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

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Politics & Security

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Iran’s Hormuz authority declares control over ports in UAE, Oman: What to know

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority released a map showing its “areas of oversight” extending to the United Arab Emirates’ ports, eliciting a rebuke from a senior Emirati official.

TO GO WITH STORY by Peter Martell: "Eritrea-economy-port": A couple of boats and two tug boats can be seen in Eritrea's Red Sea port of Massawa on November 18, 2007. Once one of East Africa's busiest ports, the town is still recovering after being badly bombed in 1990 during Eritrea's war of liberation from Ethiopia. The government is trying to revitalize the port, but efforts are hampered by a sluggish economy and threat of a renewed conflict with Ethiopia. AFP PHOTO/Peter MARTELL (Photo credit should read

Ethiopia accuses Egypt of obstructing Red Sea access bid: What to know

The remark came days after a new maritime cooperation agreement between Cairo and Asmara.

Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel addresses the audience during a rally in Istanbul on April 9, 2025.

Breaking | Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 12:11 pm

Turkish court ousts CHP leadership amid opposition crackdown

The ruling marks a major escalation in the legal crackdown on the CHP, which has already been hit by the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, its presidential candidate.

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Interview

Ahmad Tibi says Arab parties in Israel can block Netanyahu without joining next government

Arab-Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi takes part in a demonstration against rising crime rates against Arab-Israelis in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 31, 2026.

Ahmad Tibi

Ahmad Tibi

Israeli Arab lawmaker

Analysis

Azerbaijan envoy hits raw nerve with reminder of Baku’s sway on Turkey-Armenia ties

A roadside sign marks the entrance to Khnatsakh on May 16, 2025, a border village in Armenia's Syunik Province that has become a frontline community amid rising tensions with Azerbaijan.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey’s NATO pipeline bid fuels rivalry with Greece: What to know

OLE BERG-RUSTEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Quake hits Turkey’s Malatya, reviving fear in 2023 disaster zone

Burak Kara/Getty Images

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pictured on a screen.

Israel excluded from Ukraine's solidarity conference in Paris

While Israel has offered humanitarian aid since the start of the conflict, Ukraine’s president has been strongly pushing for weapons and Iron Dome anti-missile batteries.

US President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with African Union President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi as French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R) and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen look on at the start of the G-20 Summit, Rome, Italy, Oct. 30, 2021.

Biden rebooting relations with Africa at summit, ahead of 2023 visit

Countries in the region have received little attention from US officials in the run-up to the meeting, as Washington neglected the continent and is lagging in its influence compared to Russia and China.

The Abdulhamid Han drill ship, the fourth built by Turkey, in Mersin on August 9, 2022 before it leaves for gas exploration to an undisputed area in the Mediterranean Sea, in south of the city of Gazipasa. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

Security forces stand guard during the lighting of the Christmas tree in Sassine Square in the Ashrafieh district of Lebanon's capital Beirut on December 7, 2022. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco's win at World Cup reopens Lebanon's civil war wounds

Lebanon's former prime minister calls for calm amid sectarian clashes in Beirut following Morocco's win against Portugal.

US President Joe Biden (L) speaks with DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi at the start of the G20 Summit at the convention center "La Nuvola" in the EUR district of Rome on October 30, 2021. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Africa seeks GCC-like economic trust at US summit

Since the United States' last summit of its kind in 2014, US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa dropped from $69 billion to $44.81 billion in 2021.

By Salim A. Essaid

Protesters call on the United Nations to take action against the treatment of women in Iran, following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, during a demonstration in Times Square, New York, Nov. 19, 2022.

Israeli intelligence sees genuine, lasting changes in Iran

According to Israeli security sources, the blunt breach of human rights in Iran blocks world powers from advancing on a nuke deal.

The delegation from Ethiopia arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on December 11, 2022, to attend the US-Africa Leaders Summit. - The summit will take place in Washington, DC, December 13-15. (Photo by OLIVER CONTRERAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

At Biden's first Africa summit, US plays catch-up to China

The three-day summit will bring together African leaders from across the continent, including several with problematic rights records.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Supporters of Tunisian opposition groups march through the streets of downtown Tunis, Tunisia, Dec. 10, 2022.

Protests erupt in Tunisia ahead of elections this week

A week before the Dec. 17 elections, Tunisians held a march in the capital to protest against the upcoming vote.

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Arab influx to Iraqi Kurdistan helps revive economy but corrupts local culture, critics say

Iraqi Kurds are alarmed by the influx of Arabs into their region, fearing they will dilute their ethnic identity and corrupt their values. Yet the Arabs are critical to the region's economy, which increasingly caters to their needs.

The LED board shows a photo of Grant Wahl, an American sports journalist who passed away whilst reporting on the Argentina and Netherlands match, prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France at Al Bayt Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Grant Wahl’s body reaches US as second journalist dies at World Cup in Qatar

Two journalists have died covering the World Cup in Doha, leading to controversy and speculation during the politically charged tournament.

An Indian customer (L) at a foreign exchange outlet changes Indian rupees in Bangalore on August 24, 2013.

Gulf currencies pegged to dollar keep migrant workers’ families afloat

While the strong dollar has played in favor of Gulf migrant workers, they are not exempt from wage increases falling behind the inflation rate.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint press conference with Cuban President in Ankara, on November 23, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Greece compares Turkey to North Korea in latest row with Erdogan

Erdogan’s remarks raise stakes in rivalry between fellow NATO members as threatening rhetoric escalates.