<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

United States

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

Economics

Military & Security

While recent revelations about the airstrikes indicate a shift in both countries' risk calculations, the UAE's hawkish, Israel-aligned posture poses a greater threat of Iranian retaliation than Saudi Arabia's more restrained approach. 

The UAE and Saudi Arabia Enter the War Against Iran, but With Separate Strategies

A digital illustration of the Turkish flag.

Politics

Continued high inflation, political uncertainty and bureaucratic hurdles will likely limit the overall effectiveness of the reforms, which come ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Turkey Pursues Tax Reforms Amid Economic Fallout From the Iran War

Part of the gas processing facilities of Europe's first helium production pilot plant in Saint-Parize-le-Chatel, France, on Sept. 11, 2024.

Energy

Qatar's halt of helium production due to the Iran war risks causing shortages that disrupt key manufacturing industries, particularly in Asia.

How the Iran War is Choking the World's Helium Flow

Kenya

China

France

United Kingdom

Boats on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions between the United States and Iran will remain elevated, especially around the strait, following the May 7 U.S.-Iran exchange of attacks and Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, France Convenes an Africa Summit

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

People wave Iranian pre-1979 Islamic Revolution and American flags while members of the Iranian community celebrate in front of the Federal Building on March 1, in Los Angeles. 

The recent exchange of fire around the Strait of Hormuz reflects calculated efforts by Washington and Tehran to re-establish deterrence and project strength, complicating already fragile negotiations.


Iran and U.S. Exchange Fire, Further Straining Ceasefire

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on May 6, 2026.

Israel's May 6 airstrike, which killed a top Hezbollah commander, will weaken the already tenuous April ceasefire and diminish prospects for U.S.-backed mediation, raising the risk of a return to a wider war.

Beirut Attack Further Dims Prospects for Lebanon-Israel Peace Talks

Spain

Italy

A worker stands on the uploading dock of Cavaou LNG terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, France, on June 22, 2023, while the tanker boat "Lalla Fatma N'Soumer" arrives full of LNG ready to be delivered. 

Amid energy supply disruptions in the Middle East, Algeria's ability to capitalize on increased global prices and demand for energy exports will be constrained by limited spare capacity and bureaucratic obstacles.

Structural Constraints Will Limit Algeria's Ability To Capitalize on Tighter Energy Markets

An Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16.

A military response from the United States aiming to compel Iranian concessions without committing to ground operations could trigger a prolonged cycle of retaliatory attacks between U.S. allies and Iran.


Iran, U.S. Ceasefire at Elevated Risk of Collapse After Iran Attacks UAE

Australia

Japan

India

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

An oil tanker is seen docked in the southeastern Iranian coastal city of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, in February 2019.

Chabahar is poised to transition from an ambitious commercial venture to a symbolic strategic asset, as India seeks to maintain long-term access and regional influence until sanctions conditions become clearer.

Expired U.S. Sanctions Waiver Threatens India's Chabahar Port Project in Iran

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a declaration on eternal friendship and expanded strategic partnership during Erdogan's state visit to Kazakhstan, Qazinform reported on May 14. 

Kazakhstan, Turkey: Drone Deal Gives Ankara Larger Defense Role in Central Asia

Iraqi officials are seeking financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund to offset the economic toll of the Iran war, Reuters reported on May 14.

Iraq: Officials Seek IMF Support To Offset Economic Impact of Iran War

Saudi Arabia is reportedly discussing a nonaggression pact between Middle Eastern countries and Iran to de-escalate regional tensions after the end of the Iran war, the Financial Times reported on May 14.

Saudi Arabia, Iran: Saudi Arabia Discussing Nonaggression Pact With Iran, Vance Suggests 'Progress'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset, the first step toward ensuring that the government meets its Oct. 27 deadline to hold elections, The Times of Israel reported on May 13.

Israel: Elections Set for October as Knesset Moves To Dissolve

Armenia

Turkey's foreign ministry said Turkey and Armenia had completed preliminary work to resume full trade ties on May 13, adding that more work still needed to be accomplished on technical connections and bureaucratic requirements before full normalization could take place, Bianet reported the same day.

Turkey, Armenia: Trade Ties To Resume, Marking Small Step Toward Normalization

Iran's deputy political director ​of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, said Tehran had redrawn the boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz to stretch from Sirri Island to Jask, increasing the Iranian definition of the strait's width tenfold, Reuters reported on May 12.

U.S., Iran: Iran Redraws the Strait of Hormuz, Trump Says Ceasefire on 'Life Support'

Ukraine

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. artificial intelligence company Palantir, as Kyiv expands its use of AI in the war against Russia, Reuters reported on May 12.

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Kuwait's Ministry of Defense alleged that a six-person team of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members attempted to commit "hostile acts" on Bubiyan Island on May 1, though the intended target and nature of the IRGC's plan were unclear, AP reported on May 12.

Kuwait, Iran: Kuwait Alleges Attempted Iranian Infiltration Operation on Bubiyan Island

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Kazakhstan, Turkey: Drone Deal Gives Ankara Larger Defense Role in Central Asia

Iraq: Officials Seek IMF Support To Offset Economic Impact of Iran War

Saudi Arabia, Iran: Saudi Arabia Discussing Nonaggression Pact With Iran, Vance Suggests 'Progress'

Israel: Elections Set for October as Knesset Moves To Dissolve

Turkey, Armenia: Trade Ties To Resume, Marking Small Step Toward Normalization

U.S., Iran: Iran Redraws the Strait of Hormuz, Trump Says Ceasefire on 'Life Support'

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Kuwait, Iran: Kuwait Alleges Attempted Iranian Infiltration Operation on Bubiyan Island

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