Defense/Security cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with King of Jordan Abdullah II during a signing ceremony at The Great Hall Of The People on Sept. 9, 2015, in Beijing, China.

Jordan's King Abdullah heads to China in first visit since 2015: What to know

Ahead of the visit, King Abdullah said that Jordan hopes to expand cooperation with China in green energy, tourism and aviation.

AFP via Getty Images

US general meets Lebanon’s army chief as ceasefire with Israel teeters

Control over a strategic ridge overlooking Nabatieh is emerging as a flashpoint between the Israeli military and Lebanon ahead of the next expected round of negotiations in September.

Jared Szuba

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

SPA

Explainer

Three ways China benefits from Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact: What to know

The pact points to a more multipolar Middle Eastern security order, one in which Washington is no longer the unquestioned center of Gulf security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a press conference in Moscow on June 16, 2026.

Analysis

Fidan heads to Egypt amid questions over Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact

Conflicting accounts of why Egypt stayed out of the agreement have exposed the competing interests shaping the region’s emerging defense architecture.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

New deal reduces Russia’s military presence in Syria: What to know

A Syrian rebel fighter looks on as he stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on Dec. 29, 2024.

Analysis

As US rethinks regional presence, Israel shifts focus to destabilizing Iran

Hussein FALEH / AFP via Getty Images

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

Turkey’s defense exports reach record $5.79B in first 7 months of 2026

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defense and Aerospace Expo on May 6, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Analysis

Katz riles Iran, US as Netanyahu-Trump meeting raises questions

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

2 Israeli soldiers killed by friendly fire

The incident comes less than a week after two Israeli pilots were killed in a helicopter crash off Haifa.

SU-35

Moscow struggles to sell fighter jets in the Mideast

With Egypt and Algeria reportedly backing out of plans to acquire Russian-made fighter jets, there is speculation Tehran could emerge as a potential buyer.

Barnea

Report says Mossad chief had met with Libyan PM

Arab media outlets claimed yesterday that Mossad Director David Barnea met in Jordan recently with Khalifa Hifter’s rival, Libyan transition Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.

Riot police officers patrol in a street as unprecedented protests over a hike in energy prices spun out of control in Almaty on Jan. 5, 2022.

Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union

The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Israel angles for benefits from new deal with Iran

Having reached the conclusion that a new Iran deal is inevitable, Israel is now focusing on getting tactical assurances and military support from the United States.

Jordanian King Abdullah meets in his palace with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (L), Amman, Jordan, Jan. 5 2022.

Gantz, King Abdullah discuss regional stability

Clearly it is no coincidence that Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz met in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah one week only after hosting in his Rosh Ha’ayin home Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) greets Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L) upon his arrival for a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin on Nov. 20, 2019.

Will Germany freeze the arms deal with Egypt?

The mutual escalation between Egypt and Germany regarding the human rights situation in Egypt and the threat to freeze the military deal agreed upon by German Chancellor Angela Merkel before her departure to Egypt raised several questions about the future of the relationship between the two countries as a new government takes over the country.

Gantz Abbas

Benny Gantz, Mahmoud Abbas see eye to eye on security risks

Embracing an opposite approach to that of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz tries reinforcing the status of the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Defense act

Here's what the 2022 NDAA has to say about the Middle East

These are the key takeaways on what the 2022 NDAA says – and doesn’t say – about US policy in the region.

A member of Israel's security forces carries flags of Hamas that were seized during clashes with Palestinian protesters north of Ramallah in the West Bank, on Oct. 8, 2015.

Israel concerned over Hamas involvement in West Bank attacks

There are voices in Israel demanding retaliation against Hamas whenever it gets involved in West Bank terror attacks.

Lebanese army troops take part in a military parade held at the Defence Ministry in Yarzeh on the eastern outskirts of Beirut on Nov. 22, 2021.

Lebanon and Iraq ink defense cooperation agreement

Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Sleem is in Iraq for an official visit.

Israeli tanks are seen in action during a military drill near Ramat Trump settlement in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on Dec. 7, 2021.

Israeli, Russian foreign ministers discuss key regional issues via phone

With the second round of Iran nuke talks resuming in Vienna, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks on the phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.