Americas

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 …

Desmond Lachman Despite falling interest rates and rising tariffs, US bond yields, a weakening dollar, and soaring gold signal foreign investors’ unease with Trump’s budget, risking inflation and financial instability. As Congress attempts to get President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act to his desk by July 4, …

Martin Banks As world leaders gather for a crunch NATO summit, new polling says that nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults see a benefit to NATO membership. The Pew Research poll comes on the eve of what many see as the most important NATO summit in many years. This will be …

Gerald Walker In an era marked by escalating geopolitical tensions, the world faces three major flashpoints that threaten global stability: the Israel-Iran conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and in a slightly smaller way, the China-Taiwan standoff. Each of these conflicts is rooted in complex historical, ideological, and strategic disputes, …

Nick Loris The United States has the resources to lead on energy, but without regulatory and permitting reform, that potential will continue to stall.  As the Senate rushes to meet leadership’s goal of passing a reconciliation bill before the July 4 recess, several outstanding policy disagreements could result …

Mohammad Fouad In economic policy discourse, numbers are presumed to speak truth. GDP growth, poverty rates, unemployment figures, and fiscal balances are the dashboards of modern governance—objective metrics designed to inform planning and enable accountability. Yet numbers can mislead. When indicators become ends in themselves—targets to hit rather …

Abdul Haq The public and dramatic clash between the incumbent President Donald Trump and tech tycoon Elon Musk—two of the United States’ most popular and powerful figures—has escalated the political chaos of a novel sort in the U.S. political culture. In addition to shocking their supporters, their recent …

Jenny Adams Yet another exciting session of the ‘Understanding AI Program’ presented by the Silkroad 4.0 Platform, the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) and their consortium of partners (such as Modern Diplomacy, ICCD, D-8, IAF, THC, and the like), the focus turned to how …

On May 29th, Elon Musk officially stepped down from his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), concluding a 130-day tenure marked by controversy and unmet fiscal goals. His departure follows public criticism of a Republican-backed spending bill that, contrary to DOGE’s mission, significantly increases …