian colleagues who know the Muslim World—where she travels frequently—and can separate the wheat from the chaff. It is always a pleasure to exchange notes with this premier researcher. Her research associate, Ahrum Yoo, deserves special accolades too as she took the draft manuscripts and navigated them through their various editing stages. Mercifully, Ahrum caught several key errors, for which she has my gratitude. Sang-hwa Hong, a research associate, and Ji-eun Song, a program officer, proved tireless as well in various production steps, and I am obliged for their assistance. In Riyadh, I extend my sincere thanks to HRH Prince Turki al-Faisal, who has read the manuscript and offered his legendary comments—without changing anything. Prince Turki is that exceptional member of the ruling family who encourages all of us working at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies to rise above short-term insularities and delve in pure academic investigations. His Director of Research, Prince Abdullah bin Khalid Al Sa‘ud and the KFCRIS Secretary-General, 10 11 A Note on Transliteration This study follows the same transliteration methodologies adopted in all of my previous Al al-Shaykh, or “House of the Shaykh,” as his descendants are called. Yet, I use ‘Abdallah academic publications, based on a modified version of the Library of Congress (LC) rather than ‘Abdullah throughout this text because it comes as close as possible to transliteration system. Although rendering Arabic words and names into English is Library of Congress and International Journal of Middle East Studies protocols, and it is nearly impossible, I rely on LC protocols, along with the style used by the International a more accurate transliteration from the Arabic, instead of from the Urdu used in Journal of Middle East Studies (IJMES) to offer solid versions. For practical purposes, all Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere. diacritical marks for long vowels and velarized consonants are eliminated, except for the hamza (’) and the ayn (‘). Moreover, variations in common names, including the Arabic speakers will know the correct references and while special care was devoted commonly rendered Mohammed or Riad in English, are transliterated as Muhammad to standardize the spellings of transliterated words, there are—inevitably—a few and Riyadh. Mecca, still used in some sources, is dropped for the more accurate Makkah, inconsistencies that, I trust, readers will understand and forgive any linguistic transgressions. which is also the official adaptation. All quotations that referred to specific spellings were not tampered with, including “Sheik” or “Shaikh” instead of the correct transliteration of Shaykh—according to LC and IJMES protocols. In modern Arabic, even when using standard pronunciation, the feminine -ah is often ignored, with the h usually silent and not recorded. Consequently, we see it as -a, like in fatwa, Shi‘a, Shari‘a or even ‘Ulama.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter Ii Foreign Policy Foundation of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia Relations with Several International Organizations
    CHAPTER II FOREIGN POLICY FOUNDATION OF SAUDI ARABIA AND SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS WITH SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS This chapter discusses the foreign policy foundation of Saudi Arabia including the general introduction about the State of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia political system, the ruling family, Saudi’s Arabia foreign policy. This chapter also discusses the Saudi Arabia relations with several international organizations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country that has many roles, well in the country of the Arabian Peninsula as well as the global environment. The country that still adhere this royal system reserves and abundant oil production as the supporter, the economy of their country then make the country to be respected by the entire of international community. Regardless of the reason, Saudi Arabia also became the Qibla for Muslims around the world because there are two of the holiest city which is Mecca and Medina, at once the birth of Muslim civilization in the era of Prophet Muhammad SAW. A. Geography of Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country located in Southwest Asia, the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, bordering with the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, as well as Northern Yemen. The extensive coastlines in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea provide a great influence on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The Kingdom occupies 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Estimates of the Saudi government are at 2,217,949 15 square kilometres, while other leading estimates vary between 2,149,690 and 2,240,000 kilometres.
    [Show full text]
  • United Arab Emirates
    FREEDOM ON THE NET 2016 United Arab Emirates 2015 2016 Population: 9.2 million Not Not Internet Freedom Status Internet Penetration 2015 (ITU): 91 percent Free Free Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Obstacles to Access (0-25) 14 14 Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Limits on Content (0-35) 22 22 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Violations of User Rights (0-40) 32 32 TOTAL* (0-100) 68 68 Press Freedom 2016 Status: Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2015 – May 2016 • Authorities issued blocking orders against several overseas news websites over the past year, including Middle East Eye, The New Arab, and al-Araby al-Jadeed for unfavorable coverage of the country’s human rights abuses. Two Iran-based news sites were also blocked in a reflection of mounting tensions between the two countries (seeBlocking and Filtering). • A July 2015 law designed to combat discrimination and hate speech also outlines jail terms of six months to over 10 years and fines from US$ 14,000-550,000 for online posts deemed to insult “God, his prophets, apostles, holy books, houses of worship, or grave- yards” (see Legal Environment). • In June 2015, Nasser al-Faresi was sentenced to three years in jail for tweets found to have insulted the Federal Supreme Court and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. The court convicted him of “spreading rumors and information that harmed the country” (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Academic and activist Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith was arrested and held incommunicado until April 2016, when it was announced he was held on numerous charges, including “com- mitting a hostile act against a foreign state” for tweets that criticized Egypt’s treatment of political detainees (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities).
