<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

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Iran

Iraq

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Qatar

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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

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An aerial photo shows the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

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An aspiring middle power, Riyadh must still balance ancient imperatives with modern challenges before it reaches the kind of geopolitical security enjoyed by neighbors like Turkey, Iran and Egypt.

The Modern Geopolitics of Saudi Arabia

United States

A girl walks past posters and banners depicting political candidates from rival blocs competing for a seat in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in old Mosul, northern Iraq, on Oct. 28, 2025, days before the Nov. 11, 2025, parliamentary elections.

Backed by a coalition that reaches across ethnic and sectarian divides, Iraq's current prime minister will likely maintain his position after the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, portending relative foreign policy continuity.

Assessing Iraq's Political Landscape Ahead of Legislative Elections

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Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Snapshots

The new headquarters for Egypt's House of Representatives, the lower house of the country's legislature, is seen on Aug. 1, 2023, at the New Administrative Capital megaproject, which is about 45 kilometers east of the current capital, Cairo. 

With the opposition sufficiently sidelined, pro-government parties will retain a strong majority in the House of Representatives, potentially enabling President al-Sisi to pursue constitutional changes to extend his term.

Egyptian Lower-House Elections To Reaffirm al-Sisi's Dominance

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Why are certain countries and regions more susceptible to youth protests?

Essential Geopolitics: Implications of the Growing Gen Z Protests in Africa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in a state memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the two-year Gaza war at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 16, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Israeli prime minister is unlikely to call early elections and will likely increase military pressure on Hamas in an effort to reduce the likelihood that he is unseated in elections due by October 2026.


Gaza Ceasefire Hangs in Balance as Netanyahu Contemplates Political Survival

Cyprus

A massive flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is seen on Dec. 28, 2023, in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Attempts by Turkey to coerce Northern Cyprus economically could inadvertently strengthen President Tufan Erhurman's support and his drive for federalization with the internationally recognized south.

Turkey Will Pressure New Northern Cypriot President To Abandon Federalization Talks

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) meets with U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, at the presidential palace in Damascus on July 9, 2025. 

The U.S. will leverage permanent sanctions relief to pressure Syria to finalize a security pact with Israel, but the Kurds will resist integrating with President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government. 

U.S. Engagement With Syria Will Promote Stability, but Kurdish Integration Will Continue To Lag

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, hold a meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Oct.15, 2025. 

Syria's outreach to Russia could lead to diversified economic and security ties, help de-escalate tensions between Russia and Turkey, and eventually facilitate small steps toward Syria's rapprochement with Iran.

Syria-Russia Rapprochement Reinforces Damascus's Non-Confrontationalism

Australia

Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Delegations from the United States and Russia, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, respectively, will meet this week to resume conversations about their countries' bilateral relationship and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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: U.S. and Russian Delegations Meet, a Still-Fragile Hamas-Israel Ceasefire 

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Republic of the Congo

Venezuela

At their Nov. 2 meeting, the eight OPEC+ countries implementing voluntary production cuts agreed to boost production by 137,000 barrels per day in December -- the third consecutive small production hike of that level -- but plan to pause production hikes from January-March 2026, Reuters reported. 

OPEC+: Bloc To Halt Production Hikes in Early 2026 Amid Oil Glut, Russian Sanctions Concerns

Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Washington on Nov. 10, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump and sign an agreement to join the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition, Axios reported on Nov. 1.

Syria, U.S.: Syrian President al-Sharaa To Visit Washington

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki began a five-day visit to Egypt on Oct. 30 amid surging tensions with neighboring Ethiopia, which is demanding that Eritrea grant it access to the Red Sea, Addis Standard reported the same day.

Eritrea: President Leads Five-Day Visit to Egypt Amid Surging Tensions With Ethiopia

Mali

The United Arab Emirates reportedly paid approximately €50 million and delivered several tons of weapons and ammunition to al Qaeda Sahel affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in exchange for three kidnapped foreigners, including two Emiratis, Jeune Afrique reported on Oct. 30.

Mali, UAE: UAE Reportedly Pays €50 Million Ransom to JNIM Jihadists

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that Syrian soldiers will be able to receive training at Turkish barracks and, beginning on Oct. 31, 49 Syrian students will enroll in Turkish military academies and later join the Syrian army, Reuters reported on Oct. 30.

Syria, Turkey: Turkey To Train Syrian Military

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, announced that Israel would resume the ceasefire with Hamas after Israel conducted a series of large-scale airstrikes on Gaza, reportedly killing at least 100 people, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 29.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israel Resumes Ceasefire After Airstrikes in Gaza

Turkish authorities formally charged imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is also the 2028 presidential candidate for the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, with "political espionage," Reuters reported on Oct. 27. 

Turkey: Authorities Charge Key Opposition Official With 'Political Espionage'

The militant Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced that it was withdrawing from Turkey to northern Iraq as part of the ongoing Turkish-Kurdish peace process "to avoid clashes or provocations," Reuters reported on Oct. 26. 

Turkey, Iraq: PKK Announces Withdrawal From Turkey to Northern Iraq

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

OPEC+: Bloc To Halt Production Hikes in Early 2026 Amid Oil Glut, Russian Sanctions Concerns

Syria, U.S.: Syrian President al-Sharaa To Visit Washington

Eritrea: President Leads Five-Day Visit to Egypt Amid Surging Tensions With Ethiopia

Mali, UAE: UAE Reportedly Pays €50 Million Ransom to JNIM Jihadists

Syria, Turkey: Turkey To Train Syrian Military

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israel Resumes Ceasefire After Airstrikes in Gaza

Turkey: Authorities Charge Key Opposition Official With 'Political Espionage'

Turkey, Iraq: PKK Announces Withdrawal From Turkey to Northern Iraq

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