Ambassador Michael Ratney served for over three decades as a distinguished U.S. diplomat and has been at the center of high-profile diplomatic initiatives throughout the Middle East. Prior to serving as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ratney served as the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Israel in 2021, where he was responsible for conduct of U.S. diplomacy with Israel, as well as diplomatic engagement with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. From 2015 to 2017, he served as the U.S. special envoy for Syria where he was responsible for U.S. relations with the Syrian opposition and led diplomatic engagements on Syria with partners in Europe and the Middle East, as well as ceasefire negotiations with Russia. Ratney speaks Arabic and French, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and earned a BS from Boston University and an MA from George Washington University.

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Beyond Oil: Vision 2030 at Ten

This installment of Charting the Middle East explores the progress Saudi Arabia has made in diversifying its economy 10 years after the launch of Vision 2030.

Newsletter by Michael Ratney — July 15, 2026

Saudi Vision 2030 at Ten

Ten years after its launch, Vision 2030 remains Saudi Arabia's roadmap for resilience. The Iran war reinforced—not weakened—the case for economic diversification, with AI, digital infrastructure, and strategic adaptation now central to the kingdom's long-term ambitions.

Brief by Michael Ratney and Adel Hamaizia — July 6, 2026

State of Play

Trump's Iran Deal: What Comes Next?

U.S. and Iran announce a framework deal with a 60‑day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. CSIS experts analyze its winners, challenges ahead, and its impact on the Middle East.

Podcast Episode by CSIS Scholars — June 15, 2026

Photo: iLab/CSIS
Audio Briefs

How Does Saudi Arabia See the War with Iran?

An audio version of "⁠How Does Saudi Arabia See the War with Iran?⁠," a new Commentary by CSIS's Michael Ratney. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Michael Ratney — March 18, 2026

Audio Briefs