Russell E. Lucas

The Saudi king presents Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud medal on May 20, 2017. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Trump, Saudi Arabia and yet another arms deal

Shared economic and security interests have kept Saudi Arabia and the US close over the decades despite dramatic differences in the way the two countries are governed.
Uneasy allies. U.S. President Obama with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

US–Saudi relations and the search for leverage

The U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia goes back to the 1930s. Here’s why recent uneasiness doesn’t mean it’s ending anytime soon.
In condemning terrorist attacks in Paris, French president Francois Hollande (center) used the term Da'ish to refer to Islamic State, a deliberate naming change. Reuters

Islamic State versus Da'ish or Daesh? The political battle over naming

The French term for ISIS – known as Da'ish or Daesh – has gathered more interest in the wake of the Paris attacks. Here’s why this battle of naming matters.

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