<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

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks to journalists in Riyadh before the first meeting of Saudi Arabia's new global alliance to push for Palestinian statehood on Oct. 30, 2024. 

Economics

Energy

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Politics

Protracted regional conflicts risk undermining the kingdom's efforts to diversify its oil-reliant economy, normalize ties with Israel, and balance between Iran and its opponents. 

Saudi Arabia's Regional Strategy, Part 1: Balancing Between Iran and Its Rivals

Columns

On Geopolitics

United States

An Israeli police officer stands near the remains of an Iranian missile on Oct. 2, 2024, near the Dead Sea, Israel. 

In gauging how the conflict will evolve, much will depend on the level of Trump's support for Israel and hostility toward Iran.

How the Israel-Iran Conflict May Play Out With a Trump Presidency

U.S.-Iran Relations

Japan

Sri Lanka

A ballot is cast in front of the Japanese flag. On Nov. 11, the country will select a prime minister and convene an extraordinary session of its bicameral Diet.

Environment, Science & Technology

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

The Weekly Rundown: Japan Selects a Prime Minister, Trump's Shadow Looms Over COP29

A billboard congratulating Donald Trump on his win in the U.S. presidential election is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Nov. 7, 2024.

The return of a more like-minded U.S. president will embolden far-right members of Israel's government to advance their domestic and foreign agendas.

Israel's Far-Right Welcomes Trump's Return to the White House

Global Elections

Media

Podcasts

What does a Trump victory mean for the U.S. economy?

Essential Geopolitics: The Economic Outlook for the U.S.

Mexico

China

Ukraine

Russia

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election event in the early hours of Nov. 6, 2024.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Trump will place more tariffs on U.S. trade partners and reduce support for Ukraine, but he will largely maintain Biden's approach to the U.S. tech rivalry with China and the Middle East conflict.

Trump's Win Will Ripple Across the World

U.S.-China Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses Turkey's parliament on Oct. 1, 2024, in Ankara. 

Social Issues

Ankara's efforts could fail if the pro-Kurdish DEM Party makes extensive demands or if widespread PKK violence breaks out.

To Gain Support for Its Constitutional Reform, Turkey's Government Turns to the Kurds

What is the significance of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's killing, and what role did he play in the organization?

Essential Geopolitics: The Trajectory of the Israel-Hamas War

Moldova

The first day of early voting in the Nov. 5 U.S. election Oct. 21, 2024, in Stamford, Connecticut. U.S. voters will select a new president, 435 representatives, 34 senators, and any number of state and municipal officials Nov. 5.

The Weekly Rundown: America Votes, Qatar's Constitutional Referendum

Chile

Uruguay

United Kingdom

Georgia

Protesters hold Georgian flags during a pro-Europe rally in Tbilisi ahead of Georgia's parliamentary elections on Oct. 20, 2024. 

The Weekly Rundown: Key Elections in Georgia and Japan, Efforts to Resume Gaza Cease-Fire Talks

Nominated U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in an interview with Israeli Army Radio that the United States could back an Israeli annexation of the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported on Nov. 13.

Israel, U.S.: Incoming Trump Administration May Back Israeli Annexation of West Bank

On Nov. 11-12, representatives from Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria and the United Nations, among others, attended the 22nd meeting of the Astana Format held in Astana, Anadolu Agency reported on Nov. 12.

Russia, Iran, Turkey: Guarantor Countries Remain Committed to the Astana Format for Syria

Iran reportedly postponed its retaliation against Israel's Oct. 26 strike to open negotiations with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump after it received a warning through Baghdad, Sky News Arabia reported on Nov. 13, citing Iranian sources.

Iran, Israel: Tehran Reportedly Postpones Retaliation on Israel, Floats Olive Branch to Trump on Talks

The U.S. State Department said it would not institute an arms cut-off to Israeli military units accused of human rights abuses, NBC News reported on Nov. 12. 

U.S., Israel: State Department Will Not Cut Off Arms Deliveries to Israel

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

Negotiators attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference, or COP29, endorsed new quality standards for carbon credits, which are essential for the U.N.-backed global carbon credit market, without significant discussion on the matter, the Guardian reported on Nov. 12. 

Global: COP29 Negotiators Reach Deal on Rules for Global Carbon Market Framework

Ethiopia

Kenya

Somalia

Somalia's defense ministry confirmed on Nov. 8 that Ethiopian forces will not be part of the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, which will replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia peacekeeping mission in January 2025, BBC Amharic reported on Nov. 10.

Somalia, Ethiopia: Somalia Officially Bars Ethiopia From New AU Mission

Qatar suspended its role as a mediator in negotiations between Hamas and Israel due to a lack of progress in recent rounds, though it held open the possibility to resume its role if there was a willingness to end the war, CNN reported Nov. 9.

Qatar, Israel, Palestinian Territories: Doha Suspends Mediation Efforts, Reportedly Expels Hamas

Israel's new Defense Minister Israel Katz said the country had "defeated" Lebanon's Hezbollah, in part by assassinating its top leaders like Hassan Nasrallah, in comments made to media on Nov. 10 at a ceremony in which Gideon Saar replaced Katz as foreign minister, NBC News reported the next day.

Israel, Lebanon: Israel's New Defense Minister Pushes for Cease-Fire With 'Defeated' Hezbollah

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Israel, U.S.: Incoming Trump Administration May Back Israeli Annexation of West Bank

Russia, Iran, Turkey: Guarantor Countries Remain Committed to the Astana Format for Syria

Iran, Israel: Tehran Reportedly Postpones Retaliation on Israel, Floats Olive Branch to Trump on Talks

U.S., Israel: State Department Will Not Cut Off Arms Deliveries to Israel

Global: COP29 Negotiators Reach Deal on Rules for Global Carbon Market Framework

Somalia, Ethiopia: Somalia Officially Bars Ethiopia From New AU Mission

Qatar, Israel, Palestinian Territories: Doha Suspends Mediation Efforts, Reportedly Expels Hamas

Israel, Lebanon: Israel's New Defense Minister Pushes for Cease-Fire With 'Defeated' Hezbollah

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