{"id":3217,"date":"2026-09-23T03:40:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T03:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wac.snuac.ac.kr\/?page_id=3217"},"modified":"2026-09-28T00:16:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T00:16:26","slug":"mena-focus-2026%eb%85%84-9%ec%9b%94%ed%98%b8","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/wac.snuac.ac.kr\/?page_id=3217","title":{"rendered":"[MENA Focus] 2026\ub144 9\uc6d4\ud638"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1679549914074{background-color: #efefef !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1679549279720{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3219″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Prices Crueler Than Gunfire: Iran’s Economic Crisis” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:18|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3218|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%209%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Politics%2C%20Society%2C%20and%20Economy%20in%20T%C3%BCrkiye%20in%202025|target:_blank”][vc_column_text css=””]Gi Yeon Koo (Seoul National University, Asia Center)<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The war that began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes seemed to be winding down with a fragile ceasefire in April and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June. But the truce did not last three weeks, and U.S. strikes and Iranian retaliation continued to trade back and forth afterward. Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since the early days of the war by controlling passage through it, and the United States has responded with its own naval blockade, stopping ships bound to and from Iranian ports. As fears of renewed fighting grow, what weighs even more heavily on ordinary Iranians is the economic situation.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”\uae00\ubcf4\uae30” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” align=”right” css_animation=”slideInDown” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3218|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Politics%2C%20Society%2C%20and%20Economy%20in%20T%C3%BCrkiye%20in%202025|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1679549385693{background-color: #1e73be !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1679549279720{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Escalating Saudi\u2013Houthi Conflict Raises Fears of a Wider Middle East Confrontation” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:18|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3221|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20The%20Middle%20East%20in%202025%3A%20Israel%20and%20the%20Gaza%20Strip%2C%20Iran%2C%20Iraq%2C%20Lebanon%2C%20and%20Syria|target:_blank”][vc_column_text css=””]So Yeon Ahn (SNUAC)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Military tensions between Yemen\u2019s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia have sharply escalated in September 2026. On 8 September, the Houthis launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting multiple locations in southern Saudi Arabia. Among the reported targets were an oil refinery in Jazan and several military facilities. Tensions intensified further on 15\u201316 September following reports that Saudi air defence systems had intercepted a Houthi drone heading towards the Mecca area. Although the Houthis denied Saudi claims that they had intended to attack Mecca, the perceived threat to the holy city inevitably heightened tensions between the two sides. Soon afterwards, on 19 September, Houthi attacks expanded as far as the Saudi capital, Riyadh, further raising fears that the confrontation could become another source of wider instability in the Middle East. The Houthis claimed that they had targeted \u2018sensitive sites\u2019 in Riyadh with missiles and drones, while flames and large plumes of black smoke were reportedly observed near Riyadh International Airport. The Saudi-led coalition subsequently announced that it had intercepted a missile heading towards the capital. At the same time, the Houthis claimed to have attacked Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a major oil-export hub on the Red Sea. Saudi authorities also stated that they had thwarted attacks targeting Taif, Bish, and the Farasan Islands.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”\uae00\ubcf4\uae30” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” align=”right” css_animation=”slideInDown” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3221|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20The%20Middle%20East%20in%202025%3A%20Israel%20and%20the%20Gaza%20Strip%2C%20Iran%2C%20Iraq%2C%20Lebanon%2C%20and%20Syria|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3222″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”3252″ parallax_speed_bg=”3″ css_animation=”slideInRight”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1685437439227{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”\uc8fc\ud55c \uc544\ub78d\uc5d0\ubbf8\ub808\uc774\ud2b8 \ub300\uc0ac \uae30\uace0\ubb38: UAE\uc758 \ubb3c \uc548\ubcf4\uc640 \uc9c0\uc18d\uac00\ub2a5\uc131 \ubc1c\uc6d0\uc9c0\uc5d0\uc11c \ubc14\ub2e4\uae4c\uc9c0, \uadf8\ub9ac\uace0 \ud55c-UAE \ud30c\ud2b8\ub108\uc2ed
\n<\/em>” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3235|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%209%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20%ED%8E%98%EB%A5%B4%EC%8B%9C%EC%95%84%20%EC%8B%9C%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99%20%EC%9C%A0%EC%82%B0%EC%9D%98%20%ED%83%90%EA%B5%AC%3A%20%EA%B3%A0%EC%A0%84%20%ED%8E%98%EB%A5%B4%EC%8B%9C%EC%95%84%20%EC%8B%9C%EC%9D%98%20%EB%8C%80%EA%B0%80%2C%20%ED%97%88%ED%8E%98%EC%A6%88%EC%9D%98%20%EC%82%B6%EA%B3%BC%20%EC%9C%A0%EC%82%B0|target:_blank”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\uc8fc\ud55c \uc544\ub78d\uc5d0\ubbf8\ub808\uc774\ud2b8 \ub300\uc0ac\uad00<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1679550050748{background-color: #efefef !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1679549279720{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3225″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Makkah Pact\u2019s First Test: Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia and T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Choice” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:18|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3224|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Retrospect%20and%20Outlook%20on%20the%20Gulf%20Regional%20Situation%20amid%20the%20Prolonged%20Aftermath%20of%20the%202023%20Gaza%20War|target:_blank”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Haeun Han (SNUAC)<\/p>\n

