Middle East

Sarah Paulson The modern battlefield no longer begins or ends with tanks and trenches. From the skies above Ukraine to the tunnels of Gaza, war has become a multidimensional contest—industrial, informational, psychological, and increasingly, algorithmic. The new face of conflict, as illuminated in the Center for Strategic and …

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. …

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 …

Shalom Lipner President Trump’s steamrolling toward a lasting deal in Gaza could deliver a crowning blow to the Israeli government. A potent version of the Changing of the Guard, viewed annually by millions of spectators at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, is playing out presently on the British Empire’s …

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, …