Since October 2023, escalating conflicts across the Gaza–Levant–Red Sea–Gulf arc have disrupted long-standing regional assumptions—undermining international law and the rule-based order, normalizing cross-border force, eroding sovereignty, and compelling Gulf states to reassess defense postures, maritime security, and energy-infrastructure protection. The initiative focuses on how shifting power balances and domestic dynamics across key Middle Eastern actors shape emerging security arrangements and the evolving role of external powers, offering policy-relevant insights for de-escalation, dialogue, and regional confidence-building.