OPINION

Sarah Viceroy As Israel approaches its 27 October 2026 election, Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque have become more than religious and territorial flashpoints. They are also instruments in a fierce contest for political influence, particularly within Israel’s nationalist and religious right. Politicians are competing to demonstrate who can …

 Cynthia Jacobs The Eastern Mediterranean is becoming an increasingly important arena in the contest over maritime boundaries, energy security and regional influence. Turkey’s growing naval presence and its strategic partnership with Libya have strengthened Ankara’s position in this competition, giving it additional leverage over future gas projects, undersea …

Alexis Nexus The next frontier of military competition may not be found only in hypersonic missiles, autonomous drones or artificial intelligence. It may lie within the human body itself—in the vast microbial ecosystem that helps regulate digestion, immunity and metabolism. As synthetic biology advances, researchers are exploring ways …

James Ross The history of extremism in the Arab world cannot be understood through security failures and the rise of armed groups alone. It must also be examined through the political ideas, organizational networks and historical circumstances that allowed radical movements to emerge, adapt and cross national borders. …

Maysa Al-Rifai The meeting in Tehran between senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and Iran was more than another security gathering in a region accustomed to managing crises on the brink of disaster. Its significance lies in a strategic paradox: the three countries that signed the Mecca …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh The attack in Karak was more than an act of terrorism. It was an assault on the social compact that holds Jordan together—and a reminder that national unity must be defended through security, justice, and an uncompromising commitment to equal citizenship. From the church in …

When the intelligence academy of a leading regional power publishes a report called “The Anatomy of Israeli Expansionism”, the message goes beyond scholarship. Turkey’s National Intelligence Academy issued the report on October 23rd, according to Noon Post. Its central claim is that Israeli expansion is not a response …

Melanie Smith The United States can launch a missile in minutes. Replacing it may take years. That gap between the speed of modern warfare and the slower pace of industrial production is emerging as one of the most consequential strategic lessons of the war with Iran. The conflict …

Catherine Markus Water rarely makes headlines until it becomes a source of conflict. In Central Asia, where rivers cross borders, glaciers feed agricultural valleys and growing cities compete for limited supplies, water is becoming one of the region’s most consequential geopolitical questions. The challenge is not simply how …