    [Show full text]
  • The Destruction of Religious and Cultural Sites I. Introduction The
    Mapping the Saudi State, Chapter 7: The Destruction of Religious and Cultural Sites I. Introduction The Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da’wah, and Guidance, commonly abbreviated to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MOIA), supervises and regulates religious activity in Saudi Arabia. Whereas the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) directly enforces religious law, as seen in Mapping the Saudi State, Chapter 1,1 the MOIA is responsible for the administration of broader religious services. According to the MOIA, its primary duties include overseeing the coordination of Islamic societies and organizations, the appointment of clergy, and the maintenance and construction of mosques.2 Yet, despite its official mission to “preserve Islamic values” and protect mosques “in a manner that fits their sacred status,”3 the MOIA is complicit in a longstanding government campaign against the peninsula’s traditional heritage – Islamic or otherwise. Since 1925, the Al Saud family has overseen the destruction of tombs, mosques, and historical artifacts in Jeddah, Medina, Mecca, al-Khobar, Awamiyah, and Jabal al-Uhud. According to the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, between just 1985 and 2014 – through the MOIA’s founding in 1993 –the government demolished 98% of the religious and historical sites located in Saudi Arabia.4 The MOIA’s seemingly contradictory role in the destruction of Islamic holy places, commentators suggest, is actually the byproduct of an equally incongruous alliance between the forces of Wahhabism and commercialism.5 Compelled to acknowledge larger demographic and economic trends in Saudi Arabia – rapid population growth, increased urbanization, and declining oil revenues chief among them6 – the government has increasingly worked to satisfy both the Wahhabi religious establishment and the kingdom’s financial elite.
    [Show full text]
  • Mohammed Bin Salman Doesn't Want to Talk About Jerusalem by Robert Satloff
    MENU Policy Analysis / Articles & Op-Eds Mohammed bin Salman Doesn't Want to Talk About Jerusalem by Robert Satloff Dec 14, 2017 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Robert Satloff Robert Satloff is executive director of The Washington Institute, a post he assumed in January 1993. Articles & Testimony Saudi Arabia's rulers have lots of worries, but Trump's announcement about the holy city isn't one of them. audi Arabia, the protector of Islam and home to its two holiest sites, is a good place to judge the impact of S President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on U.S. interests in the region. Set aside the reaction of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and their state sponsors in Tehran and Damascus. And the angry responses from the Palestinian Authority and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with its large and boisterous Palestinian population, were certainly to be expected. The real question is how America’s friends one step removed from the circle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would react. If there were a place one might reasonably expect to hear Muslims expressing thunderous outrage at the handing of Jerusalem to the Jews, it would be in the corridors of power in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. It didn’t happen. Last week, I was in Riyadh leading a delegation of more than 50 supporters and fellows of the Middle East think tank I direct. On Wednesday, just hours before the president made his Jerusalem announcement, we spent five hours in meetings with three different Saudi ministers, discussing everything from crises with Yemen, Qatar, and Lebanon, to the kingdom’s ambitious “Vision 2030” reform program, to the possible public offering of the state oil company Aramco.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia Reportedly Paid Twitter Employees to Spy on Users
    11/8/2019 Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue beyond Twitter - Business Insider Subscribe Saudi Arabia reportedly paid Twitter employees to spy on users. Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue that goes beyond Twitter. Aaron Holmes 21 hours ago Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right. Reuters US federal prosecutors have charged two former Twitter employees with spying on users on behalf of Saudi Arabia's government — and experts warn that it could happen again. https://www.businessinsider.com/cybersecurity-experts-say-insider-spying-is-an-issue-beyond-twitter-2019-11 1/5 11/8/2019 Cybersecurity experts say insider spying is an issue beyond Twitter - Business Insider Three cybersecurity experts told Business Insider about broader "insider threats," or the risk of surveillance and data breaches carried out by people employed by tech companies. The experts warned that tech companies should implement safeguards by addressing workplace culture, setting up ways to detect unusual behavior by employees, and more robustly protecting user data across the board. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Federal charges unsealed Wednesday allege that Saudi Arabia carried out a massive online spying operation, snooping on the accounts of more than 6,000 Twitter users — and prosecutors say the country did it with the help of two Twitter employees. Now, cybersecurity experts warn that similar "insider threats" could surface again if tech companies don't make a concerted eort to ward them o. Twitter responded to the federal charges Wednesday, saying the company was thankful for the investigation and would cooperate with future investigations.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia.Pdf
