China, Egypt to hold first air force drill as military ties grow: What to know The exercise scheduled for mid-April comes as Egypt-China ties are growing both militarily and economically despite US pressure on Cairo. China
Analysis From Rafales to railways: Egypt walks tightrope between China, West While Chinese investments reshape Egypt’s economy, structural trade imbalances and conflicting regional interests highlight the limits of this “golden decade” of cooperation By Dale Aluf In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East
IAEA’s Grossi to visit Tehran ahead of second round of US-Iran nuclear talks The IAEA chief’s visit comes just days after nuclear talks between the US and Iran and less than a week after a senior Iranian official threatened to halt compliance with the nuclear watchdog. Iran
China courts Gulf, BRICS allies as trade war with US escalates Since US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on more than 180 countries on April 2, Beijing has stepped up engagement with Riyadh. China
Analysis As China opens to Sharaa, Uyghurs and reconstruction shadow future ties with Syria By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Iran, Russia, China conduct new military drills, defying Western pressure The exercise brought together the three countries' lead warships for the stated purpose of bolstering maritime security, while Tehran-backed Yemeni rebels continued to target international navigation in the wake of the Gaza war. Iran
A year on, China's Saudi-Iran deal endures by virtue of low expectations Whether China’s involvement symbolizes a rejection of US hegemony in the Middle East remains up for debate, but what matters more is the normalization of Saudi-Iranian relations that has materialized. Gulf
How UAE fits into China’s electric vehicle push The United Arab Emirates’ electric vehicle ambitions and restrictions from the United States make the Gulf state an attractive partner for Chinese firms, but Abu Dhabi has a way to go before it meets its electric vehicle ownership targets. Gulf
What message is Turkey signaling to China over Uyghurs' espionage arrests? Turkey has sent a clear message to China through the latest bust against the suspected individuals working on behalf of Chinese intelligence, a prominent former Turkish intelligence officer says. Turkey
Turkey detains 6 people suspected of spying on Uyghurs for China The suspects were rounded up in simultaneous raids in Istanbul for allegedly “collecting information” about prominent members of the Uyghur diaspora and their institutions based in Turkey. Turkey
A year on from Iran-Saudi thaw, little to show beyond photo ops Despite the detente, the two sides appear to have adopted few tangible measures to narrow their long-standing differences over regional influence, while their covert divergence on the Gaza war has only added to the complications of their fragile rapprochement. Iran
Back to roots: India, the Arabian Gulf and the reemergence of West Asia Building personal connections with Gulf leaders has proven instrumental for Modi in fostering stronger ties between India and the region. Gulf
How critical is UAE-India trade corridor in countering China & Red Sea tensions? The agreement comes amid continuing Houthi attacks in the sea route that are disrupting global trade, and further indicates strengthening UAE-India relations. Gulf
Can India use new Iran port deal to counter growing China-Pakistan ties? The long-term deal to develop Chabahar Port signed between India and Iran in mid-January is a critical component of New Delhi's strategy to bypass Pakistan for access to Central Asian markets and counterbalance the growing cooperation between China and Pakistan. Iran
Saudi inks $3.2B missile defense deal with South Korea as Iran attends expo The World Defense Show has yielded deals between Saudi Arabia and South Korea and may lead to the strengthening of the kingdom’s ties with Iran, the United States and others. Gulf
Across Baluchistan, who are the groups targeted by Iran, Pakistan? The cross-border strikes have raised questions about the separatist groups operating in the border area between Iran and Pakistan. Iran
How Red Sea tension is hurting China's auto industry in EU, US The Houthis initially claimed to be only targeting ships linked to Israel, but Chinese shipping is also in peril despite its friendliness to the Houthis' supporter Iran. Gulf
