NATO member states on the eastern flank have expressed heightened concern over the potential for further escalation in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported that NATO continues to supply Patriot interceptors to Ukraine through its Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List. This assertion remains subject to verification regarding the specific scope and official designation of the program.

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continue a conflict that began in April 2023, with the UN reporting approximately 8.6 million internal displacements and 3.8 million refugees. Crisis Group identifies the UAE as a primary RSF backer, a claim the UAE denies, while a UN-backed alert in October 2026 warned of rising famine risks in Darfur and Kordofan.

Recent diplomatic efforts include a proposed U.S.-backed 90-day humanitarian truce and Sudanese Army support for peace initiatives.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that Iran targeted at least 24 commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz over two weeks, a claim corroborated by UKMTO data showing seven additional incidents in the last three days. While US aircraft carriers are currently deployed in the Arabian Sea and tanker activity has reportedly increased, US officials have not confirmed imminent military action, and Iranian officials have issued warnings regarding potential future conflicts.