    A saudi man with his horse Performance of Al Ardha, the Saudi national dance in Riyadh Flickr / Charles Roffey Flickr / Abraham Puthoor SAUDI ARABIA Dec. 2019 Table of Contents Chapter 1 | Geography . 6 Introduction . 6 Geographical Divisions . 7 Asir, the Southern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �7 Rub al-Khali and the Southern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Hejaz, the Western Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 Nejd, the Central Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 The Eastern Region � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 Topographical Divisions . .. 9 Deserts and Mountains � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 Climate . .. 10 Bodies of Water . 11 Red Sea � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Persian Gulf � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Wadis � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Major Cities . 12 Riyadh � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �12 Jeddah � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �13 Mecca � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
    [Show full text]
  • ASD-Covert-Foreign-Money.Pdf
    overt C Foreign Covert Money Financial loopholes exploited by AUGUST 2020 authoritarians to fund political interference in democracies AUTHORS: Josh Rudolph and Thomas Morley © 2020 The Alliance for Securing Democracy Please direct inquiries to The Alliance for Securing Democracy at The German Marshall Fund of the United States 1700 18th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 T 1 202 683 2650 E [email protected] This publication can be downloaded for free at https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/covert-foreign-money/. The views expressed in GMF publications and commentary are the views of the authors alone. Cover and map design: Kenny Nguyen Formatting design: Rachael Worthington Alliance for Securing Democracy The Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), a bipartisan initiative housed at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, develops comprehensive strategies to deter, defend against, and raise the costs on authoritarian efforts to undermine and interfere in democratic institutions. ASD brings together experts on disinformation, malign finance, emerging technologies, elections integrity, economic coercion, and cybersecurity, as well as regional experts, to collaborate across traditional stovepipes and develop cross-cutting frame- works. Authors Josh Rudolph Fellow for Malign Finance Thomas Morley Research Assistant Contents Executive Summary �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Introduction and Methodology ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
    [Show full text]
  • Pluralism in Peril: Challenges to an American Ideal
    PLURALISM IN PERIL: CHALLENGES TO AN AMERICAN IDEAL IDEAL AMERICAN AN TO CHALLENGES PERIL: IN PLURALISM PLURALISM IN PERIL: CHALLENGES TO AN AMERICAN IDEAL Report of the Inclusive America Project Report of the Inclusive America Project the Report Inclusive of January 2018 • Washington, D.C. Steven D. Martin – National Council of Churches THE ASPEN INSTITUTE JUSTICE AND SOCIETY PROGRAM 11-024 PLURALISM IN PERIL: CHALLENGES TO AN AMERICAN IDEAL Report of the Inclusive America Project January 2018 • Washington, D.C. Meryl Justin Chertoff Executive Editor Allison K. Ralph Editor The ideas and recommendations contained in this report should not be taken as representing the views or carrying the endorsement of the organization with which the author is affiliated. The organizations cited as examples in this report do not necessarily endorse the Inclusive America Project or its aims. For all inquiries related to the Inclusive America Project, please contact: Zeenat Rahman Project Director, Inclusive America Project [email protected] Copyright © 2018 by The Aspen Institute The Aspen Institute 2300 N Street, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20037 Published in the United States of America in 2018 by The Aspen Institute All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 18/001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments ..............................................v Executive Editor’s Note .........................................vii Letter to the Reader . ix Introduction ...................................................1 PART 1: EMERGING
    [Show full text]
  • The Trump-Russia Collusion Case
    The Trump-Russia Collusion Case Updated to August 2020 Source: http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/trumptraitor.html For those who have been following this page for a while: my main target is not Trump, my target is Putin. Putin, not Trump, is the most dangerous person in the world. Trump is just a lackey, a small-time crook and bit-time liar whom Putin is using to attack the USA. The problem is not that there is no evidence of Trump-Putin collusion, the problem is that there is too much of it. I have added some background about the motive of Russia's interference in US politics. In my opinion, it was not only a general attempt at undermining US institutions (that came later) but originally it was a determined effort to make sure that Hillary Clinton did not become president. Putin feared her more than anyone else. For those who have NOT followed this page from the beginning: this website was one of the first to talk about the Trump-Russia collusion at a time when few dared mention the Steele dossier. Just to be very clear: this is not about whether Russia's interference changed the results of the election (i personally think that the FBI investigation into Clinton's email server had a much bigger impact). It is about Putin's strategy to attack the USA, and, secondly, it is about the extent of Trump's collaboration with Putin. And, just to be fair, Putin's Russia is not the only country that ever interfered in US politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Travel Risk Summaries
