EU-Mideast ties

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C/L) welcomes President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at The Chigi Palace in Rome, on Feb. 24, 2025.

Meloni to attend GCC summit in Bahrain as Italy deepens Gulf ties

The summit is expected to focus on economic integration in the Gulf, but regional issues will likely loom just as large, including post-war Gaza and the conflict in Sudan.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Pope Leo XIV during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Ankara, Nov. 27, 2025.

In first foreign visit, Pope Leo meets Erdogan, urges Turkey to uphold pluralism

On his inaugural foreign visit to Turkey, Pope Leo called for respect for pluralism after meeting with the Turkish president.

Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Pope Leo in Turkey, navigating faith, politics and Orthodox tensions

The visit will bolster Turkey’s image on religious tolerance and shared positions with the Vatican while Ankara navigates sensitive issues surrounding the Halki Seminary and the Greek Patriarchate’s ecumenical status.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

(COMBO) This combination created on February 24, 2025 of file pictures shows the leader and top candidate for Chancellor of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz (L, on February 24, 2025 in Berlin) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (on December 9, 2024 in Jerusalem.. Friedrich Merz, who is expected to be Germany's next chancellor after his conservative CDU/CSU bloc won national elections, said on February 24, 2025 that he would make sure Benjamin Netanyahu "can visit" G

Germany lifts Israel arms embargo: What changed in Berlin?

With the ceasefire in place, even though violated at times, Berlin decided to lift the partial arms embargo it imposed on Israel.

Latest News

Italy’s Meloni hosts Abbas amid EU Palestinian statehood push: What we know

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

UK chases elusive GCC trade deal that could boost exports, economic links

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, right, and Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari arrive at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Pentagon’s top general to visit Gaza monitoring center in Israel

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JULY 18: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine attends a meeting between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz at the Pentagon on July 18, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. This is Katz's first official visit to the United States and the counterparts will discuss shared defense priorities, including Iran’s threat posture and the ongoing war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Culture

From viral fame to fine craft: Dubai Chocolate finds new life in London

Some Dubai-style Chocolate being made at Melt Chocolatier's masterclass in London.

United Arab Emirates

APM Terminals.

Jordan’s port in Aqaba signs $242 million investment deal

The agreement with the Dutch firm APM Terminals could help increase trade through the Red Sea port.

Residential buildings are seen unilluminated in the evening on Sept. 10, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.

UAE to help Germany reduce dependence on Russian gas

Qatar is also reportedly close to supplying the European country with natural gas amid the Ukraine war.

United Arab Emirates

LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Greece’s growing influence frustrates Erdogan

Though Erdogan’s outbursts at Greece are widely seen as an attempt to lure nationalist voters ahead of elections next year, his anger is fueled by some very real frustrations in the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (L) meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) in Athens on May 31, 2021.

Turkey, Greece escalate war of words as they drag in EU, NATO

The Turkish and Greek foreign ministers write dueling letters to key international actors as leaders exchange barbs after Erdogan’s one-liner that Turkey “can come suddenly one night.”

Queen Elizabeth II with (L-R) Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, Queen Rania of Jordan, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Princess Anne.

Breaking | Last Updated: September 9, 2022, 7:15 am

UAE, Jordan, Israel mourn passing of Queen Elizabeth of England

Elizabeth II ruled the United Kingdom for more than eight decades.

United Arab Emirates

People wave Turkish flags in an immigrant-heavy district.

Public outcry as EU increasingly rejects Turkish visas

The Turkish public’s outcry over the growing number of EU visa rejections has prompted the Turkish government to threaten the EU with countermeasures, but the matter will unlikely be resolved until underlying structural problems are addressed.

Press conference after meeting in the western Cypriot city of Paphos, on April 16, 2021.

Emirates launches codeshare deal with Aegean as UAE-Greece ties continue to strengthen

The United Arab Emirates and Greece have signed a variety of political, defense and economic agreements in recent years.

United Arab Emirates

Josep Borell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (R), and Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora (2nd-R) chat during a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister at the foreign ministry headquarters in Iran's capital Tehran on June 25, 2022.

Analysis

Iran nuclear deal's fate uncertain as EU makes final push

Neither Washington nor Tehran are calling it quits, but experts are skeptical an EU proposal to revive the nuclear deal can break the deadlock.

Ali Hashem

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Ali Hashem , Elizabeth Hagedorn

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on July 19, 2022, in Belgrade.

Egypt, Serbia launch new chapter in relations amid war in Ukraine

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Serbia opens a new chapter in old relations between Cairo and Belgrade in the midst of the Ukraine crisis and may bring the activity of the member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement to the forefront of international relations.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (R) looks on during a meeting.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to work with France’s TotalEnergies on carbon capture

The deal came during UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to France, where he strengthened energy relations with the European country. The two countries have grown closer over Libya and energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A general view of EU ambassadors with European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.

Israel-EU talks to resume for first time in decade

EU foreign ministers agreed today to convene soon a meeting under the EU-Israel Association Council in order to regulate and advance relations between Brussels and Jerusalem.

Bekir Bozdag

Turkish extradition requests often disregarded by Western allies

Ankara has long viewed foreign courts’ refusal to repatriate suspects as a sign of obstruction by their governments, but the West looks askance at the Turkish judicial system.