Middle East conflict • Table.Briefings

May 6th, 2026

Iran war: Wang Yi signals greater involvement

Just one week before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Xi Jinping, Iran’s foreign minister visits China.

By Julia Fiedler

Feature | European Council

April 27th, 2026

How Emmanuel Macron is pushing ahead with the mutual assistance clause

The European Union is dragging its feet on Ukraine, remains divided over the mutual assistance clause, Article 42(7), and is waiting for a signal from France in the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). At the informal EU summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also surprised participants with an offer to Tehran.

By Stephan Israel

Wolodymyr Selenskyj und António Costa in Brüssel beim EU-Giofel.

Feature | European Council

April 23rd, 2026

Informal summit in Cyprus: How Zelenskiy plans to capitalize on current momentum for Ukraine’s accession process

Volodymyr Zelenskiy expects to be given the green light to open negotiating clusters at the informal summit in Cyprus. Following the breakthrough on the €90 billion loan and the 20th package of sanctions, the Ukrainian president hopes to capitalize on current momentum.

By Stephan Israel

News

April 13th, 2026

Iran: Former Pakistani general warns tensions will not ease quickly

The US and Iran have failed to reach an agreement. A former Pakistani general points to Iran’s resilience and the fundamental disconnect between the two sides.

By Shams Ul Haq

Feature | Nato

April 9th, 2026

NATO: Mark Rutte on a rescue mission to appease Donald Trump

Mark Rutte visits the White House with the aim of defusing Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with NATO and dissuading the US president from potentially withdrawing from the alliance. How successful the Secretary General is in this endeavor may become clear by the time of the NATO summit in Ankara in early July.

By Stephan Israel and Stefan Braun

United States President Donald J Trump conducts a press conference in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on Monday April 6, 2026.

News | Middle East conflict

April 7th, 2026

Iran War: Ultimatum extended until Tuesday evening

Donald Trump has once again extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, he has escalated his threats, going so far as to say that Iran could be wiped out overnight.

By Marion Bergermann

Feature | Middle East conflict

March 20th, 2026

War with Iran: How the escalation in the Middle East is threatening Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery

The escalation in the Middle East is posing economic challenges for Nigeria. Rising import prices and capital flight are threatening the country’s hard-won economic recovery.

By Silas Jonathan

News | EU foreign policy

March 11th, 2026

Old world order: Costa contradicts von der Leyen

At the EU Ambassadors’ Conference, Council President António Costa took a different position on foreign policy to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. While Costa is pushing for compliance with international law, von der Leyen believes that the old world order is history.

By Stephan Israel

Ursula von der Leyen und Kaja Kallas bei der Botschafterkonferenz.

Feature | EU foreign policy

March 10th, 2026

Von der Leyen: EU can no longer be a guardian of the old world order

Europe must use its power more assertively – this was the message from the President of the European Commission at the EU Ambassadors’ Conference. Under Europe’s new security strategy, security considerations must be taken into account systematically in all resources and instruments.

By Stephan Israel

LEBANON, BEIRUT - MARCH 5, 2026: Damage from an airstrike Beirut Lebanon

News | Middle East conflict

March 6th, 2026

Iran: Attacks spread to the region

About a week after the US and Israel attacked Iran, more and more theaters of war are emerging. NATO has increased the readiness of its ballistic missile defense systems.

By Marion Bergermann