A thaw in Turkey’s relations with Egypt? Gulf Cooperation Council reconciliation may have set in motion Ankara’s desire for a reset with Cairo. Egypt
Biden's deputy secretary of state nominee OK'd by Senate committee The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved moving Wendy Sherman's nomination to the full Senate, with some Democrats and Republicans who had disagreed with her on the Iran deal voting to confirm her anyway. United States
Biden's CIA nominee stresses China over Iran during Senate hearing Ambassador William Burns said that China is the biggest challenge for the United States, but that Iran and Russia cannot be overlooked. Regional
Post-COVID Mideast economies look to the Gulf and Egypt The region took a hard hit from the pandemic, and it’s far from over, but Egypt and Saudi Arabia are managing better than expected. Regional
Turkey finds out one is the loneliest number The regional and global loneliness Ankara dragged itself into with its foreign policy since 2009 is becoming hazardous with the threat from the Islamic State. Iraq
Is NATO membership shackling Turkey? Pro-government Turkish analysts argue that NATO membership has become a shackle on Turkey, hampering the country’s ambitions to become a global actor. Turkey
Will European ambassadors return to Syria? According to one Syrian official, European ambassadors might be returning to resume their functions in Syria, as the West has started to realize that the Syrian army is the only one able to fight terrorism. Lebanon
Khamenei preaches Shiite-Sunni unity against Islamic State, US Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Eid al-Ghadeer speech revealed his concern that the coalition against the Islamic State might give Sunnis and the United States the upper hand in the region. Gulf
UN vote confirms Turkey's waning influence Ankara’s failure to win a seat on the UN Security Council adds grist to the mill of those who argue that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have left Turkey with few friends in the world. Turkey
Egypt initiates plan to ensure food security Egypt plans to cultivate 4 million acres of strategic crops for its large population, but water scarcity and a lack of funds raise doubts about its feasibility. Egypt
Israeli defense minister warns of 'bad Iranian deal' Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon warns of Iranian aspirations for regional hegemony, claiming that the West did not present tough enough negotiation stances: ''Current discussions would result in an agreement that isn’t a good one.'' Israel
Turkey’s first 'gay marriage' Two young men who exchanged marriage vows found that Turkey remains a long way from accepting same-sex marriage. Turkey
Netanyahu prefers right-wing electorate to new Middle East While preparing early primaries for the Likud Party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers strengthening his right-wing leader image to seizing a historic opportunity to promote a changed regional order in the Middle East. Palestine
Iraq should use IS war to rebuild foreign relations The war against the Islamic State provides Iraq with an opportunity to rebuild fractured relations with neighboring countries and others. Iraq
Questions arise over Egypt's proposed Nile shipping lane Egyptian experts say a project to add a navigation lane to the Nile River, linking Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea, is almost impossible to achieve. Egypt
Israel, Hezbollah recalibrate mutual deterrence The deterrence established between Israel and Hezbollah over the past eight years along with Hezbollah joining the fight against IS might open the way to quiet understandings between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel