Trump’s first year back: Iran weakened, Gaza ceasefire in place, and shipping in the Red Sea increased.
Browsing: MiddleEast
Pakistan is pivoting toward the Middle East with defense deals, but is constrained by terrorism, economic fragility, and domestic ideological vulnerability.
2025 reshaped the Middle East: Israel weakened Iran but became the region’s primary destabilizer, stalling the Abraham Accords.
Gen Z protesters across the Middle East are mobilizing against corruption and economic despair, signaling a new wave of youth-driven unrest.
China used economic ties and support for Iran to exploit post-Arab Spring instability, turning the region into a key front in US‑China competition.
Beijing’s influence grows when regional dynamics offer easy wins but reverses quickly during instability. With no core interests at stake and foreign policy a lower priority, China adopts a passive approach, unable to shape events when diplomatic statements prove insufficient.