Kurt L. Davis Jr.@KurtDavisJr

Investor, Advisor, Writer/Speaker, Atlantic Council, Council on Foreign Relations, Avid Traveler, Foodie, Politics Junkie & Closet Economist...

kurtdavisjr.com
Joined August 2010
20 Photos and videos
💡🌍 " Visitor confidence is harder to rebuild than any damaged airport terminal. If it does not recover, the Gulf will have less revenue to help cover the reconstruction bill," writes @KurtDavisJr in his new piece on the economic quagmire awaiting the Gulf as a result of the Iran war. 🔗 Read his full analysis here⬇️ bit.ly/4qS2yBy

The Iran war is no Vietnam. But it may become an economic quagmire for the Gulf.

Five costs related to the Iran war are compounding across the Gulf and its trading partners, and none will be eliminated soon.

atlanticcouncil.org
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🇱🇾 🇸🇾 | The slow withdrawal of troops and disengagement from the US in Syria risks a "Libya-style unraveling," writes @KurtDavisJr. "History suggests that exits driven by political fatigue rather than conditions on the ground tend to be rushed and poorly sequenced", he writes. Read his full take on the similarities - and differences - between the Libyan and Syrian political outlooks ⬇️ bit.ly/4aInh2N
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In my latest piece for the @AtlanticCouncil, I argue that #Syria is not #Libya — at least not yet — but the risk of fragmentation grows if security integration, institutional consolidation, and international engagement fade too soon atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/me…

Syria is not Libya, but it could become one if the world looks away

There are lessons from Libya's fragmentation and collapse that can be applied now as Syria sits at a similar inflection point.

atlanticcouncil.org
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President Trump’s decisive action in Venezuela signals the consolidation of a foreign-policy doctrine that is blunt, transactional and unapologetic about the use of force — with five hard truths for the U.S. and the world… asiatimes.com/2026/01/after-…

After Maduro's ouster, tough new truths about US foreign policy - Asia Times

The Maduro regime was always likely to end abruptly. Reports that US forces encountered little resistance—and that Venezuela’s president had come to rely

asiatimes.com
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Middle East Debt Deals Hang in Limbo as Washington Sets the Clock #MiddleEast #USA #Debt #CapitalMarkets dcjournal.com/middle-east-de…

Middle East Debt Deals Hang in Limbo as Washington Sets the Clock – DC Journal - InsideSources

Gulf stock markets rallied in September, following the Federal Reserve’s rate cut and renewed optimism that further rate cuts were to come. Behind the

dcjournal.com
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Thank you @FT for publishing my latest piece...Islamic finance — and in particular equity investing — needs further conversation about how to balance ethical integrity with the financial complexity of today’s world… ft.com/content/083f3242-52d1…

Islamic equity investors face a difficult choice

Approaches to balancing ethical integrity with the financial complexity of today’s world vary widely

ft.com
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I just published Zelenskyy’s ‘Protection Quad’ Shows When Volodymyr Zelenskyy walked into the White House a couple of weeks ago, he did not arrive alone. At his side was a striking entourage — a carefully orchestrated display of European solidarity... medium.com/p/trumps-return-s…

Zelenskyy’s “Protection Quad” Shows Europe Is Stepping Up

With U.S. policy in flux, European leaders are signalling Ukraine will not stand alone.

kurtdavisjr.medium.com
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We’d like to welcome @KurtDavisJr as #SMESI’s newest nonresident senior fellow! Davis is also a 2024 Millennium fellow and currently leads the Middle East Debt Advisory team at @alvarezmarsal. Read more:➡️ bit.ly/3V0Po60
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Thank you to @FinancialTimes for publishing this piece on the sukuk market and the potential effects if Standard 62 changes are adopted, effectively shifting sukuks (Islamic bonds) from "asset based" to "asset backed" #Sukuk #GlobalFinance #IslamicFinance ft.com/content/7c170437-4ae3…

$1tn sukuk market at risk of unintended disruption

New standard threatens a vital funding source for sovereigns and corporates across the Middle East, Asia and beyond

ft.com
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Thank you to @thehill for publishing this piece on the reshuffling at State and the opportunity it presents for America to rethink its engagement with Africa…. thehill.com/opinion/internat…

