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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Audio Briefs

A New Rift in the Gulf, and Only the Gulf Can Solve It

An audio version of “⁠A New Rift in the Gulf, and Only the Gulf Can Solve It⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS's Michael Ratney. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Michael Ratney — January 16, 2026

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

Understanding the Saudi Reaction to the Escalation in Yemen

An audio version of “⁠Understanding the Saudi Reaction to the Escalation in Yemen,⁠” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Michael Ratney. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Michael Ratney — December 31, 2025

Audio Briefs

Understanding the Saudi Reaction to the Escalation in Yemen

The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council’s capture of two southern Yemeni provinces, as well as Saudi forces’ recent strike on UAE-shipped weapons and vehicles in Al Mukalla, has led to unprecedented tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Commentary by Michael Ratney — December 31, 2025