<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

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The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

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Iran's Arc of Influence

Israel's Survival Strategy

The Difficulties of North African Reform

Egypt's Uphill Battle

The Battle for Mosul

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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.

Military & Security

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

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

Media

Sub-Saharan Africa

Podcasts

Economics

Which Sub-Saharan countries face the highest risk of protests and unrest in the coming months?

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Snapshots

Armed Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement brandish their weapons during a protest against U.S. strikes on Iran in Sanaa on July 10, 2026. 

The attacks do not necessarily signal an immediate return to a full-scale war between the Saudis and the Houthis or a reignition of Yemen's civil conflict, but the likelihood of more frequent flare-ups in both theaters is increasing.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Exchange Airstrikes, Breaking Yearslong Unofficial Truce

People gather by the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli strike on an industrial area in Gaza City on July 12.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Hamas will likely continue to reject full disarmament in the hope that a more moderate Israeli government will come to power following elections in the fall.


Unfeasible Plans for Gaza Governance Hinder Progress of U.S-Backed Ceasefire 

Indonesia

Singapore

Thailand

Europe

France

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Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 in Tehran, Iran. 

Energy

Global Trade

Recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran signal the rising risk of a return to high-intensity regional conflict following the June 17 memorandum of understanding.


U.S.-Iran Truce at Risk of Collapse Over Hormuz Control Dispute

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Environment, Science & Technology

The state-owned OCP Group is accelerating domestic green ammonia projects and diversifying sulfur suppliers to secure its position as a dominant agricultural and diplomatic partner across sub-Saharan Africa.

Morocco, World's Leading Phosphate Exporter, Seeks To Mitigate Strategic Vulnerabilities

Billboards are seen ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent U.S. military drawdowns in Germany and threatened reductions in Italy and Spain underscore the stakes of the summit on July 7-8.

Transatlantic Tensions Set To Dominate NATO Summit in Ankara

Cuba

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Third-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

The Lebanese Armed Forces began deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in southern Lebanon on July 21 following Israel's withdrawal from the town as part of a U.S.-brokered "pilot zone program," Axios reported the same day.

Lebanon: U.S.-Brokered Deal Yields Partial Israeli Withdrawal From Southern Lebanon

Ozgur Ozel, the ousted leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, announced that he was resigning from the party and would form a new one after weeks of internal disputes, Reuters reported on July 21.

Turkey: Ousted Opposition Leader Resigns, Set To Form New Political Party

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni met with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as regional negotiators have expanded their efforts to reach a temporary truce to de-escalate the U.S.-Iran conflict, AP reported on July 21.

U.S., Iran: Mediation Efforts Continue as U.S.-Iran Exchange Attacks

Iranian officials said regional mediators had proposed a 10-day truce between the United States and Iran to facilitate progress in bilateral negotiations, Reuters reported on July 20.

U.S., Iran: Mediators Reportedly Propose Temporary Truce as U.S.-Iran Exchanges Escalate

Cote d'Ivoire

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

The heads of state of members of the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, signed an intergovernmental agreement backing the $25 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, or AAGP, according to a July 19 joint statement from Morocco's state-owned National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, or ONHYM, and Nigeria's state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Co., or NNPC.

Morocco, West Africa: ECOWAS Signs Agreement for $25B African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they will impose a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia, citing Riyadh's air and land blockade against Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, Reuters reported on July 20.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis To Impose Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia

The Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas released a statement saying it had elected Khalil al-Hayya, a longtime Hamas insider and one of the group's leading diplomats, as its new leader, Al Jazeera reported on July 20.

Gaza: Hamas Names Khalil al-Haya as New Leader

Iranian state media said the United States military had attacked bridges, a railway junction and a control tower at the Chabahar port, AP reported on July 17.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Targets Iranian Civilian Infrastructure, Iran Retaliates Proportionately

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Lebanon: U.S.-Brokered Deal Yields Partial Israeli Withdrawal From Southern Lebanon

Turkey: Ousted Opposition Leader Resigns, Set To Form New Political Party

U.S., Iran: Mediation Efforts Continue as U.S.-Iran Exchange Attacks

U.S., Iran: Mediators Reportedly Propose Temporary Truce as U.S.-Iran Exchanges Escalate

Morocco, West Africa: ECOWAS Signs Agreement for $25B African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis To Impose Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia

Gaza: Hamas Names Khalil al-Haya as New Leader

U.S., Iran: U.S. Targets Iranian Civilian Infrastructure, Iran Retaliates Proportionately

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