Associate Fellows
Aziz Alghashian is a researcher from Saudi Arabia who focuses on the kingdom’s foreign policy strategies. He is a Senior Research fellow of geopolitics and the Director of Research of ORF-Middle East. He is known, in particular, as a specialist for Saudi-Israeli as well as for Arab-Israeli relations. Aziz joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he underwent Officer Training, before obtaining his undergraduate degree in International Relations and Global Security at Nottingham Trent University, followed by an MA degree in Diplomacy and International Relations.
Aziz has taken his specific research focus on Saudi-Israeli relations to the next level by starting a PhD program at the University of Essex, examining the nuances of Saudi Arabia’s policies towards Israel. Over the years, he has gained vast teaching experience by conceptualizing lectures on Middle East Politics, International Relations of the Middle East, Theories and Concepts of International Relations, and Political Theory. From 2019-2021, Aziz was appointed as a lecturer of International Relations at the University of Essex. Alongside his research work, Aziz is a regular participant of various track-2 dialogue initiatives. He is invited frequently to provide analysis on current Saudi affairs in Saudi and international media.
international relations of the Middle East; geopolitics of the Gulf region; Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy; Saudi-Israeli relations; Arab-Israeli conflict; international relations and political theory
(2024): ‘What does Saudi Arabia’s position on Palestinian state signal to US, Israel?’, in: Al-Monitor. Available online.
& Ali Bakir (2024): ‘Why is the Saudi-Iran pact withstanding the Gaza War?’, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Available online.
(2024): ‘The Saudi tool for Middle East stability. Vision 2030 reshapes relations with Iran and Israel’, in: Eleonora Ardemagni (ed.): The Security Side of Gulf Visions. Adapting Defense to the Connectivity Age, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, pp. 115-121. Available online.
(2024): ‘As Netanyahu stalls, can Saudis, US internationalize peace framework?’, in: Al-Monitor. Available online.
(2024): ‘Exaggerations, obstacles and opportunities. The Saudi Arabian position in the Gaza war”, in: Mitvim. Available online.
