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Israel–UAE vs Turkey: The unseen war of influence that seals 2025

Published December 30, 2025, 10:18
Israel–UAE vs Turkey: The unseen war of influence that seals 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, the Middle East is experiencing a sharp intensification of geopolitical tensions between an emerging Israel-UAE bloc and Turkey, manifesting on multiple fronts. From the Eastern Mediterranean to the Horn of Africa, these conflicts are reshaping alliances and proxy wars, potentially laying the groundwork for wider instability in 2026. The rivalry has spread across diplomatic, military, and economic spheres, with Israel and the UAE increasingly coordinating to counter what they perceive as Turkish expansionism. Turkish officials, meanwhile, have accused the duo of destabilizing efforts in Syria and beyond, as Ankara seeks to bolster its own influence through military deployments and alliances. The tensions have also extended to Africa, with proxy conflicts in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, where Israel and the UAE are accused of supporting opponents of Turkey.