Analysis

Analysis offers a new angle on a contemporary or historical issue. These articles are policy-oriented and cover current developments around the globe that impinge upon American foreign policy and national security priorities.

Henry Kissinger and the American Century

Author’s note: My Atlantic magazine essay, “In Defense of Henry Kissinger,” posted here, appeared over a decade ago on Henry Kissinger’s 90th birthday in May 2013. It was originally meant to be an obituary. Though, it is as relevant now...

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Britain Missing in Action on India-Middle East-Europe Corridor

During the G20 summit in September 2023, the United States and its closest allies and partners—the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—announced the formation of the India-Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC). The...

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Perfect Storm: Niger’s Uranium Amidst Sahelian Chaos

After several weeks of tense diplomatic negotiations and saber-rattling between Niamey and Paris, President Emmanuel Macron’s government withdrew Ambassador Sylvain Itte and diplomatic staff from Niger in late September. France’s military mission plans to withdraw by the end of...

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The End of De-Escalation in the Middle East?

The Hamas incursion from Gaza into Israel and the subsequent attack on Israel’s Southern District that began on October 7, 2023, led to the death of more than 1,500 Israelis and foreigners. The atrocities, widely reported as Israel’s 9/11,...

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Australia and India’s New Military Bases: Responses to China’s Naval Presence in the Indian Ocean

In May 2022, a Chinese navy Type 815 electronic surveillance ship, the Haiwangxing, sailed close to the Harold E. Holt naval communication station in western Australia, a facility jointly operated by Australia and the United States. On the edge...

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Between Swords of Iron and the Al Aqsa Deluge: The Regional Politics of the Israel-Hamas War

Until October 7, it seemed there was a positive dynamic in the Middle East. A slew of detentes took place in the region in the past two years: between Turkey and Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and...

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Peshmerga Reforms: Navigating Challenges, Forging Unity

The Peshmerga—“those willing to face death”—a term resonating with Kurdish valor, traces its origins to the twentieth-century struggle for Kurdish rights in Iraq. Amidst this fight, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) emerged...

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Iran and the ‘Axis of Resistance’ Vastly Improved Hamas’s Operational Capabilities

For the past several years, Hamas has often been overlooked in discussions regarding the top global terrorist threats. The Islamic State and its worldwide network of affiliates occupy much of the counterterrorism bandwidth, along with al-Qaeda affiliates such as...

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Recentralization Imperils Iraq’s Stability and Fuels Regional Tensions

Iraq is at a pivotal juncture, diverging from its post-2003 vision of a federated state as pro-Iranian Shia groups in Baghdad aggressively drive recentralization. This transformation is most evident in Baghdad’s aggressive attempts to erode the federal status of...

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“For as Long as it Takes”: Putting US Aid to Ukraine into Perspective

Over the past year, Biden administration officials from the president down have repeatedly insisted that the United States will continue supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion “for as long as it takes.” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reportedly told his...

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