Saudi Arabia’s KBS, top Turkish and Pakistani officials hold rare meeting in Iran: What to know In first such gathering, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman will join Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin for talks with Iranian officials amid fears of renewed US and Israeli attacks against Iran. Iran
Lebanon seeks Turkey’s help to join Syria-Saudi rail link: What to know Beirut is seeking Ankara’s support to link its ports to a railway project aiming to link Turkey to the Gulf, through Syria and Jordan. Turkey
Analysis Despite Mecca pact, Turkey rules out direct military role in Yemen A Turkish official told Al-Monitor that Turkey will not directly intervene in the unfolding conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan set Mecca Alliance into motion The three countries are moving to formalize military coordination under the newly named Mecca Alliance amid renewed hostilities between Iran and the US. Saudi Arabia
Analysis How Israel's rivalry, defense deals prompted Turkey to join Mecca pact By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Turkey sees greater partnership with Qatar than is apparent Turkey's commercial gains from its partnership with Qatar have been modest and the media fanfare over fresh bilateral accords is hard to comprehend. Saudi Arabia
Turkish-Saudi animosity spills over into cultural sphere A new multimillion-dollar series on a Saudi TV channel broadcast across the Middle East depicts Ottomans as tyrants who ravaged the Arab world. Saudi Arabia
There is no room left for Erdogan in Sudan turmoil Sudan’s international failures have provided Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan several opportunities, but now some of the moves are likely to generate significant costs for Turkey. Legacy: Gulf
Is Qatar still Turkey’s foul-weather friend? Qatar’s friendship is being called into question in Turkey amid disappointment over Doha’s pledges of economic support and signs that Qatari investors are pulling out of the country. Qatar
Turkey’s olive branches have prickly effect on Saudis Grappling with serious economic woes, Turkey is seeking to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia, but some of its fence-mending have badly backfired. Saudi Arabia
Turkey groans under economic pressure from Saudis Once Turkey's biggest foreign buyers of real estate, Saudis are increasingly boycotting the country as the kingdom's chamber of commerce warns citizens away. Saudi Arabia
Despite friction, Egypt retains economic ties with Turkey, Qatar Some Egyptians have been calling for the government to seize Turkish and Qatari assets, but so far that hasn't seemed to sour foreigners on Egypt's investment offerings. United Arab Emirates
UAE steps up anti-Turkey efforts in Syria The United Arab Emirates engages Turkey in a war of words and deeds over Ankara's fight with Kurds in Syria. United Arab Emirates
Top Russian security officials tour Egypt, Gulf to discuss Syria, Libya Over the space of a week, top officials in the Russian security apparatus toured Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt with some intriguing proposals on Syria and Libya. Saudi Arabia
Will Erdogan wind up alone after alienating Arabs? Following Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria, Ankara fears isolation after years of maneuvering to be an effective player in the Middle East. Originals
What will 2019 have in store for dysfunctional GCC? The Gulf Cooperation has essentially been split in, with Qatar, Kuwait and Oman resisting the actions of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed. Legacy: Gulf
