3 Iranian tankers with 4.8M barrels of oil pass US blockade: What to know At least three US-sanctioned Iranian-flagged tankers have exited the Gulf of Oman as the Trump administration eyes Tehran's moves ahead of sanctions waivers expected to begin Friday. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Explainer Turkey slams France-Cyprus military pact as East Med rivalries deepen Ankara says a defense deal between France and the Republic of Cyprus risks upsetting the island’s delicate balance, as defense ties among Cyprus, Greece, Israel and France deepen. Turkey
Explainer Turkey-Israel tensions flare over Syria, Lebanon, East Med: What to know The Turkish president has accused Israel of threatening Turkey through its military actions in Syria, Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean, triggering a sharp exchange with the Israeli prime minister. Turkey
Iran unveils new missile-armed fast attack boat: What to know The boats are the latest addition to Iran’s "mosquito fleet," a fleet of high-speed attack craft operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
Lebanon expands maritime territorial claim amid dispute with Israel Last year's talks between Israel and Lebanon on their gas-rich Mediterranean Sea border failed to yield an agreement. News Brief
Egypt, Greece, Cyprus edge closer militarily, but may be risking face-off with Turkey Egypt advances cooperation with Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean despite Turkey’s rapprochement attempts. Egypt
Who benefits if Erdogan scraps key maritime treaty? A warning by more than 100 retired Turkish admirals against scrapping an 85-year-old maritime treaty restricting foreign military presence in the Black Sea coincides with rising tensions between Russia and Western-backed Ukraine in the region. Turkey
Turkey’s talk of pulling out of the Montreux Convention part diversion, part 'Ataturk envy' It's unclear if talk of Turkey pulling out the 1936 maritime treaty will be followed by any action, but the discussion should not be taken lightly. Turkey
Russia, Iran propose alternative maritime routes amid Suez Canal blockage Russia and Iran have called for the need to find alternative maritime shipping routes after a giant vessel was stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking maritime traffic for days before it was freed. Egypt
Egypt to open new naval base, shield itself against Libya Egypt is close to opening a new naval base on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, near its border with Libya. Egypt
Turkey and Egypt make first diplomatic contact since 2013 The two countries were at odds over the 2013 coup in Egypt that brought Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to power. Egypt
Is Turkey-Egypt maritime agreement dead in the water? Turkey's efforts to secure a demarcation agreement with Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean seem fruitless as Cairo remains indifferent to Ankara's signals. Egypt
Mixed signals over Israel-Turkey relations An article published in the Tel Aviv University Turkeyscope review might suggest that Ankara wants to rehabilitate its relations with Jerusalem. Israel
Egypt, Saudi Arabia accuse Qatar of undermining Gulf security As Saudi Arabia seeks to thaw relations with Qatar, it called for a meeting with Egyptian officials, during which the two countries condemned Qatar’s interception of two Bahraini coastguard vessels in the Arabian Sea. Egypt
Egypt seeks alliance with Sudan, Israel to counter Turkish influence in Somalia Egypt is reportedly seeking an alliance with Sudan and Israel to counter Turkish moves in the Red Sea. Egypt
Russia to establish naval base in Sudan The combat capability of the Russian navy in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean would be significantly increased with a military base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast. Russia
