CURRENT WORK
Iran
Events in Iran are often discussed, yet rarely understood. Foreign Reports has shown an ability to look beyond the bluster and bombast coming out of Iran and instead focus on what drives Iran’s leaders. Past reports have analyzed President Ahmadinejad’s unique economic policies, Iranian involvement in Iraq, the effects of sanctions, the trajectory of the nuclear file, the Iranian risk premium, Hassan Rouhani’s rise to the presidency, and Iran’s inability to sell the heavy sour crude from its Nowruz and Soroush fields. Since 2009, bulletins have explored divisions among Iran’s leadership as well as its strategic vision for the region.
Iraq
Major oil companies rely on Foreign Reports for their understanding of Iraqi politics, the status of its oil industry, and trends–both internal and international–that are now shaping the country’s future. Governments and financial institutions also depend on Foreign Reports to draw context from Iraq’s history while maintaining a keen eye on the present. This capacity is especially critical now, as the Iraqi government in Baghdad enjoys more sovereignty than it has in nearly a decade, with American troops having left at the end of 2011. A nuanced understanding of the personalities involved makes every bulletin on Iraq valuable.
Saudi Arabia
With extensive experience and contacts in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Reports is able to report with confidence on a country very few have access to or a deep understanding of. With the largest oil reserves, the highest level of oil production, and the greatest spare capacity, Saudi Arabia is an indispensable link in the global oil market and a power of major consequence for the region. Political and economic decisions made by the Kingdom are critical to world markets and Foreign Reports closely follows these developments. Past reports have addressed Saudi oil policies within the context of OPEC, succession scenarios, shifts in government portfolios, official views on oil pricing, and the development of the Kingdom’s Khurais and Khursaniyah fields.
The Arab Uprisings: 2011 and Beyond
In the wake of unrest which began in Tunisia and quickly unsettled governments around the region, the Middle East is changing, as are the dynamics shaping the oil market. Foreign Reports offers unique analysis on significant developments in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, and elsewhere. Many bulletins cover events that are overlooked or under-reported; Foreign Reports provides clear-eyed analysis on issues affecting regional stability, energy security, and the political fortunes of those now trying to maintain power or acquire it in the Middle East.
METHODS
• Focus: Bulletins focus on political questions that impact oil markets. They are brief (averaging between two and five pages), single-topic reports and are transmitted three to five times a week to clients. Our reports filter out the mass of extraneous reporting which accumulates daily, and instead provide precise, thoughtful, and direct commentary on specific issues our clients care most about.
• Facts: Reports do more than focus on what is truly relevant; they are also the product of intensive efforts to go to difficult-to-access sources and find out what decisions are made by whom and why. Sources are more comfortable talking with Foreign Reports because they know their identities will be protected and that information provided will receive limited circulation.
• Analysis: Focus and facts are not always enough to predict uncertain outcomes. Foreign Reports uses its expertise and experience to create a focused product that is relevant–and unique because of its outstanding sources and analytical rigor.