<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

Columns

United States

Photos of prominent Hezbollah leaders are seen at the site of a reported Israeli airstrike which killed 6 members of the same family, on March 19, 2026 in Baalbek, Lebanon.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Politics

The trajectory of the war will be increasingly defined by a clash of strategic objectives that makes a quick resolution of the conflict unlikely.


The Impact the Israel-Hezbollah War Will Have on Lebanon

U.S.-Iran Relations

Assessments

Denmark

France

Italy

Ukraine

Russia

The European Parliament building in 2019 in Strasbourg, France. Parliament is set to hold a plenary vote March 26 on implementing the 2025 EU‑U.S. trade framework agreement.

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: A Vote on the EU‑U.S. Trade Framework, the Iran Conflict Continues

People walk along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026.

Economics

Global Trade

Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will compel Gulf Cooperation Council states to invest in alternative trade routes and more resilient physical infrastructure.

Gulf Arab States, Shaken by Iran War, Plan Economic Pivot

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

South Asia

A farmer sprinkles fertilizer over a crop of cauliflower on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, in November 2020.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is straining global supplies of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, which could lead to lower crop yields, higher food prices and fiscal strain for agricultural producers if the disruptions persist.

Assessing the Iran War's Impact on Global Fertilizer Supplies

Europe

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

A U.S.-led naval mission to protect ships from Iranian attacks would likely begin only after the war's intensity decreases, and even then, it would take weeks to organize and yield only a limited return of maritime traffic through the strait.

The Obstacles Facing the U.S. Plan for Strait of Hormuz Naval Escorts

Smoke plumes rise above a village in southern Lebanon following Israeli airstrikes on March 16, 2026.

Even if it engages in direct talks with Lebanon, Israel is unlikely to de-escalate its military operations in the country without major concessions on border security and Hezbollah's disarmament.

Hezbollah-Israel War Set To Intensify, Despite Lebanon's Diplomatic Push

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

China

Japan

A large plume of smoke rises March 7 over Tehran after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital during the night.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Takaichi Meets With Trump

Media

Podcasts

What will happen to U.S. interest rates if the war continues?

The Decision Advantage: Economic Impacts of the War on Iran

Pakistan

A digital illustration of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s national flags.

Despite having a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will likely only provide the kingdom with low-level defensive and technical support, rather than direct military intervention against Iran, due to various constraints.

In a War With Iran, the Pakistani-Saudi Defense Pact Has Limits 

Central African Republic

Chad

Ethiopia

Sudan

The United Arab Emirates is growing its smuggling network to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, through Ethiopia and the Central African Republic, Le Monde reported on March 22.

Sudan: UAE Developing New Weapons Smuggling Routes to RSF Despite Iran War

Taiwan

Taiwanese President William Lai said at a business leaders meeting in Taichung on March 21 that his government would submit plans to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of March to restart operations at the Kuosheng nuclear power plant in New Taipei and the Ma'anshan nuclear plant in Hengchun, the Taipei Times reported on March 22. 

Taiwan: Iran War Spurs Ruling Party U-Turn on Nuclear Power

Indonesia

Indonesia rejected a $1 billion fee to secure a permanent seat on the U.S.-led Board of Peace while reiterating its willingness to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, AFP reported on March 23.

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Reject $1B Board of Peace Fee, Leaves Open Trade Deal Withdrawal

Myanmar

Myanmar authorities expanded fuel rationing beyond odd-even day rationing by introducing a centralized QR and barcode system that caps volumes by vehicle type, restricts purchase frequency and tightens nationwide distribution controls, Bloomberg reported on March 23.

Myanmar: Fuel Rationing Signals Logistics Strain on War Effort

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to consider "every available" measure to cushion the United Kingdom from the impact of the Middle East conflict ahead of an emergency Cabinet meeting he convened for March 23 to address the economic consequences of the escalating war in Iran and energy market disruptions stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported the same day.

U.K.: Starmer Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Economic and Energy Disruptions Linked to Iran Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and warned of risks to Russian personnel and possible spillover into the Caspian basin during a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Interfax reported on March 23.

Russia, Iran: Moscow Warns of Caspian Spillover Risk 

U.S. President Donald Trump described discussions with Iranian negotiators as productive and pushed back a 48-hour deadline that he issued on March 22 for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for an additional five days, although Iranian officials denied that these discussions occurred, AP reported on March 23. 

U.S., Iran: Trump Extends Deadline for Reopening Strait of Hormuz After Power Plant Threats

Baghdad declared force majeure on foreign-operated oil fields after disruptions to maritime shipping via the Strait of Hormuz forced Iraq to cut oil production, Reuters reported on March 21. 

Iraq: Baghdad Declares Force Majeure on Foreign-Operated Oil Fields

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Sudan: UAE Developing New Weapons Smuggling Routes to RSF Despite Iran War

Taiwan: Iran War Spurs Ruling Party U-Turn on Nuclear Power

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Reject $1B Board of Peace Fee, Leaves Open Trade Deal Withdrawal

Myanmar: Fuel Rationing Signals Logistics Strain on War Effort

U.K.: Starmer Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Economic and Energy Disruptions Linked to Iran Conflict

Russia, Iran: Moscow Warns of Caspian Spillover Risk

U.S., Iran: Trump Extends Deadline for Reopening Strait of Hormuz After Power Plant Threats

Iraq: Baghdad Declares Force Majeure on Foreign-Operated Oil Fields

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