Russia-CIS

By Rami Al-Shaer Key Points Preparations have reportedly begun for a potential trilateral meeting between the Russian, Chinese and American presidents, possibly on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China on 18–19 November. Direct contacts between Russia and European leaders, alongside diplomatic initiatives concerning Ukraine, Iran and …

Key Points Russia continues to pursue its strategic objectives in Ukraine while facing military, economic and diplomatic pressures. Its partnership with China provides important diplomatic and economic support, but does not eliminate asymmetries between the two powers. Energy exports, sanctions, battlefield developments and US policy remain central to …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh Key Points The Iran war and restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have made regional security inseparable from global energy and economic stability. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and European powers are exploring diplomatic channels to contain escalation. Gulf states face a strategic …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh   The attack on St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud last October was an atrocity that demands justice, not shortcuts. Nine worshippers killed during a funeral. Dozens wounded. A community shattered. Jordan has every right—and every obligation—to pursue those responsible with the full weight …

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 …

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 …

Maya Berri The relationship between the United States and Israel has long been described as exceptional, built on strategic cooperation, military assistance, shared political interests and close personal ties between leaders. Yet beneath that partnership lies a persistent tension: how far should either country go in influencing the …

There are moments when events move faster than politics can understand them. States then become prisoners of the images they built of their rivals, explaining the present with tools from the past, even after the balance of power has shifted and the map has been redrawn. Few relationships …

Dr. Nessrine Mesto-Assaad Imagine you are taking a picture in a small café in Egypt overlooking the Nile River. You keep the picture on your cloud server, and say to yourself, “I will not share it with anyone; I will keep it to myself.” This personal, spontaneous image …