Iran warning near Hormuz collides with Red Sea shipping comeback Armed boats attempted to intercept a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the same day that major container lines also announced the resumption of limited transits through the Suez Canal. Iran
Analysis Why Trump’s Venezuela playbook could face hard reality in Iran On Wednesday, Trump said an armada larger than the one sent to Venezuela is heading toward Iran and “like with Venezuela,” it is ready to employ force if necessary. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis Turkey casts Israel’s Somaliland move as overreach, but Somalia’s fragility poses risks Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is widely dismissed in Ankara as a strategic overreach, but it is nevertheless exposing the limits of Turkey’s influence in Somalia. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Turkey eyes offshore energy pact with Syria in 2026 amid East Med isolation Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has offered up details on a deal with Syria that could unsettle regional rivals in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Analysis As Turkey’s East Med isolation deepens, will Ankara seek maritime Syria deal? By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Turkey moves into Somalia’s untapped oil, raises stakes in Horn of Africa By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Sisi talks Turkey, East Med tensions, in visit to Greece Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was in Athens amid common hostility toward Turkish activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt
Egypt eyes more economic benefits after signing maritime demarcation deal with Greece Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential decree to ratify the historic agreement signed with Greece on the demarcation of maritime borders, which could help further boost Egypt’s ambition to become a major regional energy hub. Egypt
Pompeo says US-Greek relations at 'all-time high,' urges Athens-Ankara talks In Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Athens and Ankara to resume talks over maritime disputes ahead of an EU summit later this week that is expected to address lingering tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
US mediation pushes Israel, Lebanon on marking maritime border Reports say that following US mediation, Israel and Lebanon are now ready to discuss the marking of their maritime borderline. Israel
Egypt boosts naval power in deal with German shipbuilder Egypt is getting ready to start building its first locally manufactured frigate with the help of Germany. Egypt
NATO in unprecedented bid at in-house deconfliction between Turkey, Greece NATO has made a timely attempt to defuse tensions between fellow members Turkey and Greece, but the initiative comes with many questions. Turkey
US B-52 bombers train with Morocco, Tunisia aircraft over Mediterranean The destroyer USS Roosevelt simulated a hostile ship in a US show of force alongside the North African countries. Morocco
Why Mediterranean tensions may not benefit Erdogan at home An equitable resolution to the crisis with Greece and France would be great for Turkey, but even that may not help the Turkish president’s approval ratings. Turkey
US officials say partial lift of Cyprus arms embargo not related to Turkish-Greek tensions Amid ongoing Turkey-Greece tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, US officials maintained the partial lifting of an arms embargo on Cyprus aims to reduce Russian influence and is not a step against Ankara’s recent maneuvers in the region. Turkey
Intel: Greece seeks French military aircraft as Turkey renews gas exploration in eastern Mediterranean Athens seeks French military hardware amid sharp tensions with Ankara. Turkey
Turkey open to talks with Greece without preconditions: foreign minister During a meeting with his German counterpart, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his government is ready for talks with Greece, but without preconditions. Turkey
Intel: Amid maritime deal with Egypt, Greece invites UN court to settle sea dispute with Turkey Greek Prime Minister suggests that if no agreement can be reached, his country's dispute with Turkey over a maritime boundary should go to an international court. Egypt
