Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh In the final week of January 2026, the Kremlin was unusually crowded. Russian President Vladimir Putin received a succession of leaders from the Arab world, held calls with regional rivals, and quietly reinforced Moscow’s image as a power that speaks to everyone—at a time when …
January, 2026
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31 January
Why Iraq’s Next Government Won’t Shake off Iran’s Influence
Bridget Toomey A pro-Iran government in Baghdad will compromise US development plans for Iraq. The man Iraq’s Shia leadership picked as their candidate to lead the country, former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, won’t get an American nod of approval. Maliki was announced on January 24, two and a …
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31 January
What the National Defense Strategy Means for the US-South Korea Alliance
J. James Kim Donald Trump’s administration has made it clear that it expects more military burden-sharing from South Korea. The much-awaited release of the Donald Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy (NDS) signals some interesting changes underway on the Korean Peninsula. The Department of Defense document signals a shift …
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31 January
The US Navy Is Building Up a NATO Base in the Eastern Mediterranean
Stavros Atlamazoglou The Souda Naval Base—located on the Greek island of Crete—is the largest US base in the eastern Mediterranean, and a vital stopping point on the way to the Middle East. When one thinks of naval divers, one’s mind naturally gravitates towards exotic, high-risk missions—Navy SEALs infiltrating …
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31 January
Trump’s Iran Dilemma: Strike, or Lose Face?
Arman Mahmoudian The decision to bomb Iran could lead to disastrous consequences for the United States. The decision not to could be far worse. “We have a lot of ships going that [Iran] direction, just in case… We have an armada heading in that direction, and maybe we …
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31 January
You Can’t Obliterate What You’re Still Threatening to Bomb
Seven months ago, President Donald Trump declared that U.S. airstrikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities. This week, he is threatening to strike them again—warning that the next attack will be “far worse” unless Tehran agrees to nuclear negotiations. Something doesn’t add up. Either the June …
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31 January
The “Rules Based International Order” is Crumbling: Should We Mourn Its End?
William J. Jones On January 20, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave a speech at the annual WEF meeting in Davos. Immediately, a chorus of praise rang out from liberals and liberal media outlets the world over, Global North and Global South alike. Carney indirectly took aim …
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31 January
Vision or Vanity? Deconstructing the Trump Gaza Development Plan
Jessup Kim It has been over two years since the start of the Gazan War and the ensuing genocide against the Palestinians living there. Earlier this week, the United States unveiled a plan for the development of Gaza, with seaside resorts, skyscrapers, and industrial centers. The plan exposes …
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31 January
Washington’s Strategy Against Iran: Victory Without Firing a Shot
Liza Gallard The repeated military threats issued by Washington against Tehran appear less a prelude to war and more a mirror reflecting a strategic impasse. The United States has reached a point where it neither possesses the appetite to launch a war nor the ability to retreat openly. …
