Turkey’s Fidan to visit Egypt with Libya, Gaza on agenda The top Turkish diplomat’s Cairo visit comes as Ankara-Cairo engagement deepens amid shifting power balances in North Africa and shared concerns over Gaza. Turkey
Greece threatens to block Turkey from EU loans over Aegean, Cyprus tensions Greece and Cyprus oppose Turkey’s participation in the EU’s SAFE program over long-standing disputes, even as other EU powers including Germany and Italy deepen defense ties with Ankara amid shifting regional alliances. Turkey
Analysis Erdogan’s gamble: Turkey bets on Libya to pursue East Med dominance The prospect of Libya’s eastern-based parliament approving a crucial maritime deal with Turkey is growing as Ankara-Benghazi rapprochement intensifies. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey's Fidan heads to New York for Cyprus talks as Libya tensions flare The top Turkish diplomat will attend UN-hosted Cyprus talks amid rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Analysis Is Red Sea truce over? What Houthi attacks mean for US, regional stability By Adam Lucente , Rosaleen Carroll
Somali president visits Qatar, Egypt amid row over Somaliland-Ethiopia deal The tour comes after Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland signed a controversial deal that would give Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea. Somalia
IRGC holds drills as Iran dispatches naval mission to international seas The move coincides with large-scale drills held by Iran’s military and IRGC days after Pakistan struck areas in Iran. Iran
UAE's MBZ in India, meets Modi as Houthis' maritime threat expands The visit comes amid a spike in Houthi maritime attacks that are increasingly disrupting Gulf waters and encroaching on India's coast. Legacy: Gulf
Iran hails Houthi rebels, deploys warship as Red Sea simmers As the Houthi spokesman visited Tehran, the Iranian army dispatched a leading destroyer to the Red Sea, where the United States has been mobilizing an international coalition to end disruptions by the Tehran-backed militant group. Iran
Houthi attacks: Hundreds of ships to reroute from Red Sea, 44% cost spike for China The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil, fuel and consumer goods, and shipments between Asia and Europe typically go through the sea and the Suez Canal. Yemen
In Cyprus, Israel's FM says Gaza maritime corridor deal is imminent A plan for a humanitarian maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza could take shape in a matter of weeks. Israel
Iran launches new naval unit as Red Sea attacks intensify Equipped with rocket-launching vessels, the additional force is introduced amid increasing encounters between Iranian and American vessels in the Persian Gulf. Iran
Iran slams US' planned maritime force in Red Sea The Iranian threats come amid repeated attacks against vessels in the area, mostly claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi group. Iran
Houthi missile hits Norwegian-flagged tanker in latest Red Sea attack Iran-backed rebels hit a Norwegian-owned chemical tanker with a cruise missile, but the ship had no clear connection to Israel, signaling the Houthis may be widening the aperture of their attacks. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria announce mechanism to clear mines in Black Sea The joint mechanism between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania comes after the British government said Russia might use sea mines to deter Kyiv from exporting its grain. Turkey
US accuses Iran’s IRGC of harassing helicopter over the Gulf The first reported tense interaction between the US Navy and Iran's naval forces comes just days after Bahraini soldiers were killed in a drone attack attributed to Yemen's Houthi rebels, who receive arms from Iran. Legacy: Gulf
Pentagon expands role in Egypt war games as US weighs aid cuts Some 1,500 US military personnel are taking part in this year’s Bright Star exercise in Egypt as the Biden administration faces renewed pressure from Congress to withhold a portion of Cairo’s military aid over rampant human rights abuses. Egypt