The completion of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the restoration of the Taliban regime symbolized the transformation of the regional order in the Middle East in 2021. As the United States shifts its diplomatic and security focus from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific, China and Russia are increasing their presence in the region, and China in particular is taking part in reorganizing the regional order by strengthening ties with Israel, Gulf Arab oil producers, Iran and Turkey. The US-Iran relationship has entered a new phase with a change of administrations on both sides, and the future of the JCPOA has garnered attention. In addition, security issues including those in North Africa are mounting, such as the ongoing proxy wars and refugee deadlocks in Syria and Yemen, the political upheaval in Tunisia triggered by protests against inadequate responses to the coronavirus crisis, the military coup in Sudan during the transition to civilian rule, and the military conflict in Ethiopia.