Iran

Saudi Arabia

Military & Security

Politics

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'

United States

Oman

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia suspended U.S. rights to use Prince Sultan Air Base and Saudi airspace to support President Donald Trump's short-lived Project Freedom guiding mission in the Strait of Hormuz, NBC News reported on May 6.

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Effectively Vetoed the U.S.' Project Freedom

Algeria

Iraq

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Russia

Energy

The seven OPEC+ members implementing voluntary production cuts agreed to increase production by 188,000 barrels per day in June, according to a statement released on May 3. 

Global: OPEC+ Agrees to Modest but Symbolic Production Hike in First Meeting Without the UAE

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Jeddah for his second visit to Saudi Arabia in a month, where he is expected to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and advance agreements on security, energy and infrastructure cooperation, Interfax-Ukraine reported on April 24.

Ukraine, Saudi Arabia: Zelensky Visits Jeddah To Expand Security Cooperation

Bahrain

Qatar

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

Sudan

Pakistan

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

Economics

Saudi Arabia will extend an additional $3 billion in support to Pakistan to assist with its upcoming debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported on April 14.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia To Extend $3B in Financial Support to Pakistan

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will reportedly visit Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Geo News reported on April 13. 

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

Assessments

Israel

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

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

Snapshots

The skyline of Dubai is seen on March 11, 2026.

The UAE's exit will enable it to boost production more quickly once shipping through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes, while hindering OPEC's ability to manage the subsequent price drops.

The UAE's Exit From OPEC Further Diminishes the Oil Cartel's Relevance

The city skyline in Dubai is seen at sunset.

Although Gulf capitals are increasingly investing in mid-tier autonomy and offensive capabilities, achieving total strategic independence remains constrained by their enduring need for high-end American systems.

The Future of GCC Defense and Security Strategies in a Changing Middle East

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

Media

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

China

Taiwan

Forecast Webcast

U.S.-Iran Relations

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (L) and the Burj al-Arab hotel (R) on March 11 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With further Iranian provocation, several Gulf Cooperation Council states would be willing to join the war against Iran, but doing so would likely deepen Iran's targeting of their critical infrastructure, exacerbate the globally disruptive impacts of the war and potentially pull the GCC into a permanently hostile relationship with Iran.

Joining in could deepen Iran's targeting of GCC critical infrastructure, exacerbate the globally disruptive impacts of the war and pull the bloc into a permanently hostile relationship with Iran.

Will the Gulf States Join the Iran War, and What Would Happen if They Did?

Yemen

Europe

India

A medicine distributor stores Mounjaro (tirzepatide) self-injecting GLP-1 prefilled pens and vials in a fridge at his office in Thane, India, on March 20, 2026. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

India's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors are set to grow significantly over the next several years amid manufacturing incentives, regulatory reforms and trade deals.

The Growth Outlook for India's Pharmaceutical Sector Remains Strong, Despite Global Uncertainties

People walk along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026.

Global Trade

Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will compel Gulf Cooperation Council states to invest in alternative trade routes and more resilient physical infrastructure.

Gulf Arab States, Shaken by Iran War, Plan Economic Pivot

A digital illustration of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s national flags.

Despite having a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will likely only provide the kingdom with low-level defensive and technical support, rather than direct military intervention against Iran, due to various constraints.

In a War With Iran, the Pakistani-Saudi Defense Pact Has Limits 

Cargo ships and tankers are seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 25, 2026. 

Although most of the Middle East's crucial oil and gas assets have so far been spared, a prolonged conflict would raise the risk of material supply disruptions and price shocks, particularly for LNG markets.

How Will the Iran War Impact the World's Oil and Gas Supplies?

The Crown Plaza on March 1 showing damage from an Iranian military strike in Manama, Bahrain. Iran's attacks will push the Gulf Arab states more toward security alignment with the United States, and threaten their status as a secure investment destination.

Iran's attacks will push the Gulf Arab states more toward security alignment with the United States, and threaten their status as a secure investment destination.

The Implications of Iran's Attacks on the Gulf

Columns

On Geopolitics

Somalia

Egypt

Lebanon

Libya

Syria

Turkey

A dark earth map of the Middle East with glowing details of cities and human population density areas.

Two blocs are emerging in the Middle East: one focused on preserving existing states and institutions, and the other on creating new ones.

Preservation vs. Fragmentation: Two Paths Toward a New Order in the Middle East

Comprising a majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is surrounded by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.  The kingdom's main geographic challenges are controlling its sparsely populated territory and maintaining shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.    Surrounded by vast deserts, the central Najd plateau is the core of Saudi Arabia and is home to the country's capital, Riyadh. Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities, are protected by mountains in the west and flanked by the Red Sea. The security of these cities is a key to the monarchy's legitimacy.    The collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I set the stage for the House of Saud to unify the territory that became Saudi Arabia in 1932. Oil and natural gas have been the country's main exports and source of wealth since their discovery in 1938.     A restive Eastern Province holds a majority of the kingdom's reserves and makes the country vulnerable to invasion from the north or the Persian Gulf. Cross border tribal ties also expose the kingdom to unrest in the south on the border with Yemen.    A scarcity of fresh water and a small population density limit Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities. Since the vast majority of Saudi oil exports pass via the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, the kingdom has historically relied on a foreign power to balance regional rival, Iran and keep the Strait open.    As global oil consumption continues to rise, Saudi Arabia will continue to play a dominant role in the Middle East despite its geographic challenges.

SITUATION REPORTS

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

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Effectively Vetoed the U.S.' Project Freedom

Global: OPEC+ Agrees to Modest but Symbolic Production Hike in First Meeting Without the UAE

Ukraine, Saudi Arabia: Zelensky Visits Jeddah To Expand Security Cooperation

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

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

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia To Extend $3B in Financial Support to Pakistan

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

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