<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

Peru

United States

China

North Korea

Armenia

Russia

A banner depicting the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on June 3 in Tehran. There will be an elevated risk of sporadic U.S.-Iran clashes over the next week, as no signs of a diplomatic breakthrough in U.S.-Iran negotiations on a memorandum of understanding have emerged.

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: Armenian Elections, Xi Goes to North Korea

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

Smoke rises following Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon as seen from a position across the border in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on May 31, 2026.

Should Israel-Lebanon talks stall, the U.S. would be more likely to greenlight a broader campaign against Hezbollah, though it could also pressure Israel into a more comprehensive truce if Trump deems it necessary for an Iran deal.

U.S. Mediation Unlikely To Lead to Lasting Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

Guests stand outside a model carriage of the "Dream of the Desert" ultra-luxury train on display during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Economics

Energy

Efforts to create new export routes via railways and pipelines will be hampered by regional mistrust, uncertain commercial viability and long construction timelines, ultimately keeping Gulf states reliant on the Strait of Hormuz.

All Roads Lead to Hormuz: The Limits of Gulf Infrastructure Diversification

A window view from Turkey's Eastern Express train. 

Improved relations could unlock strategic and economic benefits for both countries, especially if their border is reopened, though Russia's entrenched influence in Armenia remains a key constraint.

Russian Coercion Will Constrain Budding Turkey-Armenia Rapprochement

Colombia

The Ateela 2 Oil Tanker on April 28 on Qeshm Island, Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Discussions, Brussels To Unveil Tech Sovereignty Package

A fireball and smoke erupt from a building following an Israeli strike in Tyre, southern Lebanon, on May 28.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The recent expansion of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon demonstrates an effort to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities prior to any finalized de-escalation agreements between the United States and Iran.


The Strategic Implications of Israel's Expanded Lebanon Campaign

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.

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

Japan

Philippines

Kazakhstan

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.

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.

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

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Algeria's, Niger's and Nigeria's ministers of petroleum oversaw the start of construction works for the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, or TSGP, in Algeria's Adrar region, Jeune Afrique reported on June 5.

Africa: Algeria Kicks Off Construction of Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline

Somalia

Azerbaijan

Oman's Mina al Fahal port temporarily stopped exporting oil on June 4 due to an alleged drone attack near the facility, Reuters reported the same day.

MENA: Oman Reports Explosion Amid Revelations of Region-Wide Covert Israeli Campaign Against Iran

The Lebanese political and militant group Hezbollah rejected the latest ceasefire with Israel jointly announced by the United States, Israel and Lebanon, Axios reported on June 4.

Lebanon, Israel: Hezbollah Rejects Latest Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a nonbinding war powers resolution to curtail U.S. military operations in the Iran conflict unless the Trump administration gained congressional approval, The New York Times reported on June 3.

U.S., Iran: House Passes Nonbinding War Powers Resolution

Ethiopia

The U.S. State Department reaffirmed in a report to the U.S. Congress that it considered Somaliland to be part of Somalia's territory, Somali Guardian reported on June 2. 

Somaliland, U.S.: U.S. Reaffirms 'One Somalia' Policy, but Eyes Further Cooperation With Somaliland

Iran conducted drone and missile attacks against Kuwait -- including Kuwait International Airport and unnamed diplomatic missions -- and Bahrain, resulting in one fatality and at least 63 injuries in Kuwait, including from debris and damage at an airport terminal, Reuters reported on June 3.

U.S., Iran: Latest U.S.-Iran Clashes Result in Iranian Attacks on Gulf Civilian Infrastructure

Tehran is reportedly still reviewing and discussing the draft memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, Iran's semi-official news outlet Mehr News Agency reported on June 2. 

U.S., Iran: Iran Has Yet To Respond to U.S.-Iran MoU

U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanon's Embassy in Washington announced a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, under which Hezbollah agreed to stop attacking northern Israel in return for a cessation of Israeli attacks on Beirut, Reuters reported on June 1.

Lebanon, Israel: Another Partial Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Africa: Algeria Kicks Off Construction of Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline

MENA: Oman Reports Explosion Amid Revelations of Region-Wide Covert Israeli Campaign Against Iran

Lebanon, Israel: Hezbollah Rejects Latest Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

U.S., Iran: House Passes Nonbinding War Powers Resolution

Somaliland, U.S.: U.S. Reaffirms 'One Somalia' Policy, but Eyes Further Cooperation With Somaliland

U.S., Iran: Latest U.S.-Iran Clashes Result in Iranian Attacks on Gulf Civilian Infrastructure

U.S., Iran: Iran Has Yet To Respond to U.S.-Iran MoU

Lebanon, Israel: Another Partial Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

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