Russia, China, Iran to hold joint naval drills in Strait of Hormuz: What to know The drills come as the three countries strengthen their ties amid growing US economic and military pressure on Iran. Iran
Iran dispatches senior official to China amid talks push with US Ahead of his trip to Beijing, Kazem Gharibabadi met with the Russian ambassador to Iran on Tuesday. Iran
UAE launches sovereign open-source AI model K2 Think: What to know The Gulf state is one of the few countries in the world developing its own sovereign open-source AI model to counter the dominance of the United States and China in the sector. United Arab Emirates
Interview Qualcomm sees growing demand for edge AI in the Middle East The Middle East's young population is increasingly adopting AI through mobile devices rather than data center-based solutions, Wassim Chourbaji, Qualcomm's president for the Middle East and Africa, told Al-Monitor. Wassim Chourbaji Qualcomm president for the Middle East & Africa
Analysis Trump dials up risky Iran tariffs that would hit China, UAE and others: What to know By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Interview Youth, strong AI adoption make MENA leading region for smartphones: OPPO Lay Ren President of OPPO MENA
Analysis From Sputnik to satellites: How China is pulling Egypt and Gulf into its space orbit By Dale Aluf In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East
Analysis Wang Yi’s tour signals China’s quiet push for influence beyond trade By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Back to roots: India, the Arabian Gulf and the reemergence of West Asia Building personal connections with Gulf leaders has proven instrumental for Modi in fostering stronger ties between India and the region. Legacy: Gulf
How critical is UAE-India trade corridor in countering China & Red Sea tensions? The agreement comes amid continuing Houthi attacks in the sea route that are disrupting global trade, and further indicates strengthening UAE-India relations. Legacy: Gulf
Can India use new Iran port deal to counter growing China-Pakistan ties? The long-term deal to develop Chabahar Port signed between India and Iran in mid-January is a critical component of New Delhi's strategy to bypass Pakistan for access to Central Asian markets and counterbalance the growing cooperation between China and Pakistan. Iran
Saudi inks $3.2B missile defense deal with South Korea as Iran attends expo The World Defense Show has yielded deals between Saudi Arabia and South Korea and may lead to the strengthening of the kingdom’s ties with Iran, the United States and others. Legacy: Gulf
Across Baluchistan, who are the groups targeted by Iran, Pakistan? The cross-border strikes have raised questions about the separatist groups operating in the border area between Iran and Pakistan. Iran
How Red Sea tension is hurting China's auto industry in EU, US The Houthis initially claimed to be only targeting ships linked to Israel, but Chinese shipping is also in peril despite its friendliness to the Houthis' supporter Iran. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis Could China’s COSCO halting ships to Israel spark crisis in Sino-Israeli relations? Experts see the move as part of Beijing's effort to echo what it sees as the voice of the global south regarding the war in Gaza. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
With confidence at all-time high, can China emerge as Mideast peace broker? China is riding a wave of support since its Iran-Saudi agreement, but experts say the Palestinian-Israeli brokerage is a different matter. Israel
2023 in review: China pulls a Middle East coup, but can it sustain expectations? From Saudi Arabia to Egypt, China saw its diplomatic and technology clout significantly grow in the region but still faces limitations in delivering on defense and security arrangements. Legacy: Gulf
What does Saudi Arabia's CICA membership mean for its Asia pivot? The kingdom’s achievement of observer status in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia follows similar moves with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. Legacy: Gulf
Houthi attacks: Hundreds of ships to reroute from Red Sea, 44% cost spike for China The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil, fuel and consumer goods, and shipments between Asia and Europe typically go through the sea and the Suez Canal. Yemen
