Op-ed

For the first time since BRICS was established in 2009, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the annual summit. His absence from the July 2025 gathering in Rio de Janeiro—a meeting that features a dramatically expanded bloc and arrives at a moment of geopolitical flux—suggests that it …

MEPs will debate the start of the latest EU presidency, now held by Denmark. They will discuss Denmark’s agenda for its six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 July, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The debate will take place later this week in Strasbourg where MEPs are meeting …

However, over the last 20 months, the size and scope of Israeli military campaigns have gone beyond the frontiers of Gaza and the occupied West Bank to venture into some other nations in the Middle East. The government of Israel has engaged in assaults in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh On July 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington—not as a routine diplomatic guest, but as a key player in a volatile geopolitical theater on the verge of eruption. Analysts have dubbed it a “war visit”—one that could pave the way for a …

In the multipolar era, every war serves as a flashpoint through which the evolving balance of power is tested and contested. The recent escalation between India and Pakistan in South Asia, and Israel and Iran in the Middle East, reveals the realist underpinnings of conflicts – particularly in …

Abdul Haq In a historic decision that reflected worries about a more unstable world, leaders of NATO decided to increase defense spending commitments to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the June 2025 summit. In a time of ‘global competition,’ NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized that ‘Europe and …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh As tensions escalate across the Caspian region and the specter of nuclear confrontation looms ominously, Kazakhstan’s unwavering dedication to nonproliferation and its astute foreign policy position it as a potential arbiter in the Iranian crisis. By harnessing its diplomatic acumen and strategic location, Kazakhstan could …

Seth J. Frantzman The June 22 attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus underscores the threat of extremism in Syria even after the fall of Assad. The new government must demonstrate control and protect minorities. An attack on a church on Sunday, June 22, killed 25 people …

Brandon J. Weichert For Jerusalem, the existing ceasefire would leave Iran’s nuclear program in place, and could never be allowed to hold. “I suggest the toothless snake-head in Tehran understand and beware: Operation Rising Lion was just the trailer for new Israeli policy—after October 7th, immunity is over.” …