Sachin Yadav America’s retreat from the developing world happened fast, and the numbers back that up. Foreign aid from OECD countries dropped by about 23 percent between 2024 and 2025, and most of that fall came from the United States, whose foreign aid shrank by nearly 57 percent …

Hadi Elis “Who cares about the NATO agenda? I’m here to see my good friend—an authoritarian, sure, but a loyal friend to the US—President Erdogan. I stopped him from attacking Israel. And just in case anyone disagrees too much, I gave everyone a handgun to shoot each other …

Dr. Yashwant Singh Turkey’s contemporary foreign policy is better understood as a project of “middle-power revisionism,” in which imperial symbolism serves the pursuit of strategic indispensability rather than imperial restoration Empires do not die the way states die. A republic can be founded on a single date, a …

Sidharth Reddy U.S. President Donald Trump attends a working session during the NATO leaders summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst The NATO Ankara summit is a eulogy for one model of liberal internationalism. It should become the cradle of a …

When U.S. President Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this week, it symbolized more than another presidential appearance on Wall Street. It reflected a defining feature of his second term: making the stock market one of the clearest measures of his administration’s …

Anam Khan Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Donning a white cap that reads in capital letters U S A, President Donald Trump …

Neville Teller US President Donald Trump formally launches the first charter of the Gaza “Board of Peace” in a signing ceremony during the annual 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo Credit: White House video screenshot Key Takeaways Trump’s 20-Point Gaza Plan is Stalling — Despite formal UN Security …

Key Takeaways Kazakhstan Cracks Down on Gasoline Smuggling — Amid severe fuel shortages in Russia caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, Kazakhstan has set up police checkpoints on nearly 60 border roads and introduced daily crossing limits to stop “gasoline tourism” and illegal exports. Kazakhstan Extends Ban on Petroleum Exports — …

Key Takeaways Central Asia’s Heavy Dependence on Russia Exposed — Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries have caused severe fuel shortages across the region, particularly in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, highlighting decades of over-reliance on Russian petroleum products. Short-Term Policy Failures — Governments in Central Asia have prioritized short-term political stability …