Op-ed

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh Iran’s quiet mobilisation, Russia’s warnings, and Europe’s subtle preparations hint at a global system bracing for trouble Tehran says it wants to move people out of its thirsty capital. Officially, it is about drought: too little rain, too many people, and too many dry reservoirs. …

Maya Carlin USS Ford (CVN-78) represents a generational leap in the Navy’s power projection strategy. While the US Navy’s 10 Nimitz-class supercarriers have earned their reputation as true forces of power projection, the service’s newest carrier class is considered to be even more capable. Currently, the USS Gerald R. …

Mohammed Ayoob Israeli maximalism and wavering US support do not bode well for a lasting Israel-Palestine settlement. After less than a month, the ceasefire in Gaza is already under immense pressure. In fact, one wonders if it is already irremediable. The trio of American mediators—Vice President JD Vance, …

Shai Feldman Only a small few predicted that President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Gaza war would succeed. In the Middle East and especially in the realm of the Arab-Israeli conflict, it has always been safe to bet that peace efforts will fail. Something is bound to …

Dr. Ju Hyung Kim As Moscow and Beijing intensify their cooperation through institutions including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the probability of a dual contingency—Russia embarking on a full-fledged military offensive in Europe, while China conducts an assault against Taiwan—is no longer a long-term hypothesis. Although US policymakers …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh In one of the most unexpected political turns of the post-war Syrian landscape, Washington has hosted Ahmed al-Sharaa — formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Joulani — signaling what may be the beginning of a new American chapter in Damascus. The meeting, quietly held at the …

With Astana’s entry, the Abraham Accords have entered into a new phase. Today, in a monumental step, Kazakhstan joined Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan as the sixth member of the Abraham Accords. The decision may come as a surprise to many observers, who have …

Mohammed Ayoob Israeli maximalism and wavering US support do not bode well for a lasting Israel-Palestine settlement. After less than a month, the ceasefire in Gaza is already under immense pressure. In fact, one wonders if it is already irremediable. The trio of American mediators—Vice President JD Vance, …

Desmond Lachman President Trump’s management of the US economy is setting his party up for failure in the 2026 midterms. James Carville, Bill Clinton’s political advisor, famously said that when it came to elections, “it’s the economy, stupid.” This week’s convincing Democratic Party triumph at the polls in …