<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

Spain

Italy

A worker stands on the uploading dock of Cavaou LNG terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, France, on June 22, 2023, while the tanker boat "Lalla Fatma N'Soumer" arrives full of LNG ready to be delivered. 

Economics

Energy

Politics

Amid energy supply disruptions in the Middle East, Algeria's ability to capitalize on increased global prices and demand for energy exports will be constrained by limited spare capacity and bureaucratic obstacles.

Structural Constraints Will Limit Algeria's Ability To Capitalize on Tighter Energy Markets

United States

An Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft prepares for landing as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16.

Military & Security

A military response from the United States aiming to compel Iranian concessions without committing to ground operations could trigger a prolonged cycle of retaliatory attacks between U.S. allies and Iran.


Iran, U.S. Ceasefire at Elevated Risk of Collapse After Iran Attacks UAE

U.S.-Iran Relations

Australia

Japan

United Kingdom

India

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

An oil tanker is seen docked in the southeastern Iranian coastal city of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, in February 2019.

Chabahar is poised to transition from an ambitious commercial venture to a symbolic strategic asset, as India seeks to maintain long-term access and regional influence until sanctions conditions become clearer.

Expired U.S. Sanctions Waiver Threatens India's Chabahar Port Project in Iran

Media

Podcasts

What are the key domestic pressures impacting U.S. strategy?

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for U.S.-Iran Negotiations

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

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard next to a national flag as pilgrims march from the center of Baghdad toward the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shiite Islam, during an annual religious commemoration on Feb. 16, 2023.

Ali al-Zaidi's lack of experience and ties to a U.S.-sanctioned bank will complicate his attempts to form a government by the constitutional deadline.

Iraq's Prime Minister-Designate Likely To Struggle To Form Government

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

South Korea

Vietnam

Europe

Russia

Employees walk at the construction site of a gas metering station, part of the pipeline link between Bulgaria and Greece near the village of Malko Kadievo, on March 18, 2022. 

The Weekly Rundown: No U.S.-Iran Breakthrough, EU Ban on Spot Market Russian LNG

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

China

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, where Wang called for a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel and warned that the Iran war was entering a critical phase, AP reported on May 6.

China, Iran: Beijing Presses Tehran on De-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz

The White House reportedly believes the United States and Iran are close to agreeing to a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding that would permanently end the war, after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the Project Freedom guiding mission in the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in negotiations, Axios reported on May 6.

U.S., Iran: White House Optimistic About One-Page MoU With Iran, Suspends 'Project Freedom'

South Korea is launching a likely days-long investigation into the cause of an explosion and fire aboard a South Korean-operated commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which all 24 crew members survived unscathed, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 5.

South Korea, U.S.: Seoul Reviews Hormuz Mission After Vessel Fire

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Sudan

A spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, blamed Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates for drone attacks on Khartoum, noting that the drone had been identified as Emirati property and launched from Ethiopia's Bahir Dar airport, Sudan Tribune reported on May 5.

Sudan: SAF Accuses Ethiopia, UAE of Drone Strikes on Khartoum

The Emirati Ministry of Defense said in multiple May 4 statements that the United Arab Emirates' air defense systems were engaging with Iranian missiles and drones, which appear to have caused a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah.

Iran: Iran Attacks UAE, U.S. Claims It Sank Six Small Iranian Boats

The United States began a mission to "guide" stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, calling on them to transit in waters near Oman through an "enhanced security area" that could include guided-missile destroyers, aircraft and increased troop presence, though details are limited, AP reported on May 4.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Begins 'Guiding' Mission for Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Launches Attacks

China's Ministry of Commerce issued an injunction blocking domestic compliance with U.S. sanctions on five Chinese refiners accused by Washington of buying Iranian oil, state news agency Xinhua reported on May 2.

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

U.S.-China Relations

Kazakhstan

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

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

China, Iran: Beijing Presses Tehran on De-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz

U.S., Iran: White House Optimistic About One-Page MoU With Iran, Suspends 'Project Freedom'

South Korea, U.S.: Seoul Reviews Hormuz Mission After Vessel Fire

Sudan: SAF Accuses Ethiopia, UAE of Drone Strikes on Khartoum

Iran: Iran Attacks UAE, U.S. Claims It Sank Six Small Iranian Boats

U.S., Iran: U.S. Begins 'Guiding' Mission for Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Launches Attacks

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

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

Forecasts

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