Israeli president meets FM Wang Yi as reports link China to Iran’s military buildup Israeli President Isaac Herzog held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed topics ranging from economic and cultural cooperation to regional security. Israel
Pezeshkian to meet Putin as Iran looks to Russia for support: What to know Russia has reportedly provided Iran with military materiel, intelligence and diplomatic backing during the war. Iran
Analysis Why renewed Egypt-Ethiopia tensions are a problem for China For Beijing, the renewed Egypt-Ethiopia standoff is a zero-sum bind that threatens vital strategic interests on both sides of the Nile. By Joyce Karam
Iran joins SCO drill as China resists direct intervention in US-Iran war An IRGC official said the exercise will focus on countering extremist activities and containing violent groups. Iran
Analysis Why Trump-Xi summit did not move the China needle away from Iran By Yun Sun In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties
Analysis As Iran’s grip on Hormuz weakens, what leverage does Tehran have left? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Despite fanfare, Xi shows Trump no sign of breaking with Iran By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Turkey detains 6 people suspected of spying on Uyghurs for China The suspects were rounded up in simultaneous raids in Istanbul for allegedly “collecting information” about prominent members of the Uyghur diaspora and their institutions based in Turkey. Turkey
A year on from Iran-Saudi thaw, little to show beyond photo ops Despite the detente, the two sides appear to have adopted few tangible measures to narrow their long-standing differences over regional influence, while their covert divergence on the Gaza war has only added to the complications of their fragile rapprochement. Iran
Back to roots: India, the Arabian Gulf and the reemergence of West Asia Building personal connections with Gulf leaders has proven instrumental for Modi in fostering stronger ties between India and the region. Legacy: Gulf
How critical is UAE-India trade corridor in countering China & Red Sea tensions? The agreement comes amid continuing Houthi attacks in the sea route that are disrupting global trade, and further indicates strengthening UAE-India relations. Legacy: Gulf
Can India use new Iran port deal to counter growing China-Pakistan ties? The long-term deal to develop Chabahar Port signed between India and Iran in mid-January is a critical component of New Delhi's strategy to bypass Pakistan for access to Central Asian markets and counterbalance the growing cooperation between China and Pakistan. Iran
Saudi inks $3.2B missile defense deal with South Korea as Iran attends expo The World Defense Show has yielded deals between Saudi Arabia and South Korea and may lead to the strengthening of the kingdom’s ties with Iran, the United States and others. Legacy: Gulf
Across Baluchistan, who are the groups targeted by Iran, Pakistan? The cross-border strikes have raised questions about the separatist groups operating in the border area between Iran and Pakistan. Iran
How Red Sea tension is hurting China's auto industry in EU, US The Houthis initially claimed to be only targeting ships linked to Israel, but Chinese shipping is also in peril despite its friendliness to the Houthis' supporter Iran. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis Could China’s COSCO halting ships to Israel spark crisis in Sino-Israeli relations? Experts see the move as part of Beijing's effort to echo what it sees as the voice of the global south regarding the war in Gaza. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
With confidence at all-time high, can China emerge as Mideast peace broker? China is riding a wave of support since its Iran-Saudi agreement, but experts say the Palestinian-Israeli brokerage is a different matter. Israel
2023 in review: China pulls a Middle East coup, but can it sustain expectations? From Saudi Arabia to Egypt, China saw its diplomatic and technology clout significantly grow in the region but still faces limitations in delivering on defense and security arrangements. Legacy: Gulf
What does Saudi Arabia's CICA membership mean for its Asia pivot? The kingdom’s achievement of observer status in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia follows similar moves with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. Legacy: Gulf
