Balkans

April 17, 2026 | Reagan Easter, Ivana Stradner

Orban’s ouster was a win. But don’t let Hungary distract from Russia’s next target

Post-election celebrations erupted in the streets of Budapest over the weekend after Hungarian voters ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orban after 16 years, handing pro-EU opposition leader Peter...

April 6, 2026 | RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Johanna Yang

What the 2026 Intelligence Assessment Gets Right—and Wrong

The US intelligence assessment identifies key threats but understates cyber risks and China’s Taiwan strategy, leaving US policymakers ill-prepared for emerging conflicts.

March 11, 2026 | Ivana Stradner |

Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia chose Tehran over Trump

The leaders of Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia have long touted their loyalty to President Donald Trump, courting Washington’s conservative wing. But when Trump launched his war...

November 14, 2025 | Angela Howard, Ivana Stradner

Trump should reject Serbia sanctions waiver request

Serbia and Russia are lobbying frantically for a reprieve from U.S. sanctions on Serbia’s oil and gas company, NIS, which Washington targeted due to its majority Russian ownership. Belgrade...

June 30, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel: Now the Dominant Military Power in the Middle East?

Israel: A Regional Hegemon with Iran Defeated? In the wake of Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, it has become clear that Israel’s military is now among the strongest in the Middle East....

June 3, 2025 | Ivana Stradner |

Russia Accuses Serbia of Betrayal

Despite the traditional rhetoric of Slavic brothers united in common cause, Serbia continues to look out for its own interest, knowing Moscow is willing to sacrifice the Serbs.

May 4, 2025 | Ivana Stradner, Marina Chernin

Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches Unite Against West

As part of Russia’s plan to undermine cohesion in Europe, it hopes to pull Serbia away from its path toward the EU by emphasizing traditional Orthodox ties.

April 17, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh, Navid Mohebbi

Time to Reform VOA and Its Iran Programming: Trim the Fat, Keep the Mission

The Trump administration’s decision to eliminate funding for Voice of America (VOA) represents a missed opportunity to reform and enhance the outlet’s capacity to counter adversarial propaganda.

March 7, 2025 | Benjamin Jensen, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Jose M. Macias III

How to Defend Ukraine’s Skies During Peace Negotiations

Air superiority remains a decisive factor in modern warfare. As Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian aggression, policymakers and military planners are grappling with a fundamental question:...

December 12, 2024 | Bill Roggio |

Hayat Tahrir al Sham’s terror network in Syria

On December 8, 2024, rebel forces deposed the regime of Syria’s longtime dictator, Bashar al Assad, after the insurgents stormed through much of the country, retaking various regional capitals and culminating...

June 13, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

The real danger of Iran linking Hezbollah to Gaza

The era where Israel could fight in Gaza, in the West Bank, or just in Lebanon appears to be over.

May 17, 2024 | Ben Cohen |

UNRWA meets the Spanish Inquisition

They may be separated by seven centuries, but a commonality is clearly apparent when it comes to the Jewish people.

April 17, 2024 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

The Despotic Duo

Russo-Iranian Cooperation and Threats to U.S. Interests

April 4, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery

The West cannot let Putin open a second front in Europe

The Balkans, oft-neglected, are a ripe prospect for Russia’s aspirations, and are becoming increasingly febrile and dangerous

March 27, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Are leaders of Hamas taking a ‘victory’ tour in Iran?

Hamas believes that patience and perseverance will lead to victory in Gaza, and the Hamas leadership thinks it has growing international support while it has suffered no international consequences.

March 5, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Erdoğan Silences Critics with “FETO” Terrorist Label

For 10 years, the Gulen movement has been synonymous with terrorism

February 29, 2024 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Putin proving his ambitions don’t stop at Ukraine

The day before Vladimir Putin’s long yearly address to parliament Thursday, politicians from Transnistria, a pro-Kremlin breakaway region of Moldova, asked the Russian president to “protect”...

November 7, 2023 | David R. Shedd, Ivana Stradner

Russia’s Second Front in Europe

The West Must Stop Putin From Provoking Conflict in the Balkans

September 30, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Putin is opening up a new front against the West

The Balkans are set to explode unless urgent action is taken by NATO to quell Russian and Serbian aggression in Kosovo

September 22, 2023 | Ivana Stradner |

Russia’s Influence in the Balkans

As the war in Ukraine continues, Russia, with the help of its ally Serbia, is provoking chaos in the Balkans to distract the West. The Kremlin’s goal is to exacerbate the existing perilous ethnic tensions...