Economics

Dimitra Staikou “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” With these words from the Bhagavad Gita, Robert Oppenheimer recognized the bitter irony of his creation: a promise of progress transformed into an instrument of destruction. Today, something comparable is unfolding with the European Union’s Generalized System …

Bushra Ikram The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the only remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the United States (US) and Russia, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. The New START, which accounted for 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, was signed in …

Fakhar Alam After three years of continuing heightened tensions, the United States (US) and Russia have formally initiated negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. In this context, President Trump and President Putin recently met in Alaska, pledging to resolve the issue through a comprehensive agreement, rather …

Aytac Mahammadova The Middle Corridor, officially designated as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), represents far more than a logistical alternative connecting East and West. This strategic artery, stretching from China through Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, and through the South Caucasus to Turkey and the European …

Dr. Dan Steinbock Recently, a high-level UN conference urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave “unwavering support” to a two-state solution. The “New York Declaration” set out a phased plan to end the eight-decade conflict and the ongoing Gaza catastrophe. Co-chaired by France and Saudi …

The U.S. and China have reached a framework agreement to transfer ownership of TikTok to U.S.-based control, a deal expected to be finalized during a call between Presidents Trump and Xi on Friday. Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in …

Dur e Adan In international relations, soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce, in contrast with hard power. It entails using attractiveness and appeal to influence other people’s preferences. Soft power, which uses foreign policy, political ideals, and culture to effect change, is non-coercive. Joseph …

Shara A. Rondon Symbolism and Stagnation “BRICS in the international system: very relevant countries, but a group of limited importance.” (Viola, 2015) In 2009, BRICS held its first leaders’ summit in Yekaterinburg and since then has cultivated an oversized symbolic presence. BRICS promotes itself as the voice of …

Hrair Balian On August 8, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed a joint declaration for peace at the White House, with President Donald Trump as witness. Their foreign ministers also initialed, pending “further actions” before signing, an Agreement on Establishment …