The latest installment in our Middle East series zooms out from individual countries to explore the broader geopolitics of the region, with a particular focus on how geography shapes power. Starting from early 20th-century maps, the video shows how the Middle East transitioned from empires and loosely defined regions like Mesopotamia and Persia into the modern nation-states we recognize today. Zeke explains how World Wars I and II and the creation of Israel in 1948 redrew borders without moving the people living there, planting the seeds for many of today’s tensions. He also walks through the United States’ and Soviet Union’s overlapping interests in Iran and Iraq—especially around oil, Cold War strategy, and the use of these countries as proxies.
From there, the video turns to sectarian dynamics and their role in modern conflicts. We outline the Sunni–Shia religious divide, highlighting how Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen fit into what’s often called the “Axis of Resistance” aligned with Iran. We explain how Iran uses geography—maintaining access across Iraq and Syria to the Mediterranean—to support allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and influence conflicts involving Israel and Gaza. The episode also touches on the strategic choke points of the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Strait of Hormuz, and how Houthi attacks and regional militias can affect global shipping and security. Throughout, Zeke emphasizes that this is an oversimplified, geography-focused overview of an incredibly complex region, and invites viewers to dive deeper, share corrections, and support The Lookout’s map-based storytelling.