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

MOHAMED HOSSAM/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli foreign minister meets Egyptian president in Cairo

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in another sign of strengthening bilateral ties.

Commanding officers of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (R) and senior Iraqi commanders (L) meet at the Joint Operations Center in Baghdad's Green Zone, Dec. 9, 2021.

Iraq announces end to US-led combat role with no fanfare

The defeat-IS coalition will continue its advisory mission into next year, despite a declared end to a combat role.

An employee at the Saudi Aramco oil facility walks near a damaged silo at the plant in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Jeddah on Nov. 24, 2020.

Senate fails to block missile sale to Saudi Arabia

The Biden administration has said the AIM-120C missiles are to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against hostile drone attacks from Yemen.

Khanna Sanders

Yemen measure stripped from US defense bill as Saudis up bombing

Rep. Ro Khanna's amendment would have barred US maintenance support and weapons sales that contribute to Saudi-led offensive strikes in Yemen.

RAFI KOTZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s Bennett talks up trilateral security alliance with Greece, Cyprus

In a joint press conference with counterparts from Greece and Cyprus, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pledged to continue and reinforce the trilateral cooperation between the three allies.

An F-35 fighter plane flies over the White House on June 12, 2019, in Washington DC.

UAE says French fighter jets no substitute for US F-35

The head of the UAE's air force sought to clarify comments by France's President Emmanuel Macron last week.

United Arab Emirates

Rafale fighter

UAE signs $19 billion fighter jet deal with France

The sale of Dassault Rafale jets and Caracal helicopters marks Paris' largest foreign military sale to date.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi takes part in a candle lightning ceremony with Israeli soldiers on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Jerusalem, Nov. 29, 2021.

As Vienna talks continue, Israel prepares for possible war against Iran, Hezbollah

Working in all directions against a nuclearized Iran, the Israeli air force prepares itself for different scenarios.

air force

Pentagon review may mean closer oversight of CENTCOM requests

The Pentagon's anticipated posture review remains largely classified, but it may help prevent shows of force in the Middle East which some have seen as excessive.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Israel approves $2.4 billion purchase of US CH-53 helicopters

Israel is seeking to replace its fleet of heavy-lift helicopters over the next few years.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (R) shakes hands with Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Rabat, Morocco, Nov. 24, 2021.

Gantz says Israel, Morocco ‘leap together’ in historic agreement

Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed this week in Rabat a landmark cooperation agreement with Morocco — the first such agreement signed by Israel with an Arab state.

A picture taken on Sept. 18, 2019, shows displayed fragments of what the Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman said were Iranian cruise missiles and drones recovered from the attack site that targeted Saudi Aramco's facilities.

Israel ups the alarm on Iranian drones

Defense Minister Benny Gantz revealed this week that Iran tried transferring explosives in 2018 from Syria to terror elements in the West Bank using an unmanned aerial vehicle.