Egypt has publicly invoked its decades-old defense agreement with Sudan, signaling a strategic commitment to protect the state amid escalating war and regional power struggles.

Algeria’s rising tensions with the UAE over alleged support for separatists and regional rivalries have brought the two countries to the brink of a diplomatic break.

In January 2026, leaked documents from the European Parliament revealed that the UAE funneled millions of dollars to a Swiss intelligence firm to carry out covert smear campaigns across Europe targeting Islam.

In a move widely seen as signaling the start of a new Middle Eastern chapter, Turkiye is seeking to join the Saudi-Pakistan Mutual Defense Agreement signed on September 17, 2025.

Senegal’s new leadership under Diomaye and Sonko is reshaping national identity by promoting Islamic practices and easing restrictions on women wearing hijabs, challenging the country’s secular French colonial legacy.

Egypt is shifting its Libya policy from backing a single faction to engaging Tripoli and other actors, balancing security, influence, and legitimacy to protect its strategic interests.

The US attack on Caracas and the arrest of Maduro represent an opportunity for US energy companies and hedge funds to make further gains, while China and OPEC closely monitor developments in Venezuela.

Tunisia has been under a near-continuous state of emergency, which President Saied has used to consolidate power, suppress opposition, and restrict freedoms under weak security pretexts.

Syria, “Israel”, and the U.S. agreed on a security and economic coordination mechanism, while Syria’s silence leaves the deal’s political impact uncertain.

Yemen’s political landscape is shifting rapidly as local and regional power balances change and key actors reposition, reshaping the political and military map—most notably in the south.

Shiite forces within Iraq’s ruling Coordination Framework have reached an impasse over selecting a new PM, with both Nouri al-Maliki and current PM Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani firmly backing their own bids.

The sudden U.S. aggression on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolas Maduro, in early January 2026, sent shockwaves across the region, revealing sharply contrasting reactions from Iran and the Israeli Occupation.

With the official launch of Syria’s new currency at the start of 2026, the country is embarking on a shift in monetary policy that goes well beyond design and denomination, touching deeper economic and financial realities.

Libya’s electoral scene remains mired in deep divisions, with parliament and the High Council of State clashing over the HNEC’s leadership and budget, leaving the country’s path to credible elections unclear.

Saudi Arabia’s removal of fees on foreign workers has intensified regional competition for skilled labor, exposing Egypt’s struggle to retain industrial human capital amid economic pressures.