Russia-CIS

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a set of 17 metallic elements that have become indispensable to modern technology and defense industries. Although they are not truly “rare” in the Earth’s crust, they are difficult to find in concentrated deposits and are expensive to separate and refine. The group …

Damjan Krnjevic-Miskovic The recent Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agreement hints at the features of an emerging world order. Donald Trump’s recent achievements in the Middle East, which came about in no small measure thanks to the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and several other states, should not overshadow his successful …

Fakhar Alam The protracted Ukraine crisis has, at one point, created severe challenges for the global security architecture; on the other hand, it has caused unprecedented damage to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime (NPR). Prominently, this crisis has reinforced the perception among non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS) that possessing nuclear weapons …

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 …

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 …

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, …