The UK's strategic focus is shifting away from MENA to Russia and China, creating power vacuums exploited by rival states and non-state actors, threatening British interests.

Multi-faceted threats persist: Iran's military and proxy warfare, Russian influence, terrorism, cyber-attacks, and weaponized migration challenge UK's regional stability and domestic security.

The UK must balance energy security, trade protection, and regional stability while leveraging its soft power and maintaining rapid deployment capabilities in key MENA hotspots.