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Politics & Security

Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, shake hands before a bilateral meeting ahead of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 5, 2025.

UAE purchases 10 military aircraft from Brazil as BRICS ties grow

The purchase of C-390 Millennium aircraft for the Emirati air force comes as the UAE seeks to build up its military capabilities amid the war with Iran and boost ties with BRICS member states.

United Arab Emirates

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.

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Analysis

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

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.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

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

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

AFP via Getty Images

US defense contractor to set up surveillance center in UAE

The Tawazun Economic Council signed a term sheet with L3Harris Technologies at a drone and robotics fair in Abu Dhabi.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Raisi says Iran's gas production strong despite US sanctions

Iran's president declared that US sanctions have failed to put a brake on his country's lucrative natural gas production.

Sudan's top Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan speaks as he attends the conclusion of a military exercise in the Maaqil area, northern Nile River State, Sudan, Dec. 8, 2021.

Sudan moves ahead with Israel ties

Tel Aviv continues to exchange visits with the contested authorities in Khartoum and deepen their security cooperation, in line with the coup generals’ allies in the Gulf and Egypt.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan calls Russia's recognition of Ukrainian breakaways 'unacceptable'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who cut short his visit to Africa after Russia recognizes two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, expresses support for Zelenskyy’s proposal for summit.

Herzog and Zelensky review honor guard

Israel straddles ties with US, Russia over Ukraine

Israel has made it clear that if it is forced to pick sides between the United States and Russia, it will have to pick the Americans.

Coptic Easter

Egypt’s Copts set to resume trips to Jerusalem after two-year hiatus

In light of an Egyptian-Israeli rapprochement, Coptic flights to Jerusalem returned after a two-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Taliban head of the Nangarhar intelligence services Dr. Bashir (C) walks inside the provincial intelligence compound in Jalalabad on Dec. 12, 2021.

Border crossings and foreign fighters rise after Taliban takeover

A recent UN report and other worrying signs point to a likely surge in both an al-Qaeda and Islamic State presence in Afghanistan in the six months since the Taliban has been in power.

Israeli policemen scuffle with Palestinian Jerusalemite activist Mohammed Abu al-Hummus during a protest in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, Feb. 18, 2022.

Escalation in Sheikh Jarrah could spark new military confrontation

Tension has returned to the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, which portends a renewed military confrontation between Palestinian factions and Israel.

Demonstrators march with flags of Sudan and Venezuela (without the stars) during ongoing protests calling for civilian rule and denouncing the military administration, in the Sahafa neighborhood, Khartoum, Sudan, Feb. 20, 2022.

Egypt seeks mediation in Sudan

Egypt kicked off a series of dialogues with political forces in Sudan to help overcome the Sudanese crisis that erupted due to the military coup that toppled the civilian-led government in October.

Protesters march down 42nd Street in New York during a "It's my Dam" protest, where Ethiopians unite around the Nile River mega-project, March 11, 2021.

Ethiopia warns it won't wait forever over Nile dam dispute

The Ethiopian foreign minister once again criticized Egypt’s and Sudan's attempt to prevent operation of the Nile megadam, sparking an angry reaction from Cairo.

Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Philippines foils alleged Hamas plot to hit Israeli targets

Israel fears that Hamas’ presence in East Asian countries could threaten its interests in the Philippines after an alleged Hamas plot to target Israelis there was revealed.

Russia military

Russia flexes in Syria as US warns of Ukraine invasion

The Kremlin is exercising its power well outside of Europe with naval and air drills on the Mediterranean ahead of an expected invasion of Ukraine.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff