<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

Snapshots

United States

The USS Rafael Peralta implements a maritime blockade against an Iranian-flagged ship attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 26, 2026, in the Arabian Sea.

Military & Security

Politics

Despite ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement, unresolved disputes and continued hostilities make prolonged, unstable containment more likely than a comprehensive, long-lasting peace agreement.

U.S.-Iran Talks More Likely To Contain the War Than Resolve It

U.S.-Iran Relations

Assessments

Japan

Philippines

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Russia

India

A cargo ship anchored May 16 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. Major gaps in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program persist, and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will remain fragile over the next week.

Economics

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

The Weekly Rundown: Rubio Visits India, a Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Germany

United Kingdom

Slovenia

Spain

Ireland

Hungary

The EU and Israeli flags in March 2024 in central Berlin's Rotes Rathaus. Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Targeted EU Sanctions on Israeli Settlers Unlikely To Broaden Into Wider Restrictions 

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

Social Issues

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Gulf states' push to employ more local citizens in the private sector will help advance their economies and reduce public wage bills, but it will also create new risks for businesses that have traditionally relied on cheap foreign labor.

The Future of Work in the GCC: Localization, Competition and Business Risks

Mexico

China

South Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept. 3, 2025, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Middle East, Putin Heads to Beijing

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Afghan protesters burn a Pakistani flag during a demonstration in Helmand Province in 2016.

Gains from the Afghan Taliban's growing regional ties will be hindered by enduring disputes, logistical constraints, infrastructure security risks, and Pakistan's possible absence from future multilateral engagements.

How the Afghan-Pakistani Conflict Is Redrawing Regional Relations

Commercial vessels are seen offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026.

While recent revelations about the airstrikes indicate a shift in both countries' risk calculations, the UAE's hawkish, Israel-aligned posture poses a greater threat of Iranian retaliation than Saudi Arabia's more restrained approach. 

The UAE and Saudi Arabia Enter the War Against Iran, but With Separate Strategies

A digital illustration of the Turkish flag.

Continued high inflation, political uncertainty and bureaucratic hurdles will likely limit the overall effectiveness of the reforms, which come ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Turkey Pursues Tax Reforms Amid Economic Fallout From the Iran War

Part of the gas processing facilities of Europe's first helium production pilot plant in Saint-Parize-le-Chatel, France, on Sept. 11, 2024.

Energy

Qatar's halt of helium production due to the Iran war risks causing shortages that disrupt key manufacturing industries, particularly in Asia.

How the Iran War is Choking the World's Helium Flow

During a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the Iran conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States preferred a diplomatic resolution and that there had been some progress in negotiations, AP reported on May 27.

U.S., Iran: Trump Meets With Cabinet To Discuss Iran War

The Gaza-based Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on May 27 that a May 26 Israeli military operation had killed Mohammed Odeh, the commander of Hamas' military wing, the BBC reported.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Assassinates Second Hamas Military Chief in Under Two Weeks

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, said it, along with Syria's provisional government, had found dozens of undeclared chemical weapons across Syria hidden during the rule of ousted President Bashar al Assad, The Defense Post reported on May 26.

Syria: Assad-Era Chemical Weapons Recovered

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on May 26 expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond the Israeli-occupied Yellow Line, Haaretz reported.

Lebanon, Israel: IDF Expands Ground Operations in Southern Lebanon

Turkish police entered the Ankara headquarters of the opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, on May 24 to remove CHP officials -- including ousted CHP party leader Ozgur Ozel -- and supporters who had barricaded themselves inside to prevent reinstated CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu from entering the building, AP reported the same day. 

Turkey: Turkish Police Storm Main Opposition Headquarters

The United States' Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on May 21 sanctioned nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals in Lebanon (including sitting Hezbollah members of parliament), Lebanese military and security officials, and Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, accusing them of helping Hezbollah preserve influence inside Lebanese state institutions and obstructing efforts to disarm the group, Reuters reported the same day.

U.S., Lebanon: Trump Administration Sanctions Lebanese Officials Over Hezbollah Influence

An appeals court in Turkey declared the 2023 leadership election for the Republican People's Party (CHP) invalid, nullifying the leadership posts of its top officials, including party leader Ozgur Ozel, the BBC reported on May 22. 

Turkey: Appeals Court Ousts Opposition Party Leadership

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were "good signs" a deal could be reached with Iran, though he rejected Tehran tolling ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported May 21. 

U.S., Iran: Rubio Suggests 'Good Signs' for Deal, but Sticking Points Remain

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Iran: Trump Meets With Cabinet To Discuss Iran War

Israel, Gaza: Israel Assassinates Second Hamas Military Chief in Under Two Weeks

Syria: Assad-Era Chemical Weapons Recovered

Lebanon, Israel: IDF Expands Ground Operations in Southern Lebanon

Turkey: Turkish Police Storm Main Opposition Headquarters

U.S., Lebanon: Trump Administration Sanctions Lebanese Officials Over Hezbollah Influence

Turkey: Appeals Court Ousts Opposition Party Leadership

U.S., Iran: Rubio Suggests 'Good Signs' for Deal, but Sticking Points Remain

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