Politics & Security - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

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Politics & Security

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R), French President Emmanuel Macron (L), and European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted President Zelensky at the White House for a bilateral meeting and an expanded meeting with European leaders to discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Macron casts doubt on Trump’s Hormuz operation as France-US gap grows

French President Emmanuel Macron slammed President Donald Trump for launching a unilateral operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz instead of pursuing a coordinated effort with Iran.

Sabah Fidan

Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift

Kuwait's top diplomat visited Turkey as the Gulf rift deepens following the UAE’s exit from OPEC and its affiliated alliances, forcing Ankara to balance ties between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

A security personnel sits in a market after markets reopened in Islamabad on April 23, 2026, following heightened security measures amid the ongoing US-Iran peace talks.

Analysis

What UAE’s $3.45B pullback from Pakistan signals about Abu Dhabi's priorities

As Abu Dhabi pulls back long-rolled deposits while investing selectively, Pakistan faces an era of more conditional Gulf support tied to strategic alignment.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Latest News

Under US pressure, will Lebanon repeal Israel Boycott Law?

Members of Lebanese security forces stand guard in the perimeter of the Parliament, a day ahead of a parliamentary session to elect a president in Beirut on January 8, 2025. Lebanese political heavyweights held talks on January 8, a day ahead of a parliamentary session to elect a president of the tiny Mediterranean country, already deep in economic and political crisis, and which has been without a president for more than two years. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom

Zaidi

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Can Bennett, Lapid unite Israel’s opposition to unseat Netanyahu?

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, during a meeting at the Knesset (parliament), in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022. - Final approval of the parliament dissolution bill was initially expected by midnight but was postponed to June 30 as coalition and opposition lawmakers sparred over last-minute legislative details, several sources familiar with the parliamentary said. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Iron Dome in Gulf: How Iran war turned UAE-Israel defense ties operational

AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

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

US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, speaks during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Hegseth stresses support for Israel as Senate Dems grill Trump’s Pentagon pick

In a contentious hearing, the former Fox News host signaled a loosening of rules of engagement for troops abroad and stressed his "robust" support for Israel, yet offered few specifics on how he would tackle the Pentagon’s biggest challenges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 23, 2024.

Iran, Russia set to sign partnership deal: What we know

While the deal has been drafted with the stated goal of reshaping the trajectory of bilateral ties, questions remain over its regional implications, fueled by concerns in Iran over national interests being compromised.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 30: Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani during a press conference after a meeting between the Syrian leadership and a Ukrainian delegation to help strengthen ties between the two countries on December 30, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Syria is transitioning after the fall of the Baath regime and the Assad family's rule, with a temporary administration now in place in Damascus and Aleppo. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)

Syria's top diplomat set to pay first visit to Turkey on Wednesday: What we know

Experts believe that Turkey’s and other regional countries’ security concerns will be key agenda items during the visit.

A member of Syria's transitional government security forces calls the names of persons queueing up at a center for handing over small arms and security registration with the new authorities, in Damascus, on Dec. 24, 2024.

Pro-Assad militias clash with Syria security in Latakia: What we know

The incident, which left two members of the transitional security forces dead, marks the latest violent challenge to the new rulers' grip on power in Syria.

ICJ

Who is Julia Sebutinde, pro-Israel judge in line for ICJ presidency?

The International Court of Justice’s vice president, Julia Sebutinde, seems likely to fill the shoes of outgoing head Nawaf Salam.

An Israeli soldier looks at a memorial wall for Israeli people and soldiers who were killed since the Oct. 7 deadly Hamas attack.

Here are main Netanyahu and Hamas compromises in proposed Gaza deal

Details are beginning to surface about a potential deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump and Netanyahu

Analysis

As Gaza deal looms, will Netanyahu choose Trump or Israel’s far right?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be finding it difficult to play the same stalling game with President-elect Donald Trump he has been playing for months with President Joe Biden.

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) election manifesto at the AKP Congress Center in Ankara, on Jan. 30, 2024.

Turkey’s ruling party hits out at Israel’s support for Kurdish-led SDF

Ankara breaks its silence as Erdogan’s ruling party delivers the first official response to Israel’s support for the Kurdish-led SDF.

This handout picture provided by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on Nov. 15, 2024.

Iran to ramp up nuclear power production as talks with E3 begin in Geneva

Iran is once again at the table for talks with the E3 to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement, which was effectively rendered hollow once the US withdrew from the deal under Trump in 2018.

Newly elected Lebanese president Joseph Aoun delivers a speech at the parliament building in Beirut on Jan. 9, 2025.

Top US general in Mideast meets Lebanon's Aoun in bid to shore up ceasefire with Israel

CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla's final diplomatic tour of the region under President Joe Biden came as the outgoing president defended his foreign policy legacy in a speech from Foggy Bottom.

YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait sentences 13 to prison over Hezbollah financing: What we know

Kuwait has had tense relations with Hezbollah in the past and the ruling comes as Saudi Arabia is reportedly pushing for the Iran-backed group to be disarmed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is joined on stage at the debut of the Year of the Family in Ankara, on Jan. 13, 2025.

Turkey’s Erdogan targets LGBTQ+ community in push for 'Year of the Family' initiatives

The Turkish president took swipe at the LGBTQ+ community and at social media as he announced new measures to encourage child birth.