Geopolitics

April 14, 2026 | Dr. Reza Arab, Saeed Ghasseminejad

Iran at a crossroads: Australia’s opportunities and pitfalls

Over the last few weeks, the Islamist regime in Tehran has expanded the scope of its hostage-taking operation. Not satisfied with only taking Western citizens hostage and then extorting their governments,...

April 10, 2026 | RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Ivana Stradner

Why Hungary’s two-faced Orbán deserves to lose his re-election bid

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary is on the ropes in his latest bid for reelection, down by double-digit margins in the latest polls. So he brought in a ringer. Vice President JD Vance, a star...

April 8, 2026 | Bill Roggio, Janatan Sayeh

US, Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire in exchange for reopening of Strait of Hormuz

After 39 days of fighting between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, the US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. While there are conflicting reports regarding...

April 6, 2026 | Mariam Wahba |

Egypt Welcomes ‘Grain and Energy Hub’ Initiative from Russia

Amid intensifying great-power competition, Egypt is no longer hedging quietly between the United States and its rivals. On April 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Egyptian Foreign Minister...

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.

April 2, 2026 | Daniel Swift, Josh Birenbaum

How to Tackle Venezuela’s (and the World’s) ‘Odious Debt’ Problem

Venezuela could be a test case for reforming international finance’s lending to authoritarian governments.

April 2, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz, Simone Rodan-Benzaquen

The War in Iran Is Painful for Poland. It May Also Be in Poland’s Interest.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 12-14 percent of Europe's liquefied natural gas flows, puts Poland's energy diversification strategy to a serious test. However, this is nothing compared to the risk posed by a nuclear-armed Iran supplying Russia with advanced missiles and drones.

April 2, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi, Natalie Ecanow

Has Al Jazeera Changed Its Editorial Direction?

Veteran Al Jazeera analyst Leqaa Makki threw viewers a curveball during a recent news segment. He advocated for an escalation against Iran. A familiar face on the network since 2003, Makki argued...

April 1, 2026 | Clifford D. May |

Why we have a TSA and a DHS

And the jihadis that make them necessary

March 27, 2026 | Clifford D. May, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Daniel Vaynshteyn

Back from the Front

March 27, 2026 | |

Iran Blocks 2 Chinese Vessels From Transiting Strait of Hormuz

2 Chinese-Flagged Vessels Turned Back: Iran blocked two Chinese-flagged container vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz on March 27, according to the MarineTraffic tracking...

March 26, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz, Matt Pottinger

From Tehran to Taipei: How the Iran War Reshapes China’s Taiwan Calculus

March 26, 2026 | Peter Doran |

Russia and China are losers in US war on Iran 

Excerpt The United States and Israel are devastating the parasitic Islamic regime that squandered the wealth of Iran for decades and exported terror across the Middle East. Understanding the biggest...

March 23, 2026 | Saeed Ghasseminejad, Navid Mohebbi

Europe’s Iran Moment

Iran is cracking from within. Europe must decide whether to shape what comes next.

March 20, 2026 | Ryan Brobst, Bradley Bowman

This missile just proved itself in Iran. The US needs more, ASAP

Despite its advantages, the Precision Strike Missile has so far been procured in relatively small quantities.

March 19, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Daniel Swift, Susan Soh

Forging a New Critical Minerals Reality

March 19, 2026 | Keti Korkiya |

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...

March 17, 2026 | Jack Burnham |

Domestic Politics May Impede Vietnam’s Growing Relationship With the U.S.

Vietnam is performing a balancing act, but it’s unclear how long it can keep the plates spinning. On March 16, Vietnam held its first ever “3+3” summit with China, a meeting that featured both...

March 17, 2026 | Craig Singleton |

Prolonging the war with Iran could strengthen China’s hand

But a short, decisive campaign could cause Beijing to think twice about taking Taiwan.

March 13, 2026 | Jonathan Schanzer |

Regime Change Without Nation Building

America and Israel are at war with Iran, a fact that should be neither shocking nor surprising. Both countries have been targeted by the Islamic Republic since its inception in 1979. Both countries...