This crucial conversation examines the trajectory of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East following President Trump’s landmark visit to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha in May 2025. The discussion reflects on the outcomes of the trip, focusing on economic engagement, strategic cooperation, and points of political alignment and divergence. Featuring HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal and former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, the dialogue provides high-level insights into the evolving dynamics of this critical partnership in a shifting global landscape. Facilitated by Adel Hamaizia, Harvard Belfer Center MEI.
His Royal Highness Prince Turki AlFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal is the founder and trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. HRH AlFaisal was appointed advisor at the Royal Court in 1973. In 1977, HRH AlFaisal was appointed director-general of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID), Saudi Arabia’s main foreign intelligence service, with the rank of Minister, and headed the GID until 2001. In 2002, HRH AlFaisal was appointed Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK and the Republic of Ireland. HRH AlFaisal served in the position until 2005 when he was appointed Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States. He retired in 2007.
Ambassador Michael Ratney
Ambassador Ratney served for over three decades as a US diplomat, most recently as the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He served as the US consul general in Jerusalem, as the chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy to Israel, as well as in Baghdad, Beirut, Casablanca, Doha, Mexico City, Tunis, Bridgetown, and Washington, DC. Throughout his career, Ambassador Ratney has been at the center of high-profile diplomatic initiatives throughout the Middle East, including as US special envoy for Syria. He taught leadership at the National Defense University in Washington, and was dean of the State Department’s School of Language Studies. Ambassador Ratney speaks Arabic and French, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and earned degrees from Boston University and George Washington University.
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Mr. Hamaizia is the managing director at London-based Highbridge Advisory, a strategic boutique advisory focused on information advantage, risk mitigation, policy development and implementation for companies and governments working in the Middle East, the Balkans, and Africa. Mr. Hamaizia is also a research fellow at the Belfer Center’s Middle East Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School. He is currently a senior advisor at the Milken Institute, and a non-resident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East programs. Mr. Hamaizia was previously the Committee Vice-Chairman of the Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum (OxGAPS) where he was the co-founder and the co-editor of OxGAPS’ thematic-quarterly, “Gulf Affairs”.