<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

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Trade

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

Military & Security

Politics

Geopolitical, security and environmental risks threaten to disrupt trade through crucial waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Suez Canal, the Danish and Turkish straits, and the Panama Canal.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 2

Diverse security risks threaten maritime chokepoints around the world, presenting unique challenges to international trade.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 1

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after the Presidential Cabinet meeting on May 12, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The process remains fragile amid the risk of stalled progress on the PKK's disarmament, the lingering threat of Kurdish militant attacks, and the potential for empty government promises.

Threats to the Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

United States

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Germany

France

United Kingdom

The Maanshan nuclear power plant is seen next to a beach in Pingtung, in southern Taiwan, on April 29, 2025.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Iran Meets With European Powers, Taiwan Holds a Nuclear Referendum

Snapshots

Saudi Mining and Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef addresses the Future Mineral Forum in Riyadh on Jan. 10, 2024. 

Despite recent deals, the kingdom's mining sector will struggle to secure the level of investment needed to accomplish its Vision 2030 goals, though certain minerals adjacent to oil production, like lithium, are poised for greater growth.

The Challenges and Opportunities in Saudi Arabia's Mining Sector

A tank is seen during Turkey's International Defense Industry Fair on July 22, 2024, in Istanbul.

Turkey's push to improve its air defenses in Syria amid Israel's ongoing aerial campaign raises the risk of tactical incidents and a brief crisis, although a larger conflict remains unlikely.

In Syria, Turkey and Israel's Parallel Deployments Heighten Flashpoint Risks

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi and the foreign ministers from the six GCC countries (Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates) pose for a group photo during the GCC foreign minister meeting in Kuwait City on June 2, 2025.

Despite global economic uncertainty and oil price volatility, Gulf Arab states are expected to sustain solid economic growth, driven by strong fundamentals, substantial buffers and ongoing diversification efforts.

Solid Fundamentals Shield GCC Economies From Global Volatility

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Paraguay

Uruguay

Venezuela

Indonesia

Japan

Singapore

Vietnam

Mercosur is increasingly opening its markets in pursuit of free trade agreements with partners around the world, particularly as U.S. protectionism shifts global trade dynamics.

The Geopolitics of Trade: What Changing Trade Dynamics Mean for Mercosur

China

Russia

India

An aerial view shows a campaign poster of Bolivian presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina and his supporters marching during a rally in La Paz, Bolivia, on Aug. 12, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Bolivian Elections, a Controversial Israeli Settlement Plan 

Tunisian President Kais Saied attends his swearing-in ceremony before the National Assembly in Tunis on Oct. 21, 2024. 

The government's focus on centralizing power and suppressing dissent over economic reform or liberalization will leave the Tunisian economy vulnerable to global downturns and reliant on uncertain foreign support.

Tunisia's Economy at Risk as President Saied Prioritizes Consolidating Power

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel Defense Forces attacks on Yemen's capital Sanaa and other cities likely killed Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, The Times of Israel reported Aug. 29. Several other senior Houthi commanders were also reportedly killed in the attacks, which appeared to be separate from strikes a day earlier on the outskirts of Sanaa, which the IDF said targeted Houthi ministers.

Israel, Yemen: Israeli Strikes Likely Kill Houthi Prime Minister

The United Kingdom, France and Germany -- collectively known as the E3 --== launched the process to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran that were removed as part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action deal using the snapback sanctions mechanism, Reuters reported Aug. 28. 

Iran: Germany, France, U.K. Launch Snapback Sanction Mechanism on Iran

U.S.-Iran Relations

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa ruled out joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties with Israel, Anadolu Agency reported on Aug. 26.

Syria, Israel: Al-Sharaa Rules Out Joining Abraham Accords

A controversial Iraqi law that would have integrated the Iranian-backed, mostly Shiite paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into the military was withdrawn from parliament, Shafaq News reported on Aug. 27.

Iraq: Government Withdraws Paramilitary Law Under External Pressure

Benin

Cabo Verde

Cote d'Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, announced plans to activate a 260,000-strong counterterrorism force to address insecurity in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, Daily Trust reported on Aug. 26.

West Africa: Regional Bloc To Mobilize Counterterrorism Force

Australia

Australia expelled Iran's ambassador and three other senior diplomats and designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization after the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) determined that Tehran orchestrated at least two arson attacks targeting the Jewish community in Sydney and Melbourne in late 2024, The Australian Financial Review reported Aug. 26.

Australia, Iran: Canberra Expels Iranian Ambassador Over Alleged Links to Antisemitic Attacks

U.S. troops stationed in Iraq began a phased withdrawal from the Ayn al-Asad and Victory bases in central Iraq, Kurdistan24 reported Aug. 24.

U.S., Iraq: U.S. Begins Withdrawal from Two Iraq Bases, Relocates Some Troops to Kurdistan

Israel struck Sanaa, Yemen, hitting two power plants and the compound that hosts the presidential palace, just two days after Yemen's Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile carrying its first cluster munition against Israel, The Times of Israel reported on Aug. 24. 

Israel, Yemen: Israel Retaliates Against Houthis' First Use of Cluster Munitions

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Israel, Yemen: Israeli Strikes Likely Kill Houthi Prime Minister

Iran: Germany, France, U.K. Launch Snapback Sanction Mechanism on Iran

Syria, Israel: Al-Sharaa Rules Out Joining Abraham Accords

Iraq: Government Withdraws Paramilitary Law Under External Pressure

West Africa: Regional Bloc To Mobilize Counterterrorism Force

Australia, Iran: Canberra Expels Iranian Ambassador Over Alleged Links to Antisemitic Attacks

U.S., Iraq: U.S. Begins Withdrawal from Two Iraq Bases, Relocates Some Troops to Kurdistan

Israel, Yemen: Israel Retaliates Against Houthis' First Use of Cluster Munitions

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