United States

Israel

Saudi Arabia

Energy

Politics

In a July 23 Truth Social post, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States' civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia would be contingent on the country joining the Abraham Accords and would not allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium.

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Trump Announces Apparent Changes to Civilian Nuclear Deal

Iran

Military & Security

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally approved a deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia that will help the Middle Eastern country develop a civilian nuclear program, and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is expected to sign it on July 22, The Wall Street Journal reported on July 21.

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Nuclear Deal Opens the Door to Future Saudi Uranium Enrichment

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Economics

Saudi Media Minister Salman al-Dosary and Emirati National Media Authority chairman Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Hamad issued an apparently coordinated X post praising their countries' mutual ties, while al-Dosary urged the media to conduct "responsible" reporting on their relations, Bloomberg reported on July 22.

UAE, Saudi Arabia: Coordinated Media Post Eases Tensions, but Disagreements Remain

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they will impose a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia, citing Riyadh's air and land blockade against Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, Reuters reported on July 20.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis To Impose Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia struck the runway of Yemen's Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian civilian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing, AP reported on July 13.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Saudis Strike Sanaa Airport, Houthis Vow Retaliation

Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi-led, pro-government forces clashed on July 4 in the Hays district, south of al-Hudaydah, resulting in the deaths of 16 government forces and at least 50 militants in one of the most violent clashes since the Yemeni civil war essentially froze in 2022, Al Jazeera reported the next day.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis Threaten Saudi Arabia, Kill 16 Government Troops

Sudan

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, is no longer seeking to purchase Iranian weapons and is instead looking to build closer ties with the United States and Saudi Arabia to end Sudan's civil war, Bloomberg reported on June 16, quoting a senior SAF source. 

Sudan: SAF Official Claims Halt to Purchases of Iranian Weapons in Push To Woo Trump Administration

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Turkey

Europe

Director General of Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service Redwan Hussein and former chief of Tigray's interim regional administration Getachew Reda accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, of planning to launch an offensive against pro-government forces with the support of Eritrea "in the coming days" in a June 11 op-ed published by Al Jazeera.

Ethiopia: Intelligence Chief, Former Tigray Administrator Accuse TPLF of Planning Offensive in 'Coming Days'

Snapshots

Middle East and North Africa

Yemeni protesters take part in a demonstration held to send a message of defiance against the continued siege and any military escalation involving Saudi forces against Houthi-controlled northern Yemen on July 17. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

U.S.-Iran Relations

Forced to bypass the disrupted Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's increased reliance on alternative routes leaves its critical oil shipments vulnerable to Houthi attacks.


Yemen's Houthis Threaten Saudi Oil Exports With Red Sea Blockade

Assessments

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Vessels are seen anchored along the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, 2026. 

By demanding investment pledges from Gulf states after threatening a 20% toll, the White House is signaling its defense of global trade routes is now a transactional service rather than a core strategic commitment.

Security as a Service: The Risks of Trump's Transactionalism in the Strait of Hormuz

Armed Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement brandish their weapons during a protest against U.S. strikes on Iran in Sanaa on July 10, 2026. 

The attacks do not necessarily signal an immediate return to a full-scale war between the Saudis and the Houthis or a reignition of Yemen's civil conflict, but the likelihood of more frequent flare-ups in both theaters is increasing.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Exchange Airstrikes, Breaking Yearslong Unofficial Truce

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, top) meets with GCC foreign ministers during his visit to the Middle East to discuss with Arab Gulf allies the interim deal between the U.S. and Iran on June 25 in Manama.

While Qatar and Saudi Arabia explore restoring trade ties with Iran, the United Arab Emirates is aligning its security with Israel and the United States.

Divergent Approaches to Iran Expose Gulf Arab Splits

Guests stand outside a model carriage of the "Dream of the Desert" ultra-luxury train on display during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Efforts to create new export routes via railways and pipelines will be hampered by regional mistrust, uncertain commercial viability and long construction timelines, ultimately keeping Gulf states reliant on the Strait of Hormuz.

All Roads Lead to Hormuz: The Limits of Gulf Infrastructure Diversification

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Syria

United Kingdom

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

Social Issues

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Gulf states' push to employ more local citizens in the private sector will help advance their economies and reduce public wage bills, but it will also create new risks for businesses that have traditionally relied on cheap foreign labor.

The Future of Work in the GCC: Localization, Competition and Business Risks

Commercial vessels are seen offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026.

While recent revelations about the airstrikes indicate a shift in both countries' risk calculations, the UAE's hawkish, Israel-aligned posture poses a greater threat of Iranian retaliation than Saudi Arabia's more restrained approach. 

The UAE and Saudi Arabia Enter the War Against Iran, but With Separate Strategies

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

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

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

Comprising a majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is surrounded by Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.  The kingdom's main geographic challenges are controlling its sparsely populated territory and maintaining shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.    Surrounded by vast deserts, the central Najd plateau is the core of Saudi Arabia and is home to the country's capital, Riyadh. Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities, are protected by mountains in the west and flanked by the Red Sea. The security of these cities is a key to the monarchy's legitimacy.    The collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I set the stage for the House of Saud to unify the territory that became Saudi Arabia in 1932. Oil and natural gas have been the country's main exports and source of wealth since their discovery in 1938.     A restive Eastern Province holds a majority of the kingdom's reserves and makes the country vulnerable to invasion from the north or the Persian Gulf. Cross border tribal ties also expose the kingdom to unrest in the south on the border with Yemen.    A scarcity of fresh water and a small population density limit Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities. Since the vast majority of Saudi oil exports pass via the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, the kingdom has historically relied on a foreign power to balance regional rival, Iran and keep the Strait open.    As global oil consumption continues to rise, Saudi Arabia will continue to play a dominant role in the Middle East despite its geographic challenges.

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Trump Announces Apparent Changes to Civilian Nuclear Deal

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Nuclear Deal Opens the Door to Future Saudi Uranium Enrichment

UAE, Saudi Arabia: Coordinated Media Post Eases Tensions, but Disagreements Remain

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis To Impose Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Saudis Strike Sanaa Airport, Houthis Vow Retaliation

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Houthis Threaten Saudi Arabia, Kill 16 Government Troops

Sudan: SAF Official Claims Halt to Purchases of Iranian Weapons in Push To Woo Trump Administration

Ethiopia: Intelligence Chief, Former Tigray Administrator Accuse TPLF of Planning Offensive in 'Coming Days'

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