<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

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Tayr Debba on Nov. 6, 2025. 

Military & Security

Politics

Despite Lebanon's diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions with Israel, stalled progress on Hezbollah's disarmament portends intensified Israeli airstrikes that would risk collapsing the Lebanese government and even triggering another war.

The Growing Risk of a New Hezbollah-Israel War

Russia

Entrance signage is seen at OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on July 23, 2024.

Energy

Riyadh and its Gulf partners will likely prioritize OPEC+ unity and cooperation with Moscow on oil policy over boosting production to offset Russian supply losses from U.S. sanctions, even if it risks irking Washington.

Why Saudi Arabia Won't Backfill Russia's Sanctioned Oil Exports

An aerial photo shows the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Economics

Social Issues

An aspiring middle power, Riyadh must still balance ancient imperatives with modern challenges before it reaches the kind of geopolitical security enjoyed by neighbors like Turkey, Iran and Egypt.

The Modern Geopolitics of Saudi Arabia

United States

A girl walks past posters and banners depicting political candidates from rival blocs competing for a seat in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in old Mosul, northern Iraq, on Oct. 28, 2025, days before the Nov. 11, 2025, parliamentary elections.

Backed by a coalition that reaches across ethnic and sectarian divides, Iraq's current prime minister will likely maintain his position after the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, portending relative foreign policy continuity.

Assessing Iraq's Political Landscape Ahead of Legislative Elections

Global Elections

Columns

On Security

Kenya

Madagascar

Nigeria

South Africa

Chile

Ecuador

Peru

Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Serbia

Bangladesh

Nepal

Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Snapshots

The new headquarters for Egypt's House of Representatives, the lower house of the country's legislature, is seen on Aug. 1, 2023, at the New Administrative Capital megaproject, which is about 45 kilometers east of the current capital, Cairo. 

With the opposition sufficiently sidelined, pro-government parties will retain a strong majority in the House of Representatives, potentially enabling President al-Sisi to pursue constitutional changes to extend his term.

Egyptian Lower-House Elections To Reaffirm al-Sisi's Dominance

Media

Podcasts

Why are certain countries and regions more susceptible to youth protests?

Essential Geopolitics: Implications of the Growing Gen Z Protests in Africa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in a state memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the two-year Gaza war at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 16, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Israeli prime minister is unlikely to call early elections and will likely increase military pressure on Hamas in an effort to reduce the likelihood that he is unseated in elections due by October 2026.


Gaza Ceasefire Hangs in Balance as Netanyahu Contemplates Political Survival

Cyprus

A massive flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is seen on Dec. 28, 2023, in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Attempts by Turkey to coerce Northern Cyprus economically could inadvertently strengthen President Tufan Erhurman's support and his drive for federalization with the internationally recognized south.

Turkey Will Pressure New Northern Cypriot President To Abandon Federalization Talks

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) meets with U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, at the presidential palace in Damascus on July 9, 2025. 

The U.S. will leverage permanent sanctions relief to pressure Syria to finalize a security pact with Israel, but the Kurds will resist integrating with President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government. 

U.S. Engagement With Syria Will Promote Stability, but Kurdish Integration Will Continue To Lag

At U.S. urging, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution lifting sanctions on Syria's provisional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and interior minister Anas Hasan Khattab that were designed to target members and supporters of terrorist groups like the Islamic State and al Qaeda, AP reported on Nov. 6.

Syria: U.N. Lifts Sanctions in Win for Reconstruction, Though Obstacles Remain

The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an air base in Syria's capital, Damascus, in a bid to facilitate a security pact that Washington is brokering between Syria and Israel, Reuters reported on Nov. 6.

Syria: U.S. To Establish Military Presence Around Damascus in Push for Syria-Israel Security Agreement

Mediators are working to convince Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah's Israeli-controlled tunnels to lay down their arms in exchange for safe passage, as the trapped fighters threatened to undo the fragile Gaza truce, Reuters reported on Nov. 6.

Israel, Gaza: Trapped Hamas Fighters Could Destabilize Truce

The United States advanced the Saudi request to buy up to 48 F-35 fighter jets through the Pentagon, though more steps, like Cabinet approval and U.S. President Donald Trump's own sign-off, await, Reuters reported on Nov. 4.

U.S., Saudi Arabia: U.S. Advances Saudi Arabia's Bid for F-35s

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Republic of the Congo

Venezuela

At their Nov. 2 meeting, the eight OPEC+ countries implementing voluntary production cuts agreed to boost production by 137,000 barrels per day in December -- the third consecutive small production hike of that level -- but plan to pause production hikes from January-March 2026, Reuters reported. 

OPEC+: Bloc To Halt Production Hikes in Early 2026 Amid Oil Glut, Russian Sanctions Concerns

Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Washington on Nov. 10, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump and sign an agreement to join the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition, Axios reported on Nov. 1.

Syria, U.S.: Syrian President al-Sharaa To Visit Washington

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki began a five-day visit to Egypt on Oct. 30 amid surging tensions with neighboring Ethiopia, which is demanding that Eritrea grant it access to the Red Sea, Addis Standard reported the same day.

Eritrea: President Leads Five-Day Visit to Egypt Amid Surging Tensions With Ethiopia

Mali

The United Arab Emirates reportedly paid approximately €50 million and delivered several tons of weapons and ammunition to al Qaeda Sahel affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in exchange for three kidnapped foreigners, including two Emiratis, Jeune Afrique reported on Oct. 30.

Mali, UAE: UAE Reportedly Pays €50 Million Ransom to JNIM Jihadists

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Syria: U.N. Lifts Sanctions in Win for Reconstruction, Though Obstacles Remain

Syria: U.S. To Establish Military Presence Around Damascus in Push for Syria-Israel Security Agreement

Israel, Gaza: Trapped Hamas Fighters Could Destabilize Truce

U.S., Saudi Arabia: U.S. Advances Saudi Arabia's Bid for F-35s

OPEC+: Bloc To Halt Production Hikes in Early 2026 Amid Oil Glut, Russian Sanctions Concerns

Syria, U.S.: Syrian President al-Sharaa To Visit Washington

Eritrea: President Leads Five-Day Visit to Egypt Amid Surging Tensions With Ethiopia

Mali, UAE: UAE Reportedly Pays €50 Million Ransom to JNIM Jihadists

Forecasts

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