When Iran was struck, its so-called “Axis of Upheaval” partners offered little more than rhetoric. Russia, stretched thin in Ukraine, provided “best wishes.” China prioritized its own economic interests. North Korea saw an unregulated opportunity. The crisis revealed these are not allies, but transactional partners—a dynamic that may empower Pyongyang as the new wildcard.

Russia’s friendship with Iran has limits. When crisis hit, Moscow offered rhetoric, not real support, revealing a partnership of convenience, not commitment.

From hosting summits to expanding development assistance, India seeks to unite emerging nations while modernizing its military, promoting economic integration, and balancing regional security challenges. Its Global South outreach reflects both historical grievances and ambitions for greater international influence.

From Dubai’s logistics and financial growth to Abu Dhabi’s strategic partnerships, the UAE navigates great power competition with nimble governance. By maintaining multiple international relationships, it safeguards its sovereignty while asserting influence across energy markets, trade, and global diplomacy.

The U.S. has strategically blocked China from accessing advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These measures hinder China’s ability to build large-scale AI clusters and produce cutting-edge logic chips, preserving a critical U.S. advantage in computing power for AI development.

The Trump administration justified the attacks through counterterrorism and protection narratives, but experts question whether Sahel jihadist groups pose a direct U.S. homeland threat, noting they primarily target local populations while still destabilizing governments and threatening regional security.

Despite tactical Israeli and U.S. military successes against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, none have produced permanent strategic victories, leaving Gaza destroyed, resistance movements intact, and regional conflict expanding, while U.S. military commitments and costs continue to grow.

With Assad’s fall and shifting regional dynamics, the United States and Türkiye now share interests in preventing renewed Syrian conflict, limiting migration, countering ISIS resurgence, reducing Iranian and Israeli escalation risks, and supporting a unitary Syrian state through coordinated diplomacy and security cooperation.

Qatar leveraged the 2017 blockade by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to intensify lobbying, defend Al Udeid Air Base, secure arms sales, preserve its major non-NATO ally status, and strengthen military cooperation, successfully defeating congressional efforts that threatened U.S.–Qatar defense relations.

Trump’s 2025 strategy prioritises Gulf ties and transactional interests, reducing US commitments while reshaping Middle East responsibilities.