Dear Colleague,
This past week, our work has focused on two very different instances in which policymakers are struggling to revise and modernize their policies in response to new pressures.
In the Gulf, as the Houthi offensive continues and as the Iran war rekindles, longstanding bilateral defense partnerships are faltering and efforts to establish new collective security arrangements have so far failed to prevent further escalation.
In the domain of sanctions policy, efforts to modernize U.S. sanctions have lagged their increased use, and concurrent policy moves, such as cuts to foreign aid, have compounded unintended effects, such as humanitarian consequences.
What these disparate cases show is that all policies have their own inertia. Changing course can be incredibly difficult, even when there is an obvious reason why a new approach might be needed. We are interested in understanding how this inertia can be overcome, enabling the implementation of better policy, whatever the context.
Please click the headings below to access the related articles.
Best regards,
Layla Saghafian
Engagement Coordinator
In a new article commissioned by the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, professor of international politics Khalid Al-Jufairi argues that renewed Houthi attacks have exposed the limits of Saudi Arabia’s expanding defense partnerships, particularly the reliance on American deterrence. While the recent Mecca Pact with Turkey and Pakistan exemplifies a commitment to collective defense, the triggers for military intervention remain unclear. Al-Jufairi emphasizes that lasting security requires a negotiated framework addressing the Houthis’ military capabilities and leverage around Bab al-Mandab. The central challenge for Riyadh is the task of leveraging its security partnerships to support a negotiated settlement that mitigates the need for further escalation.
In an article for Rutba, Bourse & Bazaar Foundation Senior Fellow Khalifa Al Suwaidi argues that the Iran war has exposed the limits of Gulf states’ reliance on bilateral arrangements with Washington and Tehran to shield them from regional conflict. He calls for closer cooperation among the six GCC states and Jordan through targeted intelligence sharing, coordinated use of their economic influence, and a common position on any regional settlement. He also argues that Washington has treated the Gulf’s exposure to attacks as a bargaining chip. Gulf states, he emphasizes, must have a direct voice in negotiations shaping their security, beyond their roles as mediators, hosts, or sources of financing.
In a new explainer for The Sanctions Age, former Treasury Department official Alex Zerden argues that the Trump administration’s sanctions modernization efforts have made some progress but remain limited and lack a clear overall strategy. He contrasts the broad removal of sanctions on Syria with more limited relief in Venezuela, showing how these decisions remain tied to the administration’s foreign policy priorities in each country. He calls for more staff and resources dedicated to delisting, alongside safeguards to prevent political influence and corruption in the sanctions relief process. Zerden also emphasizes the need for the Treasury Department to clearly explain its modernization strategy to businesses, civil society groups, and foreign governments.
Cuts to aid are compounding the effects of sanctions and weakening protections for civilians.
In an article for the Journal of International Humanitarian Action, Sara Moussavi, a member of the Bologna Initiative for Sanctions Relief, argues that withdrawing aid can act as an additional form of economic pressure on sanctioned countries. Drawing on Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, she examines how unclear regulations, banks’ reluctance to process permitted transactions, and reductions in assistance restrict humanitarian operations. She calls for clearer, more consistent humanitarian exemptions and practical support to ensure aid can reach those who need it, warning that “sanctions and aid cuts risk becoming mutually reinforcing attacks on civilian survival.”
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