The Pakistani arms deal, backed by Saudi Arabia, strengthens Sudan’s army and shifts the internal balance of power amid a wider Saudi–Emirati regional rivalry.

“Israel’s” recognition of Somaliland, widely condemned, signals a strategic move with major regional and geopolitical implications for Somalia, Palestine, and the Horn of Africa.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki warned that foreign militarization of Yemen’s islands threatens Red Sea security, urging littoral states to take charge and highlighting the islands’ central geopolitical role.

The Yemeni Maritime Security Partnership conference in Riyadh, which brought together representatives from 40 countries, sparked questions about the reasons behind the initiative, its timing, and what impact it might have on the ground.

After the Houthis restarted attacks in the Red Sea following a months-long break, many have questioned why now and if the U.S. could restart its military strikes in Yemen, which have been paused since May 2025.