The handwritten message from UAE President MBZ to Saudi King Salman was formally an invitation to the 2026 UN Water Conference, but diplomats saw its timing and its direct address to the king as an attempt to bypass Crown Prince MBS, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler.

In mid-January 2026, the NCAG emerged as the emblem of a new phase, supposed to steer the besieged Strip from a fragile ceasefire toward post-war management; however, "Israel" has other plans.

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.

Turkiye has used water diplomacy to secure a historic agreement with Iraq, addressing its water crisis while boosting Turkiye's political and economic influence.

Plans to form an international force to stabilize Gaza after the war remain unclear, as its mandate, oversight, and operations have yet to be defined.