Beyond Arms Sales: Recalibrating US Security Assistance in the Gulf

Since his inauguration, President Joe Biden has put a hold on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, sanctioned Saudi officials for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and pledged to end US support for Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen. Taken together, these measures indicate that the administration is recalibrating the relationship between the US and its Gulf partners. Frederic Wehrey, a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program and former U.S. Air Force officer with tours across the Middle East, joins Laura to discuss a rethink of security assistance in the Persian Gulf. The two also discuss how Fred’s experiences on the ground in Libya and Iraq have shaped his outlook on US military support in the region. Read more from Fred:“How Joe Biden Can Rein in Donald Trump’s Reckless Middle East Policy,” in Politiico“‘Our Hearts Are Dead.’ After 9 Years of Civil War, Libyans Are Tired of Being Pawns in a Geopolitical Game of Chess,” in Time“China's Balancing Act in Libya,” in Lawfare