Expert from Washington D.C. to discuss the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia

“Palace intrigue and regional war could complicate the budding romance between Riyadh and the Trump administration,” says Simon Henderson, Persian Gulf expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, April 3, Mr. Henderson discusses, “Shifts in the Sand: U.S.-Saudi Relations” the final program of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s Great Decisions Global Discussion Series.

Mr. Henderson explains the complicated internal politics within Saudi Arabia and what that means for the U.S. While Saudi Arabia regards itself as the leader of the Islamic world, a leader of the Arab world, and a leader of the energy world, it has had a tense relationship with the U.S. With President Trump now in office, will there be a “reset” of relations between the two countries?

Mr. Henderson is the Baker fellow and director of the Gulf and Energy Policy Program at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf. A former journalist with Financial Times, Mr. Henderson became an associate of the Institute in 1999 and joined the staff in 2006. He started his career with the British Broadcasting Corporation before joining the Financial Times. His experience includes serving as a foreign correspondent in Pakistan in 1977-78, and reported from Iran during the 1979 Islamic revolution and seizure of the U.S. embassy.

He writes and appears frequently in the media discussing the internal political dynamics of the House of Saud, energy developments, events in the Gulf, and Pakistan's nuclear program.

Great Decisions highlights the most critical global topics each year as chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City. The World Affairs Council brings experts to West Michigan to discuss all eight topics. Presented Monday evenings at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center, the series concludes April 3. For information on previous speakers in the series, visit: http://www.worldmichigan.org/great-decisions-2017.

In existence since 1949, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries and cultures of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues. The Council is non-partisan and speakers’ views do not necessarily reflect the Council’s. The Council welcomes the opportunity to be a platform where major global issues can be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

With 60 member companies and almost 3,000 members, it has grown from being a small volunteer Council to a mid-size Council with a professional staff. It is one of the most active, growing Councils in the national network of 100 World Affairs Councils.