Asia Pacific

Dr. Ju Hyung Kim The Indo-Pacific’s geostrategic landscape is changing faster than at any time since the Korean War. Although the U.S.–Japan and U.S.–ROK alliances have long been bound by bilateral defense pacts, Japan and South Korea lack a formal defense treaty, while the trilateral has its own …

Dr. Cherkaoui Roudani This observation by Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations captures the profound metamorphosis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. War has not disappeared; it has evolved into a system of governance, where violence is converted into a tool of calibrated adjustment. The October 2025 ceasefire between Israel …

Kamran Bokhari The Trump administration can build on its peace-deal momentum and push out Chinese influence in the Caucasus. From the US geopolitical perspective, Azerbaijan represents a pivotal strategic partner in Eurasia. Having played a key role in mediating a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia, …

Fatemeh Aman A limited return to Afghanistan would confer immense advantages to Washington while triggering second-order geopolitical repercussions among its rivals. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to bring Bagram Air Base back under US control has set off fresh debate about America’s role in South and …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh This is a summary of a paper I presented during a lecture at one of the leading global research centers, outlining my perspective on the similarities and differences between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin regarding domestic and foreign policy, and …

Hengu Wang Whenever I reflect on Europe’s development challenges and the state of Sino-European relations, I can’t help but think of China’s most famous science fiction novel. China’s rise, especially its rapid advancements in military and technology, has reshaped the global landscape. Yet, after a year of studying …

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged to their highest levels in decades, following deadly cross-border clashes that have pushed both nations to the brink of prolonged confrontation. At the centre of the crisis is Noor Wali Mehsud, leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whom Islamabad blames for …

Beijing Tightens Grip on Critical Minerals: As Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare for a landmark meeting later this month, China has announced comprehensive export controls on rare earth minerals, strengthening an already tight hold over materials essential to global technology, defense, and green energy production. Beijing’s …

Dimitra Staikou Sun Tzu’s timeless maxim — “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” — aptly captures China’s current approach to Taiwan. Rather than engaging in open warfare, Beijing is waging a multidimensional campaign of pressure and control — a hybrid war fought through cyberattacks, …