Kazakhstan

August 12, 2026 | Angela Howard, Emilia Marshall

Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union Creates New Pathways for Potential Sanctions Evasion

As Western sanctions work to isolate Russia’s economy, Moscow is investing in trade backdoors. The intergovernmental council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) concluded its 47th meeting with the...

July 28, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel approves entry of International Stabilization Force into Gaza

On July 26, the Israeli government’s cabinet approved the entry of forces from the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza in the near future. The development envisions an...

July 23, 2026 | Angela Howard |

China’s Expanding Presence in Kyrgyzstan Undermines Human Rights, U.S. Strategic Interests

In Kyrgyzstan, criticism of Chinese influence can end in public shaming or an arrest warrant. On July 20, a Kyrgyz presidential administration official published photographs, names, birth dates, and social...

July 17, 2026 | Richard Goldberg, Roger Zakheim

Is Israel Actually More Isolated Than Ever?

“Support for Israel around the world is declining,” former Chicago mayor and potential Democratic presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel declared in Israel last week. “The only diplomatic achievement...

July 14, 2026 | Angela Howard, Antonia-Laura Pup

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...

July 2, 2026 | David Daoud, Ahmad Sharawi

Meet the 13 Palestinians Tasked With Governing Gaza After Hamas

June 29, 2026 | Angela Howard |

Russian Gasoline Shortages Compound Economic Struggles

Russia is running short on gas. On June 24, Reuters reported that Russia petitioned Kazakhstan to provide 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline to alleviate domestic shortages. Despite its status as...

June 19, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Gaza peace plan sees slow progress after Hamas meets in Cairo

The US-backed peace plan for Gaza has continued to progress slowly, though ceasefire talks held in Cairo in the first week and a half of June appeared to stall over the issue of Hamas’s disarmament,...

June 16, 2026 | Andrea Stricker |

Dilution Is Not the Solution: Disposing of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile

The critical question of how to handle Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile will be addressed in a long-term peace agreement between the United States and Iran, to be negotiated over the 60 days following...

June 12, 2026 | Angela Howard |

U.S. Turns to Central Asia To Combat China’s Rare Earth Dominance

The United States is vulnerable to Chinese control over critical mineral supply chains. To reduce its dependence on Beijing, Washington is increasingly looking to Central Asia. On June 10, U.S. special...

May 29, 2026 | Andrea Stricker |

6 Essential Requirements for a Good Iran Nuclear Deal

A new U.S.-Iran nuclear deal may soon emerge — or at least an initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be fleshed out over 60 days. President Donald Trump pledged on May 27 that the United States...

May 21, 2026 | Angela Howard |

EU Anti-Circumvention Sanctions Spark Policy Change in Kyrgyzstan

Russia depends on foreign jurisdictions to help it circumvent Western sanctions — but secondary sanctions have raised the cost of abetting this sanctions evasion, deterring at least some facilitation...

May 14, 2026 | Ivana Stradner |

An Anniversary That Should Serve as Warning for Russia’s Allies

May 14 occupies a symbolic place in Russia’s military imagination. It marks the anniversary of the creation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 and, nearly half a century later, the founding of the Collective...

April 27, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Kosovo military team evaluates Gaza deployment amid continuing ceasefire violations

The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) announced on April 26 that it had sent a team to Gaza to examine an area where its troops may operate in the future. “During this visit, the team will conduct a preliminary...

April 21, 2026 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

Iran’s Support for Russia and Lessons Learned from Ukraine

April 15, 2026 | Angela Howard, Jack Burnham

China Uses Political Leverage To Influence Foreign Courts

The Chinese government’s power to prosecute — or persecute — critics does not stop at its borders. On April 13, a court in Kazakhstan sentenced 19 activists to prison after they protested Beijing’s...

March 11, 2026 | Jason Jay Smart, Ivana Stradner

Russia the Arsonist Wants to Play Firefighter

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to use Moscow’s close ties with Iran to restore calm in the Middle East after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which he condemned as “unprovoked aggression.”...

February 20, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi, William Doran

Turkey Leaves Gaza Peace Board Summit Empty-Handed

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan left the inaugural Board of Peace summit in Washington without securing a spot for Turkish troops in Gaza’s International Stabilization Force (ISF). Turkey’s exclusion...

February 20, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Stabilization force and funding pledged for Gaza at Board of Peace meeting

Five countries have agreed to commit troops to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, US Army Major General Jasper Jeffers said on February 19 at a meeting of the US-backed Board...

February 19, 2026 | |

Trump Hosts Inaugural Board of Peace Meeting

Latest Developments First Meeting of International Bloc: President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace on February 19 in Washington, DC. Representatives and heads of state...