<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

Rescue team members work at the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan, in northwestern Iran, on May 20, 2024. Raisi was declared dead on May 20 after rescue teams found his crashed helicopter.

Politics

The death will not significantly impact Iran's regional strategy, but will increase uncertainty surrounding the country's looming supreme leader succession.

Iran's President Raisi Has Died. What Now?

Assessments

Kenya

United States

Taiwan

Europe

Spain

Ireland

Taiwanese President-elect William Lai (C) on Jan. 13 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lai will officially begin his four-year presidency May 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

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

The Weekly Rundown: Kenya's President Visits Washington, Lai Inaugurated in Taiwan

Economics

By dissolving parliament and suspending articles of the constitution, Kuwait's emir is hoping to finally enact overdue economic reforms. But fears of sparking public backlash will still limit the scope of those reforms.

Kuwait's Dissolved Parliament Clears the Way for Stalled Economic Reforms

Columns

On Geopolitics

Then-Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds a press conference in Riyadh on April 25, 2016, after unveiling the kingdom's economic diversification plan known as Vision 2030.

The kingdom's ambitious economic diversification plan has managed to survive the various geopolitical shocks that have emerged in recent years. But can it continue to do so?

Saudi Arabia's Adapted Vision 2030 Still Faces an Uncertain Future

The sun sets behind high voltage transmission towers along a highway in El-Shorouk, about 47 kilometers outside the city center of Cairo, on July 24, 2023. 

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Egypt will struggle to increase its gas supplies and expand its renewable energy sector to keep up with the electricity needs of the country's growing population, portending more power cuts in the coming years.

Egypt's Energy Crisis Isn't Going Anywhere

Media

Podcasts

What are each country's defense capabilities?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Israel-Iran Relations

A picture taken on May 6, 2024, shows smoke billowing following a bombardment east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. 

If Hamas doesn't agree to a more favorable cease-fire deal, Israel will likely expand its push into Gaza's southernmost city at the risk of exacerbating domestic and international blowback.

With the Capture of a Border Crossing, Israel's Rafah Operation Has Begun

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 29 at a Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-U.S. Strategic Partnership in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Riyadh will continue to progressively advance diplomatic relations with Israel and deepen defense ties with the United States, while maintaining its cautious outreach to Iran.

Assessing Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy During the Israel-Hamas War and Beyond

People attend the funeral procession in Tehran, Iran, on April 5, 2024, for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a recent Israeli strike in Syria.

Israel and Iran have shown they can stand on the brink and still step back. But future confrontations will run the risk of derailing strategic logic in their behavior, potentially trapping them in a war neither wants.

For Israel and Iran, April's Exchange Ushers In a New Era of Deterrence

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

China

France

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

Social Issues

Hundreds of anti-migration demonstrators took to the streets of Jebeniana north of Sfax city on the Mediterranean coast to protest against the presence of stranded sub-Saharan migrants, AP reported on May 18.

Tunisia: Tunisians Protest Against Stranded Migrants

Trucks began moving humanitarian aid ashore from the U.S.-built temporary humanitarian pier in Gaza around 9 a.m. local time, U.S. Central Command reported via X, formerly Twitter, on May 17.

U.S., Israel: First Aid Arrives Through U.S.-Built Temporary Pier in Gaza

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel plans to abolish its free trade agreement with Turkey and impose a 100% tariff on Turkish imports in retaliation for Turkey's decision to halt exports to Israel, Reuters reported on May 16.

Turkey, Israel: Israeli Finance Minister Plans To Abolish Free Trade With Turkey

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched several drones, hitting a sensitive Israeli military installation west of the city of Tiberias, Reuters reported on May 15. 

Israel, Lebanon: Hezbollah Strikes Advanced Israeli Radar System West of Tiberias

Comoros

Djibouti

Mauritania

Somalia

Sudan

Arab leaders began to arrive in Manama, Bahrain, on May 15, for the 33rd Arab League summit that will focus on developing a consensus on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, The National reported the next day.

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

White House officials told Congress on May 14 that it would send some $1 billion in fresh arms and ammo to Israel, including $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, though it is unclear when the delivery will take place, AP reported on May 15.

U.S., Israel: Despite Rafah Threats, U.S. To Send $1B in Ammo and Aid to Israel

India

On May 13, India signed an agreement with Iran to jointly develop and manage Chabahar port for the next 10 years, The Economic Times reported on May 14. 

India: New Delhi Signs 10-Year Agreement To Manage Iran's Chabahar Port

A group of 25 Tunisian nongovernmental organizations released a joint statement accusing President Kais Saied's government of intensifying its crackdown on reporters and lawyers ahead of the Tunisian presidential election later in 2024, Bloomberg reported on May 13.

Tunisia: NGOs Allege Intensifying Crackdown on Lawyers, Journalists

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Tunisia: Tunisians Protest Against Stranded Migrants

U.S., Israel: First Aid Arrives Through U.S.-Built Temporary Pier in Gaza

Turkey, Israel: Israeli Finance Minister Plans To Abolish Free Trade With Turkey

Israel, Lebanon: Hezbollah Strikes Advanced Israeli Radar System West of Tiberias

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

U.S., Israel: Despite Rafah Threats, U.S. To Send $1B in Ammo and Aid to Israel

India: New Delhi Signs 10-Year Agreement To Manage Iran's Chabahar Port

Tunisia: NGOs Allege Intensifying Crackdown on Lawyers, Journalists

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