Turkey’s Erdogan heads to Saudi Arabia for talks with MBS, Pakistan’s Sharif The visit comes as the three countries ramp up coordination to weather the regional fallout from the Iran war. Turkey
Explainer Iran-Oman deal spurs Hormuz hopes as Red Sea threats evolve Iran has signaled that an agreement was reached with Oman establishing a Hormuz shipping route even as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea expand. Iran
Newsletter: Gulf Gulf states map out a post-Hormuz export strategy Saudi Arabia and Kuwait unveiled fresh plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz this week, the latest step in a broader Gulf effort to build a more resilient export network following five months of war. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Oil falls 5% after Trump calls off Iran strikes, says Hormuz deal agreed Oil prices fell after President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had suspended planned strikes on Iran following a request from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries. Iran
Analysis Amid realignment with Egypt, Turkey steps up support for Sudan’s Burhan By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis How strike on Damietta port exposes Egypt's energy infrastructure risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hamas says Israel must withdraw first after Trump announces Gaza deal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power to develop green hydrogen project in Indonesia Green hydrogen has potential environmental benefits as well as drawbacks and is being pursued by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states. Legacy: Gulf
What weapons is US selling to Saudi Arabia in latest $582 million deal? The sale coincides with increased Houthi attacks in Gulf waters and growing Saudi concerns over its defense posture following the Israel-Hamas war. Saudi Arabia
Brazil to join OPEC+ as Saudi-led bloc agrees to oil cuts Saudi Arabia, which leads the alliance of oil producers, has been instituting voluntary production cuts in an effort to keep prices up. Legacy: Gulf
What does Saudi Arabia hosting of Expo 2030 mean for its economy? Winning the rights to host the world fair follows news that the kingdom will likely host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, among several other major events. Legacy: Gulf
Culture In cultural shift, Saudi Arabia allows pets on public transportation Pet owners can now bring their pets onto buses, boats and trains in the kingdom, but only under certain conditions. Legacy: Gulf
Italy and Saudi Arabia in talks for major deals as ties grow under Meloni The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which came into power in October 2022, has been working to deepen ties with energy- and cash-rich states in the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia
What Saudi crown prince's call to stop weapons exports means for Israel The crown prince’s comments come amid persistent opposition to Israel’s strikes against Hamas in Gaza in the Arab world. Legacy: Gulf
What $6.9B China-Saudi currency swap means for Beijing’s efforts to globalize yuan China’s increasing economic influence and the high price of the US dollar, which has increased amid increasing interest rates to tame inflation, have led some economies to switch to cheaper yuan-denominated transactions. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to sign more than $500M in deals with African countries Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, will make some “game changing” investments in Africa. Saudi Arabia
What the Gulf states new unified visa means for Saudi, UAE, other citizens The new Schengen-like visa — allowing seamless travel between members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — will be introduced during 2024-25. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi campaign to boycott TikTok spreads to private sector Many Saudis are calling for a boycott of the popular social media platform over it allegedly removing pro-Saudi content. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s PIF in talks to inject $250M into Chinese car maker The kingdom is looking to develop its electric vehicle market as its economy diversifies away from oil. Saudi Arabia