<p>The Middle East and North Africa is the world&#39;s crossroads. It encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between. The story of the region, as is so often the case of places stuck between foreign players, is the story of trade, exchange and conflict. The traditional powers of the region are Turkey and Iran &mdash; Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the current Arab powers &mdash; and their competition for influence over the region&#39;s weaker states makes the Middle East and North Africa an arena of violence and instability.</p>

The Middle East and North Africa encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between.

Middle East and North Africa

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Western Sahara

Yemen

The Syrian Civil War

The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Iran's Arc of Influence

Israel's Survival Strategy

The Difficulties of North African Reform

Egypt's Uphill Battle

The Battle for Mosul

Assessments

People in Sanaa, Yemen, stand under a large screen broadcasting Houthi-run coastguard forces patrolling in the Red Sea on March 13, 2026.

Energy

Military & Security

If economic concessions and limited military action fail to halt the Houthis' Red Sea blockade, the Saudis may pursue ground operations in Yemen, risking Iranian strikes and a renewed military quagmire.

Escalating Houthi Attacks Force Saudi Arabia To Shift Its Strategy

Media

Podcasts

Economics

Trace the hidden chain reaction from a closed Strait of Hormuz to a local bakery line, and discover how a Middle East energy shock can quietly turn into a global food crisis.

The Decision Advantage: The Foreseen Effects of the Strait of Hormuz Closure

Colombia

United States

Venezuela

Europe

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella (R) delivers a speech during a military parade commemorating Colombia's Independence Day in Medellin, Colombia, on July 20, 2026. 

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Colombia's New President Takes Office, Brussels Gains AI Act Enforcement Powers

U.S.-Iran Relations

Ethiopia

South Africa

Brazil

China

Russia

India

(From left to right) Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend a plenary session at the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 24, 2024.

The bloc's push to develop an independent payment system for trade will not immediately undermine the U.S. dollar's global dominance, though it could reduce the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions.

The Implications of an Independent BRICS Payment System

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (2nd-L) in the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2026.

While the Iraqi prime minister's visit to the White House yielded some deals, implementation constraints will likely eventually lead to renewed U.S. economic pressure, further straining Baghdad's finances.

New U.S. Agreements Unlikely to Ease Iraq's Economic Woes

Peru

United Kingdom

Ukraine

A couple rides past Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Likely U.S. Escalation in Iran, Zelensky Travels to Washington

Snapshots

Demonstrators yell through a megaphone and hold a framed portrait of the ousted Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman, Ogur Ozel, during an opposition rally in Izmir, Turkey, on May 24, 2026. 

The split could reduce the opposition's competitiveness in the 2028 general elections and further embolden Erdogan to pursue another term via constitutional or electoral mechanisms.

Turkey's Main Opposition Party Splits, Casting Uncertainty Over Efforts to Oust Erdogan

Yemeni protesters take part in a demonstration held to send a message of defiance against the continued siege and any military escalation involving Saudi forces against Houthi-controlled northern Yemen on July 17. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Forced to bypass the disrupted Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's increased reliance on alternative routes leaves its critical oil shipments vulnerable to Houthi attacks.


Yemen's Houthis Threaten Saudi Oil Exports With Red Sea Blockade

Myanmar

Philippines

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head during funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leade, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 5 in Tehran, Iran.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates, ASEAN and Major Power Foreign Ministers Meet

Vessels are seen anchored along the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, 2026. 

By demanding investment pledges from Gulf states after threatening a 20% toll, the White House is signaling its defense of global trade routes is now a transactional service rather than a core strategic commitment.

Security as a Service: The Risks of Trump's Transactionalism in the Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Financial Times reported on Aug. 7.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: Governments Sign Mutual Defense Pact

An Iranian parliamentary committee helmed by hard-liners is pushing for a bill that would seek to formalize the prohibition of U.S. and Israeli vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as well as require some form of compensation from hostile countries -- likely Gulf countries -- that have supported U.S. operations against Iran before allowing their vessels to transit, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 6.

U.S., Iran: Iranian Parliamentary Committee Pushes Maximalist Demands for Strait of Hormuz

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute used artificial intelligence to create 16 novel viral genomes, Science reported on Aug. 6.

Global: Scientists Use AI To Create 16 Novel Viruses

Sudan

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, secured 100 Pakistani-made Mohafiz armored vehicles from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in July, as well as Pakistani Shahpar drones and spare parts for its K-8 trainer and light-attack aircraft, Sudan Tribune reported on Aug. 6 based on conversations with military sources.

Sudan: SAF Secures Fresh Pakistani Weaponry, Hinting at Saudi Support

A spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened to close off "all access routes" for Saudi oil exports by increasingly targeting vessels in the northern Red Sea, The New York Times reported on Aug. 5.

Yemen: Houthis Threaten To Increasingly Target Vessels in the Northern Red Sea

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will introduce a bill on Aug. 5 to defer prosecutions, trials and prison sentences against fighters linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, who committed nonviolent actions, Bianet reported the same day.

Turkey: AKP Introduces Bill To Reintegrate Nonviolent PKK Members Into Society

As part of an Iran-Oman proposal under negotiation, Iranian officials would maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz's inbound route, while vessels would coordinate transit through the outbound route with Omani officials, who would then notify Iran, Reuters reported on Aug. 4.

Iran, Oman: Strait of Hormuz Proposal Would Formalize Iran's Shipping Leverage

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson denied U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the United States and Iran would begin talks on Aug. 3, but confirmed that Iran was involved in discussions with Oman over establishing a temporary shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on Aug. 3. 

U.S., Iran: Iran Refutes Trump's Claims of New U.S.-Iran Talks

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: Governments Sign Mutual Defense Pact

U.S., Iran: Iranian Parliamentary Committee Pushes Maximalist Demands for Strait of Hormuz

Global: Scientists Use AI To Create 16 Novel Viruses

Sudan: SAF Secures Fresh Pakistani Weaponry, Hinting at Saudi Support

Yemen: Houthis Threaten To Increasingly Target Vessels in the Northern Red Sea

Turkey: AKP Introduces Bill To Reintegrate Nonviolent PKK Members Into Society

Iran, Oman: Strait of Hormuz Proposal Would Formalize Iran's Shipping Leverage

U.S., Iran: Iran Refutes Trump's Claims of New U.S.-Iran Talks

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