<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

Media

Podcasts

Military & Security

Politics

What are each country's defense capabilities?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Israel-Iran Relations

Assessments

A picture taken on May 6, 2024, shows smoke billowing following a bombardment east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

If Hamas doesn't agree to a more favorable cease-fire deal, Israel will likely expand its push into Gaza's southernmost city at the risk of exacerbating domestic and international blowback.

With the Capture of a Border Crossing, Israel's Rafah Operation Has Begun

United States

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 29 at a Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-U.S. Strategic Partnership in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Assessing Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy During the Israel-Hamas War and Beyond

Columns

On Geopolitics

People attend the funeral procession in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024, for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a recent Israeli strike in Syria.

Israel and Iran have shown they can stand on the brink and still step back. But future confrontations will run the risk of derailing strategic logic in their behavior, potentially trapping them in a war neither wants.

For Israel and Iran, April's Exchange Ushers In a New Era of Deterrence

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

China

France

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

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

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

Pakistan

A welcoming billboard displaying an image of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (left) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is seen along a street in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 22, 2024. 

Energy

Pakistan and Iran's embattled pipeline project, which has faced delays amid funding issues and U.S. sanction concerns, could impede recent efforts to boost bilateral cooperation.

For Pakistan and Iran, a Delayed Pipeline Could Undermine Improved Relations

Snapshots

Moroccan Air Force mechanics examine an F-16 fighter jet at an airbase in Ben Guerir, about 58 kilometers north of Marrakesh, Morocco, on June 14, 2021. 

Pressure from its pro-Palestinian population will not deter Morocco from using Israeli technology to expand its domestic weapons capabilities, as Rabat seeks to catch up to Algeria’s military power and position itself as an arms exporter.

Despite the Gaza War, Morocco-Israel Defense Ties Look Set to Deepen

Ecuador

Europe

A banner depicts IRGC missile models aimed at Israel on April 16 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The ongoing confrontation may be entering a de-escalation phase after the April 19 Israeli counterstrike to Iran's April 13 salvo against Israel.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict, Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum

Tit-for-tat military exchanges between Iran and its proxies against Israel will likely continue, with a constant risk of escalation.

Israel Launches Measured Attack on Iran, but Escalation Risks Remain

Iran will likely respond to Israel's attack, but the scope and size of Iran's response will depend on the scope of Israel's military actions, which is unclear at this time.

Israel Responds to the Iranian Attack

Malaysia

Economics

Malaysia informed a visiting U.S. Treasury Department delegation that it will not abide by unilateral U.S. sanctions against transshipments of Iranian oil, BenarNews reported on May 10.

Malaysia, U.S., Iran: Kuala Lumpur Refuses Washington's Request To Abide by Iran Sanctions

U.S.-Iran Relations

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the country's parliament and suspended some constitutional articles for no more than four years, Reuters reported May 10.

Kuwait: Emir Dissolves Parliament, Suspends Some Constitutional Articles

A group of far-right Israeli settlers set fire to parts of the perimeter of the east Jerusalem headquarters of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, twice incurring property damage but not resulting in casualties or fatalities, as protestors reportedly chanted, "Burn down the United Nations," BBC reported on May 9.

Israel: Far-Right Israeli Settlers Attack UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem, Forcing Closure

Israeli forces advanced around the eastern portion of Gaza's southern city of Rafah, with troops reportedly cutting off the area by taking control of the Salah al-Din road, Reuters reported on May 10.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Advances Into Eastern Rafah Amid International, Domestic Criticism

Israeli leaders pushed back against U.S. threats to cut off arms exports after U.S. President Joe Biden said he would cut off certain arms exports to Israel if the Israel Defense Forces began a major offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah that reached population centers, The Times of Israel reported on May 9.

U.S., Israel: Israeli Leaders Criticize Biden's Threat To Cut Off Arms Exports

The United States paused a shipment of around 3,000 heavy bombs to Israel over concern that Israel might use them in the country's offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, ABC News reported on May 8, citing a Pentagon official.

U.S., Israel: U.S. Holds Up Arms Delivery Over Israel's Rafah Offensive

Ethiopia

Somalia

The foreign affairs minister of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, Esse Kayd, stressed that Somalia's maritime security agreement with Turkey did not grant Turkish ships the right to enter the territory's waters, Garowe Online reported on May 6.

Somalia: Somaliland Warns Turkey Against Entering Territorial Waters 

Algeria said it would stop delivering natural gas to Spain's Naturgy if the utility company sells shares to another company, Reuters reported on May 6.

Algeria: Algiers Threatens To Stop Gas Deliveries to Spain's Naturgy if Its Shares Are Sold

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Malaysia, U.S., Iran: Kuala Lumpur Refuses Washington's Request To Abide by Iran Sanctions

Kuwait: Emir Dissolves Parliament, Suspends Some Constitutional Articles

Israel: Far-Right Israeli Settlers Attack UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem, Forcing Closure

Israel, Gaza: Israel Advances Into Eastern Rafah Amid International, Domestic Criticism

U.S., Israel: Israeli Leaders Criticize Biden's Threat To Cut Off Arms Exports

U.S., Israel: U.S. Holds Up Arms Delivery Over Israel's Rafah Offensive

Somalia: Somaliland Warns Turkey Against Entering Territorial Waters

Algeria: Algiers Threatens To Stop Gas Deliveries to Spain's Naturgy if Its Shares Are Sold

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