Brazil

November 3, 2023 |

10 Things to Know About Hezbollah

1. Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Islamist terrorist organization Hezbollah (also spelled “Hizballah”) is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and a political party based in Lebanon. The...

October 28, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Hezbollah’s Terror Threat In Latin America

In the land of symmetrical war, the asymmetrical warrior is king. The U.S. and Israeli governments are rightly concerned that Hezbollah – Iran’s oldest and best-armed proxy – could open a second front in the Israel-Hamas conflict. But who says Hezbollah would limit itself to striking U.S. or Israeli targets in the Middle East? 
For decades, Hezbollah has patiently built a global web of networks, engaged in illicit financial activities, and supported terrorist plots. Hezbollah and Iran have repeatedly struck at Israeli, Jewish, and other Western targets overseas. Latin America is a region of particular concern in this respect, for several reasons. 
Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

October 16, 2023 | Ivana Stradner, Jason Jay Smart

Putin’s cynical offer to mediate in the Middle East is a farce

Following the largest Middle East escalation in decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate the Israel-Hamas conflict. “What matters now is to stop the bloodshed,” he said. “Russia...

October 12, 2023 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Iran wanted Saudi Arabia to drop Israel — but failed miserably

At first glance, Thursday’s first-ever phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi might suggest the two predominantly Muslim nations...

September 15, 2023 | Akhil Ramesh, Cleo Paskal

From Non-Alignment to Realignment

The US and India expanded cooperation across various domains in the second reporting period of 2023. The two moved to materialize projects and initiatives that were conceived in the first quarter,...

September 8, 2023 | Elaine K. Dezenski |

Italy is about to say to Beijing, ‘Hit the road, Xi’

Rome's anticipated departure from the Belt and Road Initiative likely marks the end of the project’s grand European aspirations, Elaine Dezenski writes.

August 30, 2023 | Clifford D. May |

The price of American leadership

It’s high, but the value is higher

August 27, 2023 | Elaine K. Dezenski |

Beware of Falling BRICS

With the BRICS Summit coming to a close, it is unclear what has been accomplished.

July 27, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey is becoming a major hub for cocaine trafficking to Europe

Ankara’s reputation for smuggling is not new, and its portfolio in facilitating the free flow of illicit goods is growing to include drugs. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Turkey...

July 21, 2023 | Orde Kittrie |

Pending ICJ Case Threatens to Demand Unconditional Israeli Withdrawal from West Bank

The United States and other governments have until July 25 to submit their first round of written statements in an International Court of Justice (ICJ) case that could establish a new legal framework demanding...

July 6, 2023 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

The Saudi-Iran Agreement: Should Washington Be Worried?

While a few statements and photo ops here and there might suggest that Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) is in the process of replacing Saudi Arabia’s traditional partner,...

June 30, 2023 | Elaine K. Dezenski |

Washington Needs a New Economic Security Framework for the Americas

Washington must bring powerful answers to pressing issues in the region: populism, political unrest, and disinformation; water and food insecurity; extreme weather; mass migration; the evolving drug trade; money laundering and corruption; and weakened democratic institutions.

June 21, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

In the Tri-Border Area, Hezbollah Agents Are Again in the Wind 

An Argentinian federal judge issued an international arrest warrant last week against four Lebanese nationals suspected of involvement in the July 1994 terror attack against the AMIA building, the Jewish...

June 21, 2023 | Elaine K. Dezenski |

Countering Threats Posed by Nation-State Actors in Latin America to U.S. Homeland Security

Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence

June 16, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Tehran Takes Caracas

On Monday, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi began a five-day tour of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, three Latin American countries governed by authoritarian, anti-Western regimes. Raisi’s three predecessors...

June 11, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

America’s Power Competition Goes Awry in Lula’s Brazil

When the dust settles, the consequences of Lula’s approach will serve neither American interests nor Brazil’s.

May 17, 2023 | Craig Singleton |

Why Xi Is Ghosting Biden

Beijing’s refusal to talk to Washington is part of a war of attrition against U.S. influence.

May 10, 2023 | Andrea Stricker |

Two Years On, Syria’s Suspension from the OPCW Was Beneficial

Member States’ Next Act Should be Suspending Russia

May 6, 2023 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Hezbollah Is Missing from President Biden’s Corruption Agenda

Making global corruption a national security priority is the right decision. Recognizing Hezbollah’s systematic reliance on corruption to facilitate its illicit finance networks would make the White House strategy more effective.

April 28, 2023 | Bradley Bowman, Orde Kittrie, Ryan Brobst

The United States and Saudi Arabia: A Possible Path Forward