Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Iran’s policy toward Iraq since the 2003 US invasion has been shaped far more by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps than by Iran’s civilian diplomats. Under Khamenei’s rule the IRGC became the regime’s powerhouse. Mohsen Sazegara, an exiled Iranian dissident who helped found the IRGC, describes the Guard …
January, 2026
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5 January
On Whose Authority? Questioning the Legality of Maduro’s Capture
The U. S. carried out a military operation early Saturday morning, capturing Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. This action ended months of pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration and received criticism from some global leaders. Maduro was reportedly on a warship headed for New York to face criminal charges. …
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5 January
Why Venezuela’s Oil Wealth Won’t Flow Quickly
Venezuela may struggle to increase its crude oil production for years, despite potential investments from U. S. oil companies promised by President Donald Trump after Nicolás Maduro’s capture. The country has the largest estimated oil reserves globally, but production has decreased significantly over the decades due to mismanagement …
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5 January
OPEC+ Faces Its Toughest Balancing Act Yet
In a move that surprised few but underscores deep underlying tensions, OPEC+ chose to maintain steady oil production at its recent meeting, even as political fissures widen between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the United States asserted control over Venezuela following the capture of President …
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5 January
How Lebanon’s Political Reforms Came Under Siege
Joe Boueiz Lebanon’s stability and the disarmament of Hezbollah will depend on the longevity and eventual resolution of the Gaza ceasefire. In his 2010 book, Beware of Small States: Lebanon, Battleground of the Middle East, David Hirst described Lebanon as the Middle East’s “battleground,” where regional and global …
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5 January
Six Minutes in Caracas: How US Special Forces Grabbed Nicolas Maduro
Brandon J. Weichert The raid on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro’s compound in Caracas—involving units from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines—highlighted the US military’s extreme proficiency at inter-service operations. “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the codename for the United States’ snatching of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, was a …
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5 January
Peace Through Strength in Venezuela—and the World
Ahmed Charai The rhetoric of international law all too often serves to buttress lawless regimes that undermine US interests. The international system is confronting a profound moral and strategic crisis. For decades, the principle of state sovereignty—originally conceived to protect nations from external domination—has been systematically distorted into …
December, 2025
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31 December
Israel’s Recognition of “Somaliland”: A Dangerous Precedent for Red Sea Security
By Hosein Mortada Israel’s announcement recognizing “Somaliland” has sparked deep regional—and wider international—concern. This is not merely because the move involves a self-declared entity lacking international recognition, but because it directly touches one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical theaters: the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. …
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31 December
The Global South Is Rising—but Is It Truly Connected?
The idea of a “Global South” has returned to the forefront of strategic discourse, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With the growing influence of BRICS, G77, ASEAN, the African Union, and CELAC, a multipolar world appears to be taking shape. Yet …
