Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
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, …
November, 2025
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9 November
Donald Trump’s Midterm Elections Dilemma
Desmond Lachman President Trump’s management of the US economy is setting his party up for failure in the 2026 midterms. James Carville, Bill Clinton’s political advisor, famously said that when it came to elections, “it’s the economy, stupid.” This week’s convincing Democratic Party triumph at the polls in …
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9 November
How to Understand Donald Trump’s Nuclear Testing Remarks
Graham Allison President Trump’s statements about nuclear testing affirm his determination to ensure that the United States maintains the most powerful nuclear arsenal in the world. Last week, President Trump announced that “because of other countries[’] testing programs,” he had “instructed the Department of War to begin testing …
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9 November
Rare Earths: The Hidden Metals Powering the Modern World
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 …
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9 November
Iraq’s Pivotal Vote: Power, Iran, and the Future of the U.S. Presence
Iraqis will vote for a new parliament on November 11, which is important for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and reflects the views of the young population that sees the political system as benefiting only those in power. Many voters feel disillusioned with democracy in Iraq, believing it …
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9 November
Americans Struggle between Democracy & Power: Who is Driving Whom?
Almost a decade ago, I would have wagered my entire wealth on the defeat of candidate Donald Trump in the primaries of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. My premises were clear: presidential elections should be contests among politicians, of which the U.S. has an abundance, making it unlikely …
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9 November
Policy Directions and Strategic Adjustments in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan
Yang Xite The “plenary sessions” of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee play a crucial role in determining the country’s future policy direction, and if one wishes to know where China is heading, it would be indispensable to understand these plenums. From October 20 to 23, the Fourth …
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9 November
The Geopolitics of Ports: Re-evaluating Economic Interdependence in the Horn of Africa
When Ethiopia’s prime minister revived his call for sea access in early 2024, regional headlines lit up overnight. It was not just about trade or logistics, at least not entirely. It reopened a decades-old wound, the kind that never really heals in the Horn of Africa: who controls …
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2 November
The War That Rewrote the Middle East
Dr. Gad Yishayahu Ultimately, the war has shredded more than a few assumptions about Israeli strategic and military limitations. Exactly twenty-four months after the October 7 massacre that ignited the October 7 War, the first stage of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan has taken effect. Under …
