Eldar Mamedov Russia sees much to gain from engaging with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Earlier this month, in a move that surprised some, Russia formally recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The decision reflected a calculated geopolitical strategy rather than an ideological endorsement. By engaging with the …
Read More »America’s AI Pivot to the Gulf
Ferial Ara Saeed Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged as central components in the Trump administration’s AI strategy. But interdependence carries its risks. Red Cell The Red Cell series is published in collaboration with the Stimson Center. Drawing upon the legacy of the CIA’s Red Cell—established following …
Read More »Xi Jinping Skips BRICS: A Silent Rebuke of a Fractured Bloc?
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 …
Read More »Incoming Danish presidency faces multiple challenges
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 …
Read More »The Human Cost of Israel’s Cross-Border Operations
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, …
Read More »Netanyahu in Washington: Between Closing Gaza and Opening the Gates of Regional Hell
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 …
Read More »Crisis Diplomacy: Global Power Plays in South Asia and Middle East Conflicts
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 …
Read More »Crises of Credibility: The NATO’s 5% Gamble and the Fragile Rules-based World Order
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 …
Read More »Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Resilience: A Crucial Catalyst in the Iranian Nuclear Conundrum
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 …
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