Marco Rubio’s proposed reshuffle at State offers a huge opportunity in Africa

Africa’s future is too important — and too full of opportunity — for the United States to ignore. 

thehill.com
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Macron is experiencing a remarkable political resurrection (his approval rating up from 24% in March to 31% in April) — a phenomenon whose origins lie not in domestic successes but in an unexpected international circumstance: Trump’s hostility toward NATO dcjournal.com/american-distr…

American Distrust Reshapes European Defense – DC Journal - InsideSources

At a time when domestic political turmoil seemed to engulf his second term, Emmanuel Macron is experiencing a remarkable political resurrection. His

dcjournal.com
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Booker's record-breaking speech proves Democrats are stuck in the past thehill.com/opinion/5230836-…

Booker’s record-breaking speech proves Democrats are stuck in the past

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) broke Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour civil rights filibuster record with a day-long speech, but Democrats’ reliance on outdated tactics in a hyperactive media enviro…

thehill.com
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In a piece for the @asiatimesonline earlier this week, I explore how Trump is redefining American "soft power"...the update to this piece would obviously be an exploration of tariffs and trade and how that changes the discussion on "soft power" asiatimes.com/2025/04/trump-…

Trump is redefining, not abandoning, American soft power - Asia Times

For decades, the United States projected global influence through what foreign policy experts call "soft power" – the ability to shape world affairs

asiatimes.com
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Why the U.S. Needs a Sovereign Wealth Fund dcjournal.com/why-the-u-s-ne…

Why the U.S. Needs a Sovereign Wealth Fund – DC Journal - InsideSources

The United States spends trillions of dollars annually on military and foreign aid. Yet, it lacks the financial tools necessary to secure its economic

dcjournal.com
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The fall of Bashar al-Assad marks a seismic shift in Middle East politics. Check out my five hot takes on the implications for U.S. foreign policy, regional dynamics, and global stability. #Syria #MiddleEast #ForeignPolicy #Geopolitics washingtontimes.com/news/202… - @washtimesoped

The fall of Assad: Five hot takes

The dramatic fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad marks a watershed moment in the tumultuous history of the Middle East.

washingtontimes.com
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The nations likely to win, not lose, from Trump’s tariffs #Vietnam #India #Mexico #Thailand #Malaysia asiatimes.com/2024/11/the-na… via @asiatimesonline

The nations likely to win, not lose, from Trump’s tariffs - Asia Times

Donald Trump’s return to the White House brings with it the high likelihood of renewed tariffs, a cornerstone of his “America First” agenda. While his

asiatimes.com
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Trump’s Return Signals New Opportunities for #MiddleEast Ties #AmericaFirst #SaudiArabia #Israel #Iran #UAE #AbrahamAccords link.medium.com/B40f2HnJJOb

Trump’s Return Signals New Opportunities for Middle East Ties

The article was originally published in “The Musings Of A Politics Junkie & Closet Economist.” To read more, please visit the website.

link.medium.com
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The real choice in 2024: It’s about our social contract | Opinion nj.com/opinion/2024/11/the-r…

The real choice in 2024: It’s about our social contract | Opinion

Harris and Trump offer competing visions of what it means to be American

nj.com
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Americas First? A second Trump term could be a renaissance for Latin America #UnitedStates #LatinAmerica #CentralAmerica #China #Immigration #Trade @TheHill @realDonaldTrump @JDVance thehill.com/opinion/4960690-…

‘Americas First?’ A second Trump term could be a renaissance for Latin America

Donald Trump’s “America First” approach to Latin American relations could lead to more authentic and sustainable partnerships based on mutual economic interests, addressing the ro…

thehill.com
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Why the Harris campaign’s attempt to court Black men is incomplete and even alienating @JDVance @KamalaHarris sfchronicle.com/opinion/open… via @sfchronicle

Why the Harris campaign’s attempt to court Black men is incomplete and even alienating

Vice President Kamala Harris has embarked on a mission to court Black male voters, a demographic crucial to Democratic success yet often misunderstood.

sfchronicle.com
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