The Middle East is shifting again, and fast. In this wide-ranging overview, Aimen and Thomas break down the hidden forces reshaping the geopolitical chessboard as 2025 draws to a close.

In this episode, Aimen and Thomas uncover:

The power of Saudi Arabia’s discovery of vast rare-earth reserves

The U.S.–Saudi grand bargain

Why the F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia rattled Israel and what it means for the future of the Abraham Accords

Iran’s deepening water crisis and Gulf states’ preparations for instability

The simmering tensions between India and Pakistan

Afghanistan’s compounded crises

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Conflicted is a Message Heard production.

Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.

Produced by Thomas Small and edited by Lizzy Andrews.

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