<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

Ecuador

United States

Cambodia

China

Malaysia

Vietnam

Europe

Italy

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, on March 11, 2025. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

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

The Weekly Rundown: Xi Tours Southeast Asia, Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Begin

U.S.-Iran Relations

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Armenia's foreign minister (2nd R) speaks during a meeting with his Azerbaijani and Kazakh counterparts in Almaty on May 10, 2024. 

A peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is edging closer, but political delays in Yerevan postpone its implementation and leave the risk of renewed border tensions unresolved.

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal Progresses, Though Hurdles Remain

Palestinian men walk amidst the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli strike on a residential area of Gaza City on April 9, 2025. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

With the U.S.'s tacit support, Israel will likely keep expanding its military operations in Gaza in the hopes of pressuring both Hamas and local civilians there to leave, thereby making it easier to reoccupy the Strip.

To Secure Gaza, Israel Pursues a Strategy of Occupation and Displacement

Energy

Global Trade

Rising tensions between the U.S., Israel and Iran are increasing the risk of direct strikes on Iranian territory and potential retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to disrupt global oil flows and destabilize energy markets.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Security Threats in the Strait of Hormuz and Likely Strategies

South Africa

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Ukraine

A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

U.S.-China Relations

Media

Canada

Mexico

Australia

Philippines

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Second-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Somalia

Philippe Lazzarini (C), the commissioner general for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, attends a humanitarian conference for Gaza in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 2, 2024, amid the continuing Israel-Hamas war.

Egypt's economic limitations will continue to restrain its assertiveness in foreign policy, constraining its ability to project power in the region.

Egypt's Economic Priorities Sideline Assertive Foreign Policy

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Social Issues

Intensifying trade wars, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, continued volatility in the Middle East and consequential elections in key countries will shape the quarter.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Global Elections

South Korea

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Snapshots

People in Istanbul, Turkey, walk past a currency exchange board showing the Turkish lira, which fell to historic lows against the dollar upon the news of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest on March 19, 2025. 

Extensive foreign exchange sales have so far kept the Turkish lira relatively stable, but this is a high-risk strategy as it could eventually force Ankara to allow for significant exchange rate depreciation.

Turkey's Efforts To Stabilize Markets Amid Protests May Not Be Sustainable

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to launch negotiations for an EU-UAE free trade agreement, with von der Leyen expressing EU willingness to conclude a deal within months, Reuters reported on April 10. 

EU, UAE: Leaders Launch Negotiations for Free Trade Agreement

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM Party), in addition to the intelligence chief and the deputy leader of his ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, to discuss steps toward a peace process, Hurriyet Daily News reported April 10.

Turkey: Erdogan Holds Rare Meeting With Pro-Kurdish Lawmakers

In drills that ended on April 11, the Israeli air force confirmed that it flew alongside Qatar's air force for the first time at the annual Iniochos exercise held in Greece, The Times of Israel reported the same day.

Israel, Qatar: Military Cooperation Signals Improved Relations, but Normalization Remains Unlikely

During U.S.-Iran nuclear talks on April 12 in Oman, Iran may propose an interim nuclear deal with the United States in an effort to extend talks beyond U.S. President Donald Trump's 60-day deadline, Axios reported on April 10.

Iran, U.S.: Iran May Propose Interim Nuclear Deal as Khamenei Authorizes Potential Direct Talks With U.S.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel and Turkey were discussing deconfliction in Syria, and Turkish and Israeli political sources said these talks were taking place in Azerbaijan, Reuters reported on April 10. 

Israel, Turkey: Governments Establish Deconfliction Process in Syria

Indonesia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced his country was willing to temporarily host around 1,000 ''sick, traumatized and wounded'' Palestinians from Gaza, and confirmed that Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had been instructed to begin logistical preparations, Reuters reported April 9.

Indonesia, Palestinian Territories: Jakarta Offers to Temporarily Host Gazan Refugees

Hezbollah is reportedly prepared to discuss disarmament with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, contingent upon Israel's withdrawal from five contested hilltops in southern Lebanon and the cessation of its military strikes, according to a senior Hezbollah official cited in an April 8 Reuters report.

Lebanon: Hezbollah Reportedly Willing to Discuss Disarmament, Contingent on Israeli Withdrawal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 7 that the United States and Iran would hold "direct" talks on April 12.

U.S., Iran: Governments to Hold Nuclear Talks in Oman

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

EU, UAE: Leaders Launch Negotiations for Free Trade Agreement

Turkey: Erdogan Holds Rare Meeting With Pro-Kurdish Lawmakers

Israel, Qatar: Military Cooperation Signals Improved Relations, but Normalization Remains Unlikely

Iran, U.S.: Iran May Propose Interim Nuclear Deal as Khamenei Authorizes Potential Direct Talks With U.S.

Israel, Turkey: Governments Establish Deconfliction Process in Syria

Indonesia, Palestinian Territories: Jakarta Offers to Temporarily Host Gazan Refugees

Lebanon: Hezbollah Reportedly Willing to Discuss Disarmament, Contingent on Israeli Withdrawal

U.S., Iran: Governments to Hold Nuclear Talks in Oman

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