<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

Snapshots

United States

China

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (center right) meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (center left) in Cairo on July 10, 2025.

Economics

Military & Security

In the coming years, Egypt will deepen its economic ties with China via increased trade and investment, while simultaneously maintaining its military alliance with the U.S. to address regional security concerns.

Egypt Navigates Its Needs for Chinese Investment and U.S. Military Support

Media

Podcasts

Politics

How have Gulf Arab states' positions on the Israel-Iran conflict evolved?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Gulf-Iranian Relations

Columns

On Geopolitics

U.S. Army soldiers prepare to go out on patrol from a remote combat outpost in northeastern Syria on May 25, 2021. 

The U.S. is shifting its Syria strategy from isolation to limited engagement to stabilize the country and protect American interests there, but Turkey and Israel's competing influence campaigns could complicate Washington's approach.

In Post-Assad Syria, the U.S. Struggles to Find a New Strategy

Vehicles drive along a main thoroughfare past a billboard that reads in Farsi and Hebrew: "A severe blow... The vile and villainous Zionist regime (Israel) has made a grave mistake,” in central Tehran on June 24, 2025. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The war has weakened Iran, but has also shifted regional perceptions of Israel as a destabilizing force, prompting Gulf states to reassess alliances, Turkey to emerge as a rival, and raising the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Assessing the Regional Impact of the Israel-Iran War, Part 2

The sun sets behind electrical grids in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on Jan. 3, 2021. 

Energy

Power outages will likely worsen this summer amid Iraq's inability to meet surging demand and reliance on unreliable Iranian gas supplies, raising the risk of larger and potentially more violent protests.

Iraq's Worsening Electricity Crisis Risks Fueling Bigger Protests

Assessments

A collapsed water tank painted with the Lebanese flag is seen in the ruins of a village in southern Lebanon, located near the border with Israel, on Jan. 7, 2025.

Ahead of Lebanon's 2026 election, Hezbollah will try to portray itself as a nationalist resistance movement rather than an Iranian proxy, but the risk of renewed conflict with Israel will persist unless the group disarms. 

To Ease Pressure to Disarm, Hezbollah Pursues a Rebrand 

An Iranian flag is draped from a building damaged during a recent attack by Israel is seen in the Gisha neighborhood of Tehran, Iran, on June 25, 2025. 

The brief war with Israel has significantly weakened Iran's regional influence and military capabilities, forcing it and the members of its Axis of Resistance to recalibrate their strategies and focus on recovery.

The Impact of the 12-Day War on Iran and Its Allies, Part 1

Brazil

France

United Kingdom

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

The Weekly Rundown: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit, a Franco-British Summit

U.S.-Iran Relations

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Gulf Arab states will increase oil and gas exports to emerging Asian markets, seeking alternatives to the U.S. amid tariff uncertainty. But the region's military and tech ties with the U.S. will remain strong.

Geopolitics of Trade: Gulf Arab States Balance Diversification With Enduring U.S. Ties

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The third quarter of 2025 will be defined by disruptive trade policies fueling supply chain volatility and the persistent risk of escalation in major conflicts.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Turkey will not renew the 1973 Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline agreement, and the agreement will be "terminated" due to underutilization on July 27, 2026, according to a presidential decree published in Turkey's official gazette on July 21.

Turkey, Iraq: Turkey To Terminate Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Agreement in July 2026

The Israel Defense Forces said it would soon begin ground operations in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah town for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, despite concerns about endangering potential Israeli hostages held there, The Times of Israel reported on July 20.

Israel, Gaza: IDF Pushes Into Central Gaza as Government Slow-Walks Formal Occupation

Syrian government forces began withdrawing from their positions in Sweida following another ceasefire agreement with the Druze community, CNN reported on July 17.

Syria, Israel: Syrian Forces Withdraw From Sweida

A Turkish court sentenced key opposition figure and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to one year and eight months in prison for insulting Istanbul's chief prosecutor, although he was not banned from running for office, Politico reported on July 16.

Turkey: Imamoglu Convicted but Not Banned From Running for Office

The Iraqi government will resume budget transfers to the Kurdistan Regional Government after reportedly reaching an agreement with the KRG on its financial dispute, Rudaw reported on July 17.

Iraq: Federal Government and KRG Reach New Agreement on Financial Disputes

The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian army's headquarters and presidential palace in Damascus and additional strikes against the Syrian army's forces in Suweida after clashes between the Druze community and the government's forces, Reuters reported July 16. 

Israel, Syria: Israel Strikes Damascus Following Sectarian Violence in South

A unit of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is bringing in consultants to review the feasibility of and suggest changes to The Line, a linear smart city contained within the larger Neom megaproject, Bloomberg reported on July 14.

Saudi Arabia: Consultants To Cut Aspects of The Line Megaproject

An explosive-laden drone struck the Kurdistan region of Iraq's Sarang gas field in Dahuk province, Reuters reported on July 15.

Iraq: Drone Strike Causes Explosion at KRG Gas Field Operated by U.S. Company

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Turkey, Iraq: Turkey To Terminate Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Agreement in July 2026

Israel, Gaza: IDF Pushes Into Central Gaza as Government Slow-Walks Formal Occupation

Syria, Israel: Syrian Forces Withdraw From Sweida

Turkey: Imamoglu Convicted but Not Banned From Running for Office

Iraq: Federal Government and KRG Reach New Agreement on Financial Disputes

Israel, Syria: Israel Strikes Damascus Following Sectarian Violence in South

Saudi Arabia: Consultants To Cut Aspects of The Line Megaproject

Iraq: Drone Strike Causes Explosion at KRG Gas Field Operated by U.S. Company

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