Part offoreign policy →

FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Congressional Hearing on U.S.-Saudi Arabia Counterterrorism Cooperation

Original title: THE U.S.-SAUDI ARABIA COUNTERTERRORISM RELATIONSHIP

January 1, 2016

foreign policy counterterrorism Saudi Arabia national security terrorism financing Middle East

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

The hearing assesses the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy and security partnerships in the Middle East, specifically regarding how Saudi Arabia manages the flow of funds to terrorist organizations and the export of religious ideologies.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Saudi Arabian Government

The government is the subject of U.S. congressional oversight regarding its counterterrorism policies and financial regulations.

U.S. Department of Treasury

The agency is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of Saudi banking regulations.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript from a 2016 House Subcommittee hearing examining the security relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The hearing focused on Saudi efforts to combat terrorism financing, their role in the , and concerns regarding the global influence of .

Key Facts

The hearing took place on May 24, 2016, before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
Saudi Arabia serves as a co-chair of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group.
The U.S. Department of Treasury reported that Saudi Arabia has improved enforcement of banking rules to prevent terrorist financing.
Saudi Arabia has conducted military campaigns in Syria and Yemen.
Concerns were raised regarding reports of Saudi charities and individual donors providing funds to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
The Saudi government spends billions annually on global networks of mosques and schools promoting Wahhabism.
Wahhabism is described as a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam that advocates for the persecution of apostates, Christians, and Jews.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group?

The group seeks to cut off ISIS from the international financial system.

What concerns were raised about Saudi Arabia's influence?

Lawmakers expressed concern over the funding of terrorist groups by private Saudi donors and the global export of through Saudi-funded mosques and schools.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift80% confidence

Shift in Saudi Counterterrorism Focus

The hearing highlights a transition from general counterterrorism cooperation to specific focus on financial systems and the Counter-ISIL Finance Group.

Saudi Arabia Counter-ISIL Finance Group

Connected Entities

personKaren Elliot House“Senior fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs”Map →

organizationCounter-ISIL Finance Group“International group co-chaired by Saudi Arabia to cut off ISIS funding”Map →

personTed Poe“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade”Map →

personTim Roemer“Former 9/11 Commissioner and hearing witness”Map →

locationSaudi Arabia“Primary subject of the counterterrorism relationship hearing”Map →

personSimon Henderson“Director, Gulf and Energy Policy Program, The Washington Institute for Near East”Map →

personDaniel L. Byman“Professor, Georgetown University”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools