<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

Iraq and Turkey's flags together on a textile cloth fabric 

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

Turkey is repositioning itself in Iraq by replacing its security-heavy posture with a push for economic and energy integration, signaling Ankara's long-term ambitions to become a regional power broker as U.S. and Iranian influence wanes.

Turkey Shifts Iraq Strategy Amid Waning U.S. and Iranian Influence

A gas flare is seen in the disputed Penja Ali district of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

The oil-salary agreement could cement the Iraqi government's control over Kurdistan, permanently clipping the region's autonomy ambitions, but several roadblocks to implementation remain.

New Iraq-KRG Oil Deal Institutionalizes Baghdad's Dominance

Snapshots

United States

China

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (center right) meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (center left) in Cairo on July 10, 2025.

In the coming years, Egypt will deepen its economic ties with China via increased trade and investment, while simultaneously maintaining its military alliance with the U.S. to address regional security concerns.

Egypt Navigates Its Needs for Chinese Investment and U.S. Military Support

Media

Podcasts

How have Gulf Arab states' positions on the Israel-Iran conflict evolved?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Gulf-Iranian Relations

Columns

On Geopolitics

U.S. Army soldiers prepare to go out on patrol from a remote combat outpost in northeastern Syria on May 25, 2021. 

The U.S. is shifting its Syria strategy from isolation to limited engagement to stabilize the country and protect American interests there, but Turkey and Israel's competing influence campaigns could complicate Washington's approach.

In Post-Assad Syria, the U.S. Struggles to Find a New Strategy

Vehicles drive along a main thoroughfare past a billboard that reads in Farsi and Hebrew: "A severe blow... The vile and villainous Zionist regime (Israel) has made a grave mistake,” in central Tehran on June 24, 2025. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The war has weakened Iran, but has also shifted regional perceptions of Israel as a destabilizing force, prompting Gulf states to reassess alliances, Turkey to emerge as a rival, and raising the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Assessing the Regional Impact of the Israel-Iran War, Part 2

The sun sets behind electrical grids in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on Jan. 3, 2021. 

Power outages will likely worsen this summer amid Iraq's inability to meet surging demand and reliance on unreliable Iranian gas supplies, raising the risk of larger and potentially more violent protests.

Iraq's Worsening Electricity Crisis Risks Fueling Bigger Protests

A collapsed water tank painted with the Lebanese flag is seen in the ruins of a village in southern Lebanon, located near the border with Israel, on Jan. 7, 2025.

Ahead of Lebanon's 2026 election, Hezbollah will try to portray itself as a nationalist resistance movement rather than an Iranian proxy, but the risk of renewed conflict with Israel will persist unless the group disarms. 

To Ease Pressure to Disarm, Hezbollah Pursues a Rebrand 

An Iranian flag is draped from a building damaged during a recent attack by Israel is seen in the Gisha neighborhood of Tehran, Iran, on June 25, 2025. 

The brief war with Israel has significantly weakened Iran's regional influence and military capabilities, forcing it and the members of its Axis of Resistance to recalibrate their strategies and focus on recovery.

The Impact of the 12-Day War on Iran and Its Allies, Part 1

Brazil

France

United Kingdom

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

The Weekly Rundown: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit, a Franco-British Summit

U.S.-Iran Relations

Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired the fifth High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara, which produced 20 intergovernmental agreements covering a variety of sectors, Kazinform reported on July 30.

Kazakhstan: Tokayev-Erdogan Summit Revives Strategic Ties, Anchors Oil and Transit Cooperation

Somalia

Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland offered the United States access to a military base in its territory as well as critical mineral deals in exchange for recognition of its independence, Bloomberg reported on July 30. 

Somalia, U.S.: Somaliland Offers Access to Military Base, Mineral Deals in Return for U.S. Recognition

The European Union, the Arab League and 17 other countries, including Qatar, endorsed a declaration calling for Hamas to disarm and exit Gaza to support a new peace process with Israel, The National reported on July 29.

Israel, Gaza: International Pressure on Both Sides To Reach a Deal Increases

Indonesia

Environment, Science & Technology

Indonesia and Turkey finalized contracts to deliver 48 Turkish KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets following Indonesia's recent purchase of two Turkish Istif-class frigates, Defense News reported on July 29.

Indonesia, Turkey: Sales Deepen Defense, Technology Cooperation

Germany

Belgium

Slovenia

Netherlands

Spain

Hungary

The European Commission proposed suspending Israel's participation in the Horizon Research fund due to human rights concerns associated with Israel's ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported on July 28.

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

Social Issues

On July 27, Israel announced 10-hour pauses in fighting in parts of the Gaza Strip -- specifically Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City -- to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, according to the Times of Israel on July 28. 

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Limited Humanitarian Aid, Airdrops Enter Gaza

Syria will hold its first post-Assad elections for the newly expanded 210-seat parliament on Sept. 15-20, with foreign observers invited to monitor the results, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported on July 27.

Syria: Parliamentary Elections To Be Held in September

A Houthi spokesperson announced that the Yemeni militant group would target any vessel affiliated with companies conducting business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality or destination, Reuters reported July 27.

Yemen: Houthis Threaten to Target Vessels Affiliated with Companies Doing Business with Israeli Ports

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Kazakhstan: Tokayev-Erdogan Summit Revives Strategic Ties, Anchors Oil and Transit Cooperation

Somalia, U.S.: Somaliland Offers Access to Military Base, Mineral Deals in Return for U.S. Recognition

Israel, Gaza: International Pressure on Both Sides To Reach a Deal Increases

Indonesia, Turkey: Sales Deepen Defense, Technology Cooperation

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Limited Humanitarian Aid, Airdrops Enter Gaza

Syria: Parliamentary Elections To Be Held in September

Yemen: Houthis Threaten to Target Vessels Affiliated with Companies Doing Business with Israeli Ports

Forecasts

ANALYSES

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