EU-Mideast ties

A fan waves a Pride flag before the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field, on June 3, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Culture

World Cup: Iran fumes over LGBTQ+ themes as Jordan qualifies for first time

Morocco is hoping to build on its historic run in 2022, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others in the region similarly vying to build on recent successes.

Smoke rises as fire burns, in an alleged site of IRGC's missile launch targeted by Israel on the mountains of Shiraz, Iran on June 21, 2025. Israel attacked Iran in early hours of June 13, and the exchange of fire between the two countries continues ever since. (Photo by Hiroon / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HIROON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel likely to strike Iran in 2026, European diplomats say

Israel might opt to strike Iran again next year if it assesses that the Tehran-based government is resuming high-level uranium enrichment.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

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.

Latest News

Analysis

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

Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Germany lifts Israel arms embargo: What changed in Berlin?

(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

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

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrives for an IAEA Board of Governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters on June 23, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.

IAEA chief says inspectors back in Iran as E3 weighs reimposing sanctions

Rafael Grossi's comments come just hours after talks between the E3 and Iran concluded in Geneva, where the two sides discussed the reimposition of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran.

Palestinian flags fly across from the Reichstag at a pro-Palestine activists camp on July 29, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.

Germany inks $408M arms deal with Israel despite pledge to curb exports over Gaza

Though the new deal involves imports rather than exports, it has raised questions about the broader consistency of Germany’s defense policy, as Berlin has sought to distance itself from Israel’s actions during the Gaza war.

Macron and Abbas

Israel, US rift with France widens as Paris rebukes US envoy: What to know

In a letter to President Emmanuel Macron and published in the Wall Street Journal, US ambassador to France Charles Kushner said recognition of a Palestinian state would "endanger Jewish life in France."

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility.

Iran turns to Russia ahead of E3 nuclear talks: What to know

The meeting on Tuesday follows a call on Monday between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Putin expressed support for Iran's nuclear program and its upcoming talks.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) arrives for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague, on June 25, 2025.

NATO summit to be held in Turkey next year, alliance says

Brussels' announcement comes as the Trump administration and Erdogan's government have continued to stake out common ground on stabilizing Syria and the southern Caucasus region.

A special anti-terrorist unit stands in front of the Palace of Serbia to secure the place prior to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival for a meeting with Serbia's president in Belgrade, on Sept. 11, 2024.

Serbia, Slovenia still buying Israeli arms despite embargo: What to know

The Elbit Systems deal with Serbia is one of the largest in the company’s history, second only to a $1.7 billion agreement to modernize the Hellenic Air Force’s training program in Greece.

Buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes surround makeshift shelters for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, on Aug. 8, 2025.

Norway's wealth fund vows to stay invested in Israel after selling shares in 11 firms

In a press conference on Tuesday, the fund said it had sold the stake in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd, a group that provides services to the Israeli military, including the maintenance of fighter jets.

JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images

Interview

Israel’s former Germany envoy: Arms embargo 'warning sign' of growing isolation

Berlin’s embargo over the Gaza City offensive signals a rare fracture in one of Israel’s closest strategic partnerships, former Israeli Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff says.

Jeremy Issacharoff

Jeremy Issacharoff

Former Israeli ambassador to Germany

NOEMIE DE BELLAIGUE/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Germany to halt Israel military exports that can be used in Gaza: What to know

Germany, traditionally one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe, has been under pressure to toughen its stance toward the war in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

An undated image of Enes Hocaogullari.

Turkey arrests youth delegate over Council of Europe address: What to know

The youth activist’s arrest adds to Ankara’s growing isolation as Turkey faces suspension from Europe’s top human rights body.

Greece s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives to attend the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025. EU leaders meet from June 26 to 27 to discuss geoeconomic challenges and the ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. (Photo by Magali Cohen / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by MAGALI COHEN/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Greece threatens to block Turkey from EU loans over Aegean, Cyprus tensions

Greece and Cyprus oppose Turkey’s participation in the EU’s SAFE program over long-standing disputes, even as other EU powers including Germany and Italy deepen defense ties with Ankara amid shifting regional alliances.

Meeting of the Association Council between the European Union and Israel in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hebrew State Gideon Saar and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU countries at the European Council in Brussels in Belgium, on Feb. 24, 2025.

Analysis

'Diplomatic tsunami': Israel grapples with isolation from Europe, Palestine's recognition

Israel is being ostracized not only by European states that have long criticized its policies but also by some of its traditional allies such as Germany and Italy as the hunger crisis in Gaza deepens.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs