Despite plans to increase production from its Zohr gas field, which saw a decline in output in 2023 and 2024, Cairo shocked everyone with a new agreement with Tel Aviv: the extension of a third Israeli gas pipeline to Egypt, increasing imports by 17%.

The Audit Bureau terminated the postal services contract in Lebanon this September, which had benefited a group of companies led by French billionaire Rodolphe Saade, who has close ties to Emmanuel Macron.

Lebanon takes first steps toward oil and gas exploration in its waters as part of the maritime border demarcation agreement with “Israel,” signed in 2022.

In a move that stirred displeasure from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Iran declared its full readiness to start drilling at the Dara gas field for natural gas. Both Gulf states rejected this announcement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen as a skillful diplomatic player in the Russian-Ukrainian war.