<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

U.N. Satellite Center cultural heritage analyst Michelle de Gruchy gestures next to a map of Beirut, Lebanon, during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on monitoring damage to cultural heritage in Lebanon and Gaza on Nov. 25, 2024.

Economics

Politics

While Lebanon's renewed negotiations with the IMF may yield a draft agreement, a fragmented parliament will likely prevent Lebanon from implementing key economic reforms and unlocking significant aid.

Despite New IMF Negotiations, Lebanon's Economic Crisis Rages On

United States

A billboard showing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is seen in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 7, 2024.

Energy

Military & Security

New U.S.-Iran talks are unlikely to make headway, if they begin at all, due to distrust and a mutual unwillingness to compromise, which could see the U.S. or Israel resort to military strikes on Iran's nuclear program.

Despite Trump's Push for Talks, a New U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal Remains Unlikely

U.S.-Iran Relations

Canada

South Korea

Europe

Ukraine

India

Canadian flags are seen outside a building in Ottawa. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Canada's Ruling Liberals Pick a New Leader, India and the EU Hold Trade Talks 

Media

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Podcasts

How might U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policy affect emerging and developing markets?

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for Emerging Markets

France

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets with Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) at the Borgo Egnazia resort on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Savelletri, Italy, on June 13, 2024. 

A migration dispute between France and Algeria will likely lead to sanctions, trade restrictions and frozen energy deals amid broader disagreements over Western Sahara.


Divisions Between France and Algeria Deepen Over Migration Dispute

Mexico

China

A truck drives toward the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Blackpool, Canada, on Feb. 2, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: An EU Summit on Ukraine, U.S. Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

An Israeli army vehicle patrols near the fence leading into the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone, which separates Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, on Jan. 5, 2025. 

An open-ended Israeli military campaign in southern Syria risks destabilizing the country's fragile political transition and pushing Damascus back toward anti-Israeli forces like Hezbollah and Iran.

Israel's Effort To Secure Post-Assad Syria Risks Doing the Opposite

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Russia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (4th from left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (5th from left) attend a meeting in Moscow on April 22, 2024. 

Russia's influence in the South Caucasus is set to decline in the years ahead as countries adjust their foreign policies to balance global and regional powers, creating opportunities for China, Turkey and the West.

The Coming South Caucasus Realignment

Syrian Kurds wave independence-era flags in support of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on Dec. 19, 2024, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.

A rapprochement would boost the odds of Turkish constitutional reform needed to give Erdogan another term, while its failure could presage regionwide violence.

Hints Emerge of a Turkish-Kurdish Thaw

Egyptians protest in front of the Rafah border crossing, rejecting the proposed displacement of Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, on Jan. 31, 2025. 

Pro-Palestinian protests will persist regionwide amid allegations of Israeli ceasefire violations, but Morocco and Egypt will avoid taking action that could jeopardize their access to Israeli weapons and energy.

How Will North African Governments Respond to Ardent Pro-Palestinian Sentiment?

Following the deaths of three Syrian soldiers, the Syrian army attacked Lebanese border towns late on March 16, which led the Lebanese Armed Forces to retaliate, Reuters reported on March 17. 

Lebanon, Syria: Border Clashes Follow Deaths of Three Syrian Soldiers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had lost trust in Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and would move to fire him as leader of the country's internal security service, with a Cabinet vote on the matter scheduled for March 19, The Times of Israel reported on March 16.

Israel: Netanyahu Targets Shin Bet Head, Risking a Constitutional Crisis

The United States began military strikes on Yemen's Houthi movement on March 15, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post the same day.

Yemen: U.S. Starts Military Operations Against Houthis

Hamas said it would release a single living Israeli-American hostage and four Israeli-American bodies to signal continued interest in the strained Gaza ceasefire after direct talks with the United States, Reuters reported on March 14.

Israel, Gaza: Hamas To Release American-Israeli To Boost Ceasefire Pressure on Israel

Qatar will supply gas to Syria's southern Deir Ali power plant via the Arab Gas Pipeline with U.S. approval, according to a U.S. official, Reuters reported on March 13. 

Syria: Qatar To Start Gas Transfers as Israel Supplies Druze With Food, Interim President Signs Constitution

Israel failed to resume humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by the Houthis' March 11 deadline, leading a spokesperson for the Yemeni rebel group to say any Israeli vessel -- likely including those with Israeli ties -- in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab el-Mandeb strait and Gulf of Aden would be a target until Israel resumed humanitarian aid into Gaza, AP reported on March 11.

Yemen: Houthi Spokesperson Says All Israeli Vessels Are Targets After Ultimatum Deadline

Israel and Lebanon agreed to begin negotiations over their land border dispute, Axios reported on March 11.

Israel, Lebanon: Israel and Lebanon Agree to Border Negotiations

Egyptian Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk announced that Egypt had successfully completed the fourth review of its $8 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program, and as such, the IMF will disburse $1.2 billion of the loan within days, Egypt Today reported March 11.

Egypt: IMF Approves Egypt's Fourth Loan Review, Set to Disburse $1.2 Billion 

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Lebanon, Syria: Border Clashes Follow Deaths of Three Syrian Soldiers

Israel: Netanyahu Targets Shin Bet Head, Risking a Constitutional Crisis

Yemen: U.S. Starts Military Operations Against Houthis

Israel, Gaza: Hamas To Release American-Israeli To Boost Ceasefire Pressure on Israel

Syria: Qatar To Start Gas Transfers as Israel Supplies Druze With Food, Interim President Signs Constitution

Yemen: Houthi Spokesperson Says All Israeli Vessels Are Targets After Ultimatum Deadline

Israel, Lebanon: Israel and Lebanon Agree to Border Negotiations

Egypt: IMF Approves Egypt's Fourth Loan Review, Set to Disburse $1.2 Billion

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