Middle East(region comprising Western Asia without the South Caucasus and additionally including all of Egypt and all of Turkey) proper noun [UK: ˈmɪd.l̩ iːst] [US: ˈmɪd.l̩ ˈiːst]
Near East(region in Asia) proper noun [UK: nɪə(r) iːst] [US: ˈnɪr ˈiːst]