Peter Suciu As the US Navy positions military vessels around Venezuela, China has deployed a hospital ship to Nicaragua—hoping to contrast its display of soft power with American militarism. The United States military’s buildup in the US Southern Command area of responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR) to counter narco-terrorists operating …

Ahmad Charai Though their beliefs and styles are at odds, the president and the mayor of New York City showed that polarization need not prevent substantive discussion. There are moments in American politics when a single image captures a deeper truth about the country—its divisions, its resilience, and …

Abdulla Al Junaid Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization should be a pillar of the emerging Middle East security architecture. The United States stands at a pivotal moment in its Middle East policy. As Congress advances legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a foreign …

The United States and the European Union need a structured, enforcement-focused approach to coordination on competition with China. China’s expanding global ambitions, unfolding amid renewed great power competition, pose profound challenges to the strategic and economic interests of the United States and its European allies. As Beijing’s influence …

Leon Hadar A more independent Israeli foreign policy toward Washington would improve both the US and Israeli positions in the Middle East. Has Israel evolved from an independent nation-state into something resembling a province within an American informal empire? The question is uncomfortable for both American and Israeli …

Rany Ballout The Lebanese government may never have a better opportunity to demilitarize Hezbollah than now. Now that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza appears to be holding, does it signify that an Israeli war against Hezbollah is imminent? Recentdevelopments along the Israel-Lebanon border increasingly suggest that a major …

Christopher McCallion Regime change in Venezuela would contradict the Trump administration’s border and regional security priorities. President Donald Trump’s administration is putting increasing military pressure on the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro, sending an unmistakable signal that the United States wishes to see the Venezuelan strongman ousted. The …

Tariffs, aid reduction, and diplomatic understaffing are eroding US influence, and critical mineral deals alone won’t revive it. Editor’s Note: The Red Cell series is published in collaboration with the Stimson Center. Drawing upon the legacy of the CIA’s Red Cell—established following the September 11 attacks to avoid …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh On November 15–16, 2025, senior intelligence chiefs, defense ministers, and military planners from several states convened quietly in an unnamed capital. Over two days, discussions focused on one scenario: a coordinated strike on Iran, paired with parallel operations targeting the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah …