Analysis Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan The proposed framework faces major hurdles and fault lines, ranging from NATO constraints to Israeli opposition and weak military integration. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Israel sees chance of US-Iran deal as almost 'non-existent,' readies for war As US President Trump makes contradictory statements regarding his intentions toward Iran and the ongoing negotiations, Israel is preparing for the possibility of resuming military operations. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
MBS hosts Sudan's Burhan in Jeddah as $1.5B Saudi-backed arms deal stalls Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan traveled to Jeddah Monday for a visit that could be aimed at salvaging a $1.5 billion Pakistani arms deal Riyadh has reportedly blocked. Sudan
Analysis Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions Italy’s expected TB3 drone purchase highlights a rapidly deepening, interest-driven alignment with Turkey on defense and geopolitics. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Why Netanyahu caved to Trump on Lebanon and what it means for Israel By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
CENTCOM chief visits Israel, Bahrain amid Iran ceasefire, blockade By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Hormuz blockade gambit aims to squeeze Iran without expanding war By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Efforts to tie Trump’s hands on Iran, Saudi Arabia hold up key defense bill Congressional efforts to tie President Donald Trump’s hands on Middle East policy have helped stall negotiations as Democrats and Republicans struggle to pass annual spending and defense authorization legislation. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan’s US welcome sparks fear Trump will halt Turkey sanctions As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the White House today amid protest from Congress, aides in Congress and experts lose faith that President Donald Trump will impose automatic sanctions on Turkey for taking delivery of a Russian air defense system over four months ago. Turkey
Egyptian, Bahraini leaders exchange praise, strategies Bahrain's king visited Egypt's president last week to discuss national and regional security efforts, Iranian interventionism and bilateral cooperation. Bahrain
Intel: What Russia’s defense minister is up to in Egypt Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is leading a military delegation to Egypt for the sixth session of the two countries' joint commission on defense cooperation. Egypt
Is it time for a historic paradigm shift in the Persian Gulf? Could this be the moment for the countries in the Gulf region to realize they have a lot in common and take steps to reduce conflict? Legacy: Gulf
Russia, Egypt look to boost military ties Russia and Egypt held military exercises as a token of Moscow's increased interest in expanding cooperation with Cairo. Egypt
Trump’s amity with Erdogan deepens Turkey’s isolation The double blow the US House dealt Turkey over its military campaign in Syria shows how wrong Erdogan is to rely solely on his personal relationship with Trump to manage ties with the United States. Turkey
US military aid to Lebanon continues amid protests The Pentagon is not cutting off military aid to Lebanon amid countrywide protests. Lebanon
Pentagon weighs options to deter Russians in Syria After Russian forces in Syria appeared to be heading toward oil fields, the Pentagon proposed deploying tanks as a measure to guard the installations, a US official told Al-Monitor. Iraq
Trump administration scrambles to salvage US troop presence in Syria President Trump says he would leave some US troops in Syria to keep the Assad regime and Iranian forces away from oil fields; the Syrian Democratic Forces commander speaks with both Trump and the Russian army chief of staff. Iraq
Turkey, Russia both claim win in Syria agreement Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to get what he wants regarding the Kurdish People's Protection Units, and Russia appears to gain yet more influence in Syria; has Idlib become a pawn in Turkish-Russian negotiations? Iraq
Pakistan's diplomacy unlikely to work with Tehran, Riyadh The world can hope for, but not expect, great things to come from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent diplomatic trips to Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