On August 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia, T\u00fcrkiye, and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca, under which an armed attack against one country would be regarded as an attack against all three. The agreement emerged against the backdrop of growing uncertainty in the Middle Eastern security order. As questions have grown over U.S. security commitments and tensions involving Iran and Israel have intensified, the three countries have chosen to build a network that complements their respective weaknesses rather than replaces their existing alliances. Saudi Arabia can diversify its military options, Pakistan can expand its influence in the Gulf, and T\u00fcrkiye can deepen its involvement in the regional security order. Ultimately, the agreement can be seen as an attempt to bring Saudi Arabia\u2019s financial resources and regional influence, Pakistan\u2019s military capabilities and nuclear deterrent, and T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s NATO experience and defence industry into a single security framework.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”\uae00\ubcf4\uae30” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” align=”right” css_animation=”slideInDown” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3224|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Retrospect%20and%20Outlook%20on%20the%20Gulf%20Regional%20Situation%20amid%20the%20Prolonged%20Aftermath%20of%20the%202023%20Gaza%20War|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1679549279720{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement: Can It Diversify Saudi Arabia’s Security Partnerships and Strengthen Pakistan’s Strategic Position” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:18|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3228|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Sudan%20war%2C%20a%20neglected%20humanitarian%20Catastrophe|target:_blank”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

YANG, Jung-a(SNUAC)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and T\u00fcrkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Its core principle is collective defense: an attack on any one signatory will be treated as an attack on all three.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”\uae00\ubcf4\uae30” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” align=”right” css_animation=”slideInDown” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwac.snuac.ac.kr%2F%3Fp%3D3228|title:%5BMENA%20Focus%202025%EB%85%84%2012%EC%9B%94%ED%98%B8%5D%20Sudan%20war%2C%20a%20neglected%20humanitarian%20Catastrophe|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”3229″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1679550287295{background-color: #3f3f3f !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1679550277615{margin-right: 8% !important;margin-left: 8% !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\ubc1c\ud589\ucc98<\/b>: \uc11c\uc6b8\ub300\ud559\uad50 \uc544\uc2dc\uc544\uc5f0\uad6c\uc18c \uc11c\uc544\uc2dc\uc544\uc13c\ud130, HK+<\/sup>\uba54\uac00\uc544\uc2dc\uc544\uc5f0\uad6c\uc0ac\uc5c5\ub2e8<\/span>
\n\ubc1c\ud589\uc778<\/b>: \ucc44\uc218\ud64d \ud3b8\uc9d1\uc704\uc6d0\uc7a5<\/b>: \uad6c\uae30\uc5f0\u00a0\ud3b8\uc9d1\uc704\uc6d0<\/b>: \uc548\uc18c\uc5f0, \ud55c\ud558\uc740, \ud669\uc758\ud604\u00a0<\/span>
\n\uc5f0\ub77d\ucc98<\/b>: 02-880-2084, katib@snu.ac.kr<\/span><\/p>\n

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