Americas

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a set of 17 metallic elements that have become indispensable to modern technology and defense industries. Although they are not truly “rare” in the Earth’s crust, they are difficult to find in concentrated deposits and are expensive to separate and refine. The group …

Almost a decade ago, I would have wagered my entire wealth on the defeat of candidate Donald Trump in the primaries of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. My premises were clear: presidential elections should be contests among politicians, of which the U.S. has an abundance, making it unlikely …

Maya Carlin USS Ford (CVN-78) represents a generational leap in the Navy’s power projection strategy. While the US Navy’s 10 Nimitz-class supercarriers have earned their reputation as true forces of power projection, the service’s newest carrier class is considered to be even more capable. Currently, the USS Gerald R. …

Kester Klomegah For the past couple of years, Russia has noticeably been shifting toward trade while intensifying the dynamics of ‘soft power’ within the framework of its foreign policy with Africa. In many ways, the expanded cultural programs, including art and sports and education exchanges aimed at enhancing …

Damjan Krnjevic-Miskovic The recent Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agreement hints at the features of an emerging world order. Donald Trump’s recent achievements in the Middle East, which came about in no small measure thanks to the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and several other states, should not overshadow his successful …

Zahidul Miaji In a realist world, power is rarely exercised alone. It takes coordination, sustained support, and mutual loyalty to project strength. That is the foundation of any enduring alliance. Since the Cold War, Western powers have built a sophisticated web of strategic alliances, sometimes tested but still …

Fakhar Alam The protracted Ukraine crisis has, at one point, created severe challenges for the global security architecture; on the other hand, it has caused unprecedented damage to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime (NPR). Prominently, this crisis has reinforced the perception among non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS) that possessing nuclear weapons …

Dr. Cherkaoui Roudani This observation by Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations captures the profound metamorphosis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. War has not disappeared; it has evolved into a system of governance, where violence is converted into a tool of calibrated adjustment. The October 2025 ceasefire between Israel …

Kamran Bokhari The Trump administration can build on its peace-deal momentum and push out Chinese influence in the Caucasus. From the US geopolitical perspective, Azerbaijan represents a pivotal strategic partner in Eurasia. Having played a key role in mediating a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia, …