Dr. Shehab Makahleh Amid the conflicting celebrations that followed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, an unusual political picture has emerged across the Middle East. Israel speaks of a political setback, Iran speaks of a strategic victory, and Washington appears determined to market an agreement that …
June, 2026
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19 June
The War That Changed the Middle East: Iran’s Rise as a Regional Power
Ricardo Martins The confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States may mark a strategic turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. As Tehran moves from a doctrine of survival to one of regional influence, the balance of power that has shaped the region for decades is being fundamentally …
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19 June
The Politics of Energy Transition: How Gulf States are Preparing for a Post-Hydrocarbon Future
Khizar Hayat “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I ride a Mercedes, my son rides a Land Rover, and my grandson is going to ride a Land Rover…but my great-grandson is going to have to ride a camel again.” Sheikh Rashid, the late ruler …
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19 June
Sovereign AI, but Who Watches the State?
Raditio Ghifiardi In early June 2026, aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump confirmed to reporters that the White House was discussing the possibility of taking an equity stake in OpenAI. A few days earlier, Senator Bernie Sanders had introduced a bill proposing the federal government acquire 50 …
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19 June
Washington Is Taiwan’s Second Biggest Security Predicament
Lai Ching-te stepped before foreign correspondents in Taipei this week. Speaking to foreign correspondents, he said something that should not need to be said but apparently does: Taiwan defending itself is not a provocation. China’s near-daily military flights over the median line, the naval drills encircling the island, …
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19 June
Lebanon Ceasefire Agreed After US-Iran Talks Scrapped
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon after escalating violence threatened to derail potential peace talks regarding the ongoing war in Iran. This ceasefire was announced just before 4 p.m. Lebanon time, with a U. S. official confirming that negotiations, facilitated by the U. S. and …
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19 June
Trump’s Foreign Policy Doctrine Is Taking Shape: The Strategic Logic of America First 2.0
Half way through 2026, the world has already experienced a whirlwind of geopolitical change under the seismic foreign policy shifts enacted by US President Donald Trump with trade disruptions, wars, annexation and retreats from longstanding diplomatic commitments and international norms. The often unpredictable nature of these changes raises …
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16 June
Israel and Somaliland: The Emerging Alliance Reshaping the Red Sea Geopolitical Order
The growing relationship between Israel and Somaliland is not merely another diplomatic breakthrough. It is part of a broader geopolitical contest unfolding across one of the world’s most strategic regions: the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Horn of Africa. While much international attention remains focused …
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16 June
A Syrian Incursion into Lebanon Would Be Washington’s Biggest Mistake
At a moment when Hezbollah faces one of the most severe crises in its history, Washington risks handing the group the very lifeline it desperately needs. Recent comments by President Donald Trump suggesting that Syria could play a role in facilitating more precise operations against Hezbollah have revived …
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