China cuts deal with Houthis, adjusts for long US war with Iran China is cutting its own deals and gaining wartime leverage as the Trump administration scrambles to contain the war and reopen Hormuz. China
Iran signs 25 deals at SCO meeting: What to know Iran's foreign minister urged members of the China and Russia-led bloc to focus more on economic development, while host Kyrgyzstan said progress was a made toward an SCO development blank. Iran
Analysis As US ties fray, top Oman official visits China: What to know For Oman, recalibrating its ties with Washington after the Iran war means diversifying its partnerships — leaning more on European allies like France and deepening its relationship with China. By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll
Explainer China expands Sudan footprint through ports, debt relief, mining Reports have emerged of a potential $300 million copper mining deal between the Sudanese government and a Chinese company. Sudan
China calls top US diplomat's comments in Israel 'absurd' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China was not being forthcoming about the coronavirus and critiqued Israel-China ties in Jerusalem this week. Israel
Gulf’s megaprojects face delays, reassessment Saudi Arabia has cut capital expenditure for a number of Vision 2030 projects amid a drop in oil prices and Chinese investment. Will other Gulf states follow suit? Saudi Arabia
China ramps up COVID-19 diplomacy in Mideast As the Trump administration tries to link the coronavirus to a Chinese laboratory, Beijing is using the pandemic to strengthen ties in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Cairo-Beijing ties strong amid surge of anti-China sentiment in Egypt Egyptian-Chinese relations appear to be unshaken after an Egyptian lawyer filed a lawsuit against China for damages due to the coronavirus. Egypt
Will post-coronavirus world bring chill to Israel-China relations? Not everyone in Israel, especially in the defense establishment, is enthusiastic about cooperating with a large China company in the battle against the coronavirus. Israel
Does Moscow’s withdrawal from OPEC-plus deal end Russia-Saudi honeymoon? Russia’s decision to break off from the Saudis in the OPEC-plus agreement has some merits. Saudi Arabia
Coronavirus damages Iraqi economy with fall in tourism, oil prices COVID-19 has harmed both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy. Iraq
Erdogan to discuss trade, military plans in Pakistan Pakistani and Turkish officials have a variety of topics to address when they meet this week, including investment, foreign policy, China and defense. Saudi Arabia
Is France irked by Erdogan’s passion for Africa? Erdogan’s efforts to boost Turkey’s economic role in Africa have been marked by outbursts maligning France’s colonial past, but there is more to Turkey’s Africa opening that fuels the bilateral spats. Turkey
Iraq's outgoing government keeps mum on China pact Iraq's economic agreement with China was signed in October but its details are still a mystery, providing fodder for conspiracy theories and potential legal objections. Iraq
Libya is only small part of Turkey’s ambitious Africa overture Although Turkey’s moves in Libya capture a lot of headlines these days, Ankara has been busy on other fronts in Africa. Egypt
Sell-off in Oman reveals privatization with regional characteristics Some Middle East countries in need of cash, such as Oman, are selling assets to Chinese and Malaysian state-owned entities. Oman
