<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

Military & Security

Social Issues

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Flatlining population growth will leave the Gulf Arab states reliant on specialized, high-tech militaries that are supplanted by foreign forces, exposing them to various long-term security vulnerabilities.

The Demographic Drag on Gulf States' Military Strength

United States

The Albina Bulk carrier sits anchored on March 22, 2026, at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman.

Politics

The ceasefire extension will likely prolong the U.S. and Iran's focus on economic pressure to gain leverage ahead of new talks, but this phase of unstable diplomacy could easily give way to another round of military escalation.

Ceasefire, Blockades and Bargaining: The Volatile Outlook for U.S.-Iran Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

The exterior facade of the new headquarters of Egypt's central bank is seen at the New Administrative Capital megaproject about 45 kilometers east of the current capital, Cairo, on Aug. 1, 2023. 

Economics

Energy

Egypt will try to avoid submitting to another IMF loan program, which would likely require unpopular austerity and privatization measures. But the escalating economic impact of the Iran war may eventually force its hand.

Iran War Fallout Could Force Egypt to Seek Another Unpopular IMF Bailout

Cuba

Europe

Bulgaria

Romania

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks as he displays a map showing the U.S. Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 16, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia. 

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 Diplomacy, Political Instability in the Balkans

Satellite imagery shows a broad view of the Strait of Hormuz between southern Iran and Oman's Musandam Peninsula on April 7, 2026.

Pledges to reopen the strait will support U.S.-Iran diplomatic momentum and reduce near-term escalation risks, but shipping activity will recover only gradually amid persistent tensions, with a continued risk of disruption until a durable agreement is reached.

The Operational vs. Diplomatic Impact of the Strait of Hormuz's Nominal Re-Opening

People in Beirut fire bullets into the sky to celebrate the new Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement on April 16, 2026. 

The fragile 10-day truce creates space for rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, but a short-term breakthrough is unlikely due to divergent objectives regarding Hezbollah and territorial control, sustaining the risk of resumed cross-border conflict.

What To Expect as Israel and Lebanon Engage in Talks After Reaching Fragile Ceasefire

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Maldives

India

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

A passenger boat sails past the Indian-flagged oil tanker Kashimasan, which is docked near an offloading terminal at Butcher Island (also known as Jawahar Dweep) off the coast of Mumbai, India, on April 1, 2026.

Energy and fertilizer price shocks from the Iran war will increasingly threaten energy supplies, crop yields and economic growth across the region, pressuring governments' foreign exchange reserves and heightening unrest risks.

In South Asia, Iran War Fallout Risks Worsening Economic and Political Instability

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks as special envoys Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff listen during a news conference after a meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

The U.S. blockade may not immediately collapse the ceasefire with Iran, but it will further disrupt maritime shipping and the global economy.

After U.S.-Iran Talks Fail, Washington Moves To Blockade the Strait of Hormuz

Canada

Peru

China

Vietnam

Hungary

A digital screen displaying news of U.S.-Iran peace talks April 10 in Islamabad. The United States and Iran are set to begin contentious talks April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, with disputes over the 10-point proposal as a framework for discussions and major gaps between U.S. and Iranian demands.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Talks, Hungarians Vote

A satellite view of the Persian Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint seen on the right.

Global Trade

Fears that U.S.-Iran talks will collapse, along with Iran's ongoing efforts to formalize its authority over the strait by imposing transit fees and limiting traffic, will likely keep shippers cautious.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Likely To Remain Disrupted, Despite Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an April 23 Truth Social post that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to sink Iranian boats attempting to enforce Iran's blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S., Iran: Trump Authorizes Navy To Strike Iranian Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz

Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian news outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, published a report April 22 suggesting that Gulf states are vulnerable to sustaining damage to their undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East: Iranian Outlet Highlights Sabotage Threat to Persian Gulf Undersea Cables

The United States reportedly withheld a shipment of $500 million in cash to Iraq from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to intensify pressure on Baghdad to disarm Iranian-backed Shiite militias and select a nominee for prime minister suitable to the United States, Reuters reported April 22.

U.S., Iraq: U.S. Suspends Dollar Shipments to Iraqi Central Bank, Pauses Some Security Cooperation

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 21 that the United States would extend the ceasefire with Iran until "[Iranian] leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal" and "discussions are concluded, one way or the other."

Iran, U.S.: Trump Unilaterally Extends Ceasefire With Iran

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 21, a day after the second round of U.S.-Iran talks were expected to take place, as the United States likely waited for some indication that Iran would participate in upcoming talks, AP reported on April 21.

U.S., Iran: U.S., Iran Delegations To Head to Islamabad for Second Round of Talks as Ceasefire Deadline Looms

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in an April 19 Truth Social post that the U.S. Navy had fired upon and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel attempted to break the U.S. blockade of Iran, marking the first U.S. seizure of an Iranian ship since the start of the blockade.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Seizes Iranian Vessel, Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz and Attacks Ships

Sudan

Pakistan has put on hold the provision of a $1.5 billion weapons shipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, after Saudi Arabia said it would not finance the purchase and that the agreement should be terminated, Reuters reported on April 21, quoting three Pakistani officials.

Sudan: Pakistan Reportedly Halts $1.5B Weapons Shipment to SAF Amid Saudi Objection

Nigeria

Nigeria and Turkey concluded a military cooperation agreement to strengthen defense ties through training, joint production and broader defense industry collaboration, Jeune Afrique reported on April 19.

Nigeria: Abuja Signs Defense Deal With Turkey Amid Escalating Jihadist Insurgency

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Iran: Trump Authorizes Navy To Strike Iranian Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz

Middle East: Iranian Outlet Highlights Sabotage Threat to Persian Gulf Undersea Cables

U.S., Iraq: U.S. Suspends Dollar Shipments to Iraqi Central Bank, Pauses Some Security Cooperation

Iran, U.S.: Trump Unilaterally Extends Ceasefire With Iran

U.S., Iran: U.S., Iran Delegations To Head to Islamabad for Second Round of Talks as Ceasefire Deadline Looms

U.S., Iran: U.S. Seizes Iranian Vessel, Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz and Attacks Ships

Sudan: Pakistan Reportedly Halts $1.5B Weapons Shipment to SAF Amid Saudi Objection

Nigeria: Abuja Signs Defense Deal With Turkey Amid Escalating Jihadist Insurgency

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