About

The Middle East is an area of the world that is in the headlines daily, but most Americans know very little about the region, and the information available is hidden behind thick, dry textbooks. That's where I come in. My name is Edgar Soto, and welcome to my blog, From Galilee to the Gulf! If you want to learn about Middle Eastern geopolitics and regional energy and security policy without having to sift through academic jargon, you've come to the right place.

I majored in history at the University of Central Florida and wrote an honors thesis on the evolution of antisemitism in Muslim communities. As I was writing my thesis, I really began to develop a deeper interest in Middle Eastern politics. This blog is one avenue for me to share my passion with others. I come from a military upbringing, so foreign policy (and especially Middle East policy) was a major part of my life whether I liked it or not. I've spent time in Latin America and in Europe, and I speak Spanish and Russian, in addition to teaching myself Arabic and Hebrew. My background and experiences uniquely position me to analyze regional politics against the backdrop of broader global trends. This blog is written from the perspective of someone with insider familiarity on regional topics, but without insider bias. My YouTube channel has a following of over 2,000 people and has reached 300,000+ people around the world since 2022 (be sure to subscribe for deep dives and other content you won't see here). I am also active on TikTok (@egs_1998) and Instagram (@egs_1998). Let's explore Middle Eastern geopolitics together! Be sure to follow my blog for accessible analysis of Middle Eastern geopolitics and regional security policy.

Me at the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History 
Zephyrhills, FL