Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia Kyiv is using its domestic production of anti-drone technology and low-cost, AI-enabled interceptor drones to help Gulf states in countering Iranian drones. Saudi Arabia
Ukraine sends teams to help Gulf counter Iranian drones: What to know Ukraine has significant experience downing Iran’s Shahed drones, leading Gulf states to express interest in Ukrainian expertise and hardware. Iran
How US-India trade deal could impact Mideast energy, trade routes The United States and India struck a trade agreement on Monday that eases months of tension between the two countries and could influence Gulf oil flows and economic integration. Saudi Arabia
UAE President meets Putin in Russia to discuss nuclear energy, trade, Iran The visit of Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed comes a day after the Kremlin hosted President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss the future of Russian military bases in Syria. Russia
Analysis Russian leak signals Su-35s for Iran moving to production: What to know By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Erdogan touts potential gas deal ahead of Turkmenistan summit At Wednesday's summit in Turkmenistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is eyeing a gas deal that would extend into Europe. Turkey
UAE-Ukraine trade deal would shore up Middle East food security The goal is to ultimately secure "all aspects of the international food production supply chain." Legacy: Gulf
Ukrainian efforts to stir Circassians against Russia divide diaspora in Turkey A heated debate has erupted in the Circassian diaspora over calls to establish a Circassian battalion against Russia in Ukraine. Turkey
Breaking | Last Updated: December 8, 2022, 3:49 pm US confident Sweden, Finland will soon join NATO despite Turkey's holdup Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the two Nordic states had taken "tangible steps" to address Turkey's security concerns. Turkey
Inside UAE, Saudi roles in facilitating release of Brittney Griner A high-level Gulf source with access to the details of the exchange told Al-Monitor that the exchange happened at a UAE airbase at 5:00 pm Abu Dhabi time (8:00 am ET). Legacy: Gulf
TIME magazine names Iranian women ‘heroes of the year’ Iranian women are leading the protests in Iran that began after an Iranian Kurdish woman was allegedly beaten to death over her head covering. Iran
Iran sent more drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, US suggests Tehran sent additional UAVs, but no ballistic missiles thus far, the White House said. Iran
Al-Monitor/Premise poll finds tight race for Erdogan in Turkey's elections As the battle for Turkey’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections intensifies, an Al-Monitor poll predicts a tight race between the country’s leading opposition bloc and the ruling alliance. Turkey
Turkey asks Finland to resume defense sales amid NATO talks Speaking ahead of the Finnish defense chief's visit to Turkey, the top Turkish diplomat has complained that his country is still under de facto defense sales restrictions from Finland. Turkey
Egypt buys first Ukrainian wheat shipment since Russian war began Egypt's General Authority For Supply Commodities is believed to have purchased 175,000 tons of wheat, through private talks with importers, making it the first Ukrainian wheat purchase since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine. Egypt
Turkey presses Finland, Sweden for ‘asset freeze,’ extraditions Ankara demands “concrete steps” from Sweden and Finland before giving the nod to NATO's Nordic enlargement, including an “asset freeze,” a demand that hasn’t been expressed publicly before. Turkey
Top Turkish, Swedish, Finnish diplomats to talk NATO enlargement Turkey, Sweden and Finland will hold a new round of talks for the Nordic accession to NATO, but Ankara appears to be waiting for more from the Nordic states. Turkey