    COUNTRY RISK SUMMARIES Powered by FocusPoint International, Inc. Report for Week Ending September 19, 2021 Latest Updates: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India, Israel, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and Yemen. ▪ Afghanistan: On September 14, thousands held a protest in Kandahar during afternoon hours local time to denounce a Taliban decision to evict residents in Firqa area. No further details were immediately available. ▪ Burkina Faso: On September 13, at least four people were killed and several others ijured after suspected Islamist militants ambushed a gendarme patrol escorting mining workers between Sakoani and Matiacoali in Est Region. Several gendarmes were missing following the attack. ▪ Cameroon: On September 14, at least seven soldiers were killed in clashes with separatist fighters in kikaikelaki, Northwest region. Another two soldiers were killed in an ambush in Chounghi on September 11. ▪ India: On September 16, at least six people were killed, including one each in Kendrapara and Subarnapur districts, and around 20,522 others evacuated, while 7,500 houses were damaged across Odisha state over the last three days, due to floods triggered by heavy rainfall. Disaster teams were sent to Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts. Further floods were expected along the Mahanadi River and its tributaries. ▪ Israel: On September 13, at least two people were injured after being stabbed near Jerusalem Central Bus Station during afternoon hours local time. No further details were immediately available, but the assailant was shot dead by security forces. ▪ Mali: On September 13, at least five government soldiers and three Islamist militants were killed in clashes near Manidje in Kolongo commune, Macina cercle, Segou region, during morning hours local time.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Riyadh
    Saudi Arabia 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Riyadh This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Saudi Arabia. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Saudi Arabia country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private- sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Saudi Arabia at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to terrorism and the threat of missile and drone attacks on civilian targets. Do not travel to within 50 miles of the border with Yemen due to terrorism and armed conflict. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Riyadh as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Crime in Saudi Arabia has increased over recent years but remains at levels far below most major metropolitan areas in the United States. Criminal activity does not typically target foreigners and is mostly drug-related. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, Taking Credit, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, and Considerations for Hotel Security. Cybersecurity Issues The Saudi government continues to expand its cybersecurity activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi – Israeli Nexus
    ABOUT İRAM SAUDI – ISRAELI NEXUS: Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara is a non-prot research center IMPLICATIONS FOR IRAN dedicated to promoting innovative research and ideas on Iranian aairs. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research to produce up-to-date and accurate knowledge about Iran’s politics, economy and society. İRAM’s research agenda is guided by three key princi- ples – factuality, quality and responsibility. Arhama Siddiqa Muhammad Abbas Hassan Asad Ullah Khan Oğuzlar Mh. 1397. Sk. No: 14 06520 Çankaya, Balgat, Ankara, Turkey Phone: +90 312 284 55 02 - 03 Fax: +90 312 284 55 04 e-mail: [email protected] www.iramcenter.org All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the prior written permission of İRAM. Perspective May 2019 Copyright © 2019 Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara (İRAM). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be fully reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission from İRAM. For electronic copies of this publication, visit iramcenter.org. Partial reproduction of the digital copy is possibly by giving an active link to www.iramcenter.org The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of İRAM, its staff, or its trustees. For electronic copies of this report, visit www. iramcenter.org. Editor : Serhan Afacan Graphic Design : Hüseyin Kurt Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara Oğuzlar, 1397. St, 06520, Çankaya, Ankara / Türkiye Phone: +90 (312) 284 55 02-03 | Fax: +90 (312) 284 55 04 e-mail : [email protected] | www.iramcenter.org Saudi – Israeli Nexus: Implications for Iran Suudi – İsrail İlişkilerinin İran’a Etkileri روابط عربستان سعودی و اسرائیل و پیامدهای آن برای ایران Arhama Siddiqa Arhama Siddiqa is a Research Fellow at The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
    [Show full text]