Caucasus

Kazakhstan Bets on Iranian Port Investment

Landlocked Kazakhstan is seeking port access, and Astana is banking on Iran to provide it. On July 8, Kazakhstan signed an agreement to build a logistics and transport terminal at Iran’s largest seaport...

Turkey’s corridor dream won’t beat IMEC – but it could still reshape Eurasian trade

War has a way of redrawing maps – not just political ones, but commercial ones as well. The outbreak of conflict with Iran has disrupted longstanding trade arteries linking Asia to Europe, from Persian...

SADAT: Turkey’s Wagner Group

The SADAT International Defense Consultancy has grown into a key instrument of Turkish influence in Africa and the Middle East.

Iran’s Support for Russia and Lessons Learned from Ukraine

Turkey is the NATO ally Trump should pressure first

President Donald Trump is right to demand that NATO allies shoulder more of the burden for collective defense. For too long, the United States has underwritten the security of partners who...

Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism

Georgia’s Turn Toward China’s Financial System

Georgia, once Washington’s closest partner in the Caucasus region, is strengthening its economic ties with Beijing. Four Georgian banks have applied to join China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System...

What Are Turkey’s Red Lines in the Iran Conflict?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reluctant to get involved in the Iran War, fearing it would hurt his party’s chances in the next election.

Russia Watches Iran War From the Sidelines — Again

Amid its all-consuming war in Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly found itself struggling to shape other global events — from the Caucasus to the Middle East to Latin America. Moscow is now again watching from the sidelines as the United States and Israel seek to topple the regime in Iran, potentially dealing a further blow to Russian interests. In the short term, though, the Middle East conflict carries greater risk for Ukraine, since it could divert U.S. attention and military resources.

UNRWA’s Pivot To Ankara Cements a Future for Hamas in Turkey

A conduit for terrorism has found a new home. On January 8, the Commissioner-General for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini met with...

Israel-Iran War is a Double-Edged Sword for Putin’s Russia

What Does Putin Really Want in the Israel-Iran Conflict? ...

Beyond the Bomb: Is Iran’s Diplomatic Pivot Changing Its Nuclear Calculus?

Iran is facing crunch time on its continued talks with the United States over a potential new deal regarding its nuclear program. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on June 4...

Trump’s Russia Sanctions Toolkit

Options to Increase Leverage to End Putin’s War Against Ukraine

Iranian and Armenian militaries drill as Azerbaijan hosts Israel-Turkey talks

Iran and Armenia held their first joint military exercises, “Peace,” near their shared border region of Nodruz on April 9 and 10, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry and the Islamic...

Turkey’s Balancing Act in the Ukraine Conflict—Again

Turkey has once again positioned itself at the center of diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict. Following high-profile visits to Ankara by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and...

From Afghanistan to America: the rising reach of the Islamic State Khorasan Province

Four years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the threat posed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has expanded beyond the region, now endangering both American and European soil.

Iranian lawmaker: Time to match US, Israel’s nuclear arsenal

Reporting on the comments by state media shows that Iranian institutions likely agree with his stance and want to highlight it.

From bluster to railways: Iran tones down talk of attacking Israel

The regime has appeared to shift gears, at least in rhetoric, since the US election on November 5.

Spy surge: Tehran’s espionage strategy against Israel

The Islamic Republic has accelerated its intelligence operations in Israel, with at least five spy rings uncovered by Israel in October alone. Between October 14 and 31, authorities arrested some 20 individuals...

FDD Identifies 19 Websites as Part of an Iranian Global Influence Operation

FDD researchers have uncovered the Iranian role in creating a network of at least 19 websites that present themselves as independent sources of opinion and analysis for audiences across the globe. Other...