Control over Syria's oil and gas reserves comes with major economic and political benefits. Both Israel and Türkiye will be lobbying the US to sway events in their respective favours.
The return of an unpredictable president will stir up global geopolitics for US allies and opponents alike in a world already much changed since he was last in office
In his first term, Trump nurtured mutual economic and security interests with Saudi Arabia, but an evolving geopolitical landscape could mean a changed US approach
While Trump's rhetoric doesn't always match his actions, there are more signs than not that the US will draw down its forces in the region, leaving room for other actors to step in
Both Tehran and Washington have powerful incentives to resolve the conflict through negotiations, but actors on all sides have reasons to derail these efforts
Beijing has been expanding its base in Djibouti, the tiny state that sits opposite Yemen across the Bab al-Mandab Strait. With numerous other states also in play, this is a region to watch
From machines that develop human emotions to societies governed by artificial intelligence, Arab novelists explore the promises and perils of a radically transformed future