Defense/Security cooperation

Turkey's submarines and fast-attack craft ships participate in the live-fire phase of the Blue Homeland-2026 (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Turkey’s military spending jumps to $30B, leads Mideast growth in 2025

Newly released data shows Ankara’s military spending hit $30 billion, while Saudi Arabia remained the region’s top spender and Israel’s outlays declined in 2025.

The US Capitol building is shown on April 20, 2026, in Washington.

Analysis

Turning point on Israel? Democrats’ Senate vote signals shift driven by Iran, Gaza wars

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims he wants to wean Israel off Washington's $3.8 billion in annual military funding within the decade. At least one Democratic contender for 2028 agrees.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the margins of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, on April 17, 2026.

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.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

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.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

MBS hosts Sudan's Burhan in Jeddah as $1.5B Saudi-backed arms deal stalls

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Jeddah, on April 20, 2026.

Analysis

Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands during the press conference following their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj, on April 29, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

Barin Kayaoglu

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

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Jerusalem on February 26, 2026. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

CENTCOM chief visits Israel, Bahrain amid Iran ceasefire, blockade

CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper meets with IDF Chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in Israel, March 31, 2026.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

US President Joe Biden signs the agreement for Finland and Sweden to be included in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

US approves Sweden, Finland NATO bid as Turkey warns of conditions

Turkey's President Erdogan warned again this week that his government would block the two Nordic countries' bid to join NATO unless they take action against Kurdish leftist groups.

Washington Pulse

This picture taken from the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon shows Palestinian rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Aug. 7, 2022.

Israel-Hamas understanding key to quick end to Gaza fighting

Egypt-Qatar mediation brought about what Israel was seeking — a quick end to the violent conflict with Islamic Jihad.

A picture taken on Aug. 4, 2022, shows the closed main gate to Beit Hanun at the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip.

Israel airstrikes kill Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza

Detecting military regrouping, Israel’s air force struck this afternoon several Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza and killed the head of its northern district command.

A People's Liberation Army air force WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone is seen a day before the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China, Sept. 27, 2021.

Drones used by Iran-backed militias are coming from China, US says

Senior US official accuses Beijing of playing both sides in the Middle East’s race for drone technology.

Israeli Prime Minister and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid speaks during the party's opening election campaign rally ahead Israel's general elections, Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 3, 2022.

Israel launches airstrikes against Islamic Jihad in Gaza

Three months before the Nov. 1 elections, and following growing tensions on Gaza border, Prime Minister Yair Lapid decided to respond forcefully to Islamic Jihad threats.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel expands West Bank security fence as violence escalates in Jenin

Following the wave of violence in March and April, Israeli security authorities are working on the unfinished security wall in the north of the West Bank.

Lapid Abdullah

Lapid’s legacy to include better relations between Israel, Jordan

First as foreign minister, and then as prime minister, Yair Lapid identified rehabilitating commercial and diplomatic ties with Jordan as top priority for Israel.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli army on alert after arrest of Islamic Jihad senior official

The IDF has reopened some of the roads blocked off near Gaza, but soldiers remain ready for trouble.

The sign at the entrance to the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel office is seen in this photo, Moscow, Russia, July 28, 2022.

Is Russia escalating Jewish Agency crisis because of Israel's stance on Ukraine?

Some Israeli security and diplomatic experts believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin instigated the Jewish Agency crisis to pressure Israel against selling natural gas to Europe.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R) meets with Josep Borell, European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (L), at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, Tehran, Iran, June 25, 2022.

Israel sees nuclear deal with Iran as inevitable

The working assumption according to which the Mossad is currently operating is that eventually the world powers will reach an agreement with Iran.

Israeli Ambassador to Uzbekistan Zehavit Ben-Hillel together with students at Webster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, November 2021.

Israel tightens ties with Uzbekistan

The recently signed agreement over Uzbeki nursing staff traveling to Israel only highlights the rapid growth in economic, diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shows the way to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, Sept. 21, 2015.

Putin stars in Israeli election campaigns

The diplomatic crisis between Jerusalem and Moscow offered opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu an angle for attacking Prime Minister Yair Lapid.