Middle East Strategic Perspectives

Middle East Strategic Perspectives is a Beirut-based political risk consultancy. Geopolitics, Defense, Security, Health, EastMed Oil & Gas

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇦🇪 🇸🇦 A new defence champion is rising from the Gulf -
The region’s rulers want to reduce their dependence on Western arms https://t.co/yXEjI8Vyfu

[Lebanon in Holy See @LBinVatican]

🇱🇧 🇱🇧 “This is not your country.” @LBpresidency Joseph Aoun @amanpour @cnni

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇱🇧 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 Joint Statement of the United States of America, Republic of Lebanon, and State of Israel on the Latest High-Level Trilateral Meeting https://t.co/X3D0652Y4v

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇸🇦 🇺🇸 The Trump Administration is advancing a civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that would abandon long-held proliferation safeguards.

[Wall Street Journal Opinion @WSJopinion]

The Trump Administration is advancing a civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that would abandon long-held proliferation safeguards. Why?
https://t.co/QdRiqTc6bf

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇳 🇫🇷 India has formally begun the process of acquiring 114 Rafale ..

Read more at:
https://t.co/ZI5FoZdnl1 https://t.co/BCJqjjN7h6

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇷 🇺🇸 Trump Says He’s Not Watching the Clock on Iran—but Voters Are
Trump’s sagging poll numbers and the surging support for Democrats suggest that Republicans will likely pay a price for the war in November. https://t.co/xdGc3gmgHv

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇷🇺🇸Time benefits the party capable of maintaining consistent pressure.Emphasizing sustained containment rather than unconditional triumph may strengthen the president’s leverage&help preserve the strategic achievements produced by the conflict
@HudsonInstitute @Doranimated @FP

[Hudson Institute @HudsonInstitute]

Time favors the side that maintains pressure.

By emphasizing long-term containment rather than unconditional victory, supporters can strengthen the president's hand while preserving the strategic gains achieved by the war.

@Doranimated in @TheFP https://t.co/CRwJvlMRr5

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇱🇧 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 Netanyahu says Israel will intensify strikes against Hezbollah

https://t.co/1xKON3W9Bj

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇳 🇫🇷 India has moved a step closer to the big-ticket defence deal on 114 Rafale fighters with France as the country has finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the acquisition of the 4.5-generation multirole jets for the IAF.
https://t.co/EbiVlfEu6r

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇱🇧 🇺🇸 “Hizballah’s threats of violence and overthrow will not be allowed to succeed” @marcorubio @StateDept @LBpresidency @grandserail @mofalebanon1 @usembassybeirut

[U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs @StateDept_NEA]

Condemnation of Hizballah’s Reckless Call to Overthrow Lebanese Government 
https://t.co/0BkuBSDhsM

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇯🇴 Understanding Jordan’s armed-forces reforms https://t.co/Q1J25aJZl9

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇦🇪 🇮🇳 India, UAE forge deep defence alliance https://t.co/rPc3LiqvoI

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

GCC : A New Order for the Gulf States

The Gulf states no longer believe they have a choice other than develop strategic autonomy for their own defense. 

https://t.co/v2BtbojLlg

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇫🇷 🇩🇪 @Airbus @AirbusDefence open to two-fighter jet solution amid impasse with France’s @Dassault_OnAir https://t.co/SRoOlJ1P5x via @ft

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

@LBinVatican @Pontifex @Pontifex_ar @LBpresidency @bkerki @VaticanNews 🇱🇧 🇻🇦 Patriarch Rahi @bkerki extended his congratulations to the Catholic Church, Lebanon, the Maronite Church, and the Congregation of the Maronite Holy Family Sisters on the proclamation of Patriarch Elias Houwayek as Blessed by His Holiness Pope LeoXIV @Pontifex on 22 May 2026

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇷 🇮🇱 Israel Joins Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq and Others in Piling Pressure on Iran to Open the Strait of Hormuz for All Middle Eastern Countries https://t.co/RveF94OZLM

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇸🇦 🇫🇷 A French investigating judge will examine a complaint by two rights groups accusing Saudi Crown Prince MBS of involvement in the 2018 killing of journalist J.Khashoggi,France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said Saturday. https://t.co/b8wrkOgdBX via @politico

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇱🇧 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 A Statement by the Lebanese Delegation on Lebanon Israel talks

[Hiba Nasr @HibaNasr]

‼️ A Statement by the Lebanese Delegation on Lebanon Israel talks :

The Lebanese delegation concluded two days of negotiations at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. The trilateral negotiations involving Lebanon, the United States, and Israel produced meaningful diplomatic progress for Lebanon. The parties agreed to extend the current ceasefire for an additional 45 days to allow a U.S.-facilitated security track to commence on May 29 and to consolidate the political momentum achieved in recent days.

Key Outcomes

• A 45-day extension of the ceasefire has been agreed upon while the security and political tracks advance.

• A formal political track has been initiated, reflecting Lebanon’s constructive engagement and strengthening prospects for a durable peaceful resolution. The next meeting will take place on June 2-3, 2026 at the State Department in Washington, DC.

• The United States will proactively facilitate enhanced military-to-military communication and coordination between Lebanon and Israel, via a security track scheduled to launch on May 29 at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

• The parties committed to reviewing progress with the objective of extending the ceasefire further should the negotiation tracks yield positive results.

The Lebanese delegation welcomes today’s outcome. The extension of the ceasefire and the establishment of a U.S.-facilitated security track provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability. Lebanon will continue to engage constructively in negotiations while safeguarding its sovereignty and protecting the safety of its people.

The delegation reaffirms its unwavering commitment to reaching an agreement that fully restores Lebanon’s national sovereignty and guarantees the safety and return of all its citizens. Our objective is to transform the current ceasefire momentum into a comprehensive and lasting agreement that safeguards the dignity, security, and future of the Lebanese people.

Key Pillars of the Lebanese Position

• Restoration of Sovereignty: Lebanon’s foremost priority is the full restoration of state authority across all Lebanese territory in order to protect its borders, uphold national sovereignty, and ensure the security of its people.

• Return of the Displaced and Reconstruction: Lebanon remains committed to the safe and dignified return of displaced civilians to the South, supported by meaningful economic assistance and sustained reconstruction efforts.

• Release of Detainees and Recovery of Remains: Lebanon continues to advocate for the return of all Lebanese detainees and the recovery of the remains of the deceased.

• Independent Verification Mechanism: To avoid the failures of previous arrangements, Lebanon insists on a phased and verifiable implementation process, supported by the United States, to ensure that all commitments are fulfilled without compromising Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanon is negotiating for a future in which its borders are respected, its sovereignty is upheld solely by its Lebanese Armed Forces, and its people can live in lasting peace and security.

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇮🇷 🇺🇸 U.S. intelligence says Iran can outlast Trump’s Hormuz blockade for months
A confidential intelligence community assessment delivered to the White House also finds that Iran retains a substantial missile and drone arsenal. https://t.co/yywMUtxzw5

[Middle East Strategic Perspectives @mestrate]

🇸🇦 🇰🇼 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait lift restrictions on US military access to bases and airspace, @WSJ says https://t.co/NXF3jbs3Xx