Middle East

Shukriya Bradost Despite their many differences, both Tehran and Jerusalem are finding themselves lonely in the global arena. At this year’s UN General Assembly, two bitter enemies are locked in confrontation. However, Iran and Israel arrived with more in common than either would admit. Both states stand before …

Owen Kirby Since the triumph of World War II, the United States has waged two drawn-out, unsuccessful wars halfway around the world. Both were plagued by mission creep, ever-changing objectives, ill-fated and costly attempts at nation-building, a failure to understand the nature of the opponent and local culture, …

Martin Banks A major new study claims that Donald Trump and the American MAGA movement have launched a ‘culture war’ on Europe. A major new study claims that Donald Trump and the American MAGA movement have launched a ‘culture war’ on Europe. It goes on to say that …

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called for the complete dismantlement of Iran’s uranium-enrichment program, reinforcing a hardline stance despite recent IAEA-Iran agreements to resume inspections. NEWS BRIEF U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called for the complete dismantlement of Iran’s uranium-enrichment program, reinforcing a hardline stance despite …

Bushra Ikram The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the only remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the United States (US) and Russia, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. The New START, which accounted for 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, was signed in …

Dur e Adan In international relations, soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce, in contrast with hard power. It entails using attractiveness and appeal to influence other people’s preferences. Soft power, which uses foreign policy, political ideals, and culture to effect change, is non-coercive. Joseph …

Hrair Balian On August 8, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed a joint declaration for peace at the White House, with President Donald Trump as witness. Their foreign ministers also initialed, pending “further actions” before signing, an Agreement on Establishment …

Dimitra Staikou Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin at the end of August underscores a shifting global order in which India is emerging not as a junior partner to China and Russia, but as a pivotal swing power. While …

Alexander Langlois In the short term, normalization between Damascus and Jerusalem is not likely. But progress is still possible. In a major moment somewhat overshadowed by the Middle East’s competing headlines, Syria’s transitional government confirmed that it held a second trilateral meeting with Israeli and US officials on …