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.

China’s Civil-Military Drone Fusion

Divining the intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is never a straightforward task. But when it comes to assessing the future of China’s military technology, data from China’s civilian unmanned air system industries and research institutes is a...

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The US-Saudi Nuclear Deal: Abandoning the Gold Standard

Donald Trump is famous for his love of gold. His agreement with Saudi Arabia, however, has undermined the so-called “Gold Standard” for nuclear nonproliferation: the American insistence, for more than a decade, that countries that reach agreements with Washington...

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Reading Germany’s Rearmament: The 2026 Military Strategy Between Ambition and Accountability

  On April 22, 2026, Germany published what has been called the first military strategy in the Bundeswehr’s history. Signed by Chief of Defence Gen. Carsten Breuer, it is part of the broader “overall concept of military defence” (Gesamtkonzeption...

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Can the US and Europe Cooperate in Africa?

Africa’s global role is constantly evolving. Demographically, Africa is poised to occupy a dominant position in the world over the coming decades. By 2050, Africa’s share of the global population will have grown from its current 19 percent to...

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Lida Shuffle: Su-25 “Nuclear” Exercises in Belarus

At the end of May, Russia and Belarus conducted a set of what they claimed were nuclear exercises. Some nine or so systems were tested, including the Su-25 attack aircraft, Tu-95 bomber, the Yars and Kinzhal ballistic missiles, the...

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How France’s Fall Signals China’s Rise in the Sahel

In a disturbing, though predictable, move, Burkina Faso severed diplomatic relations with France on June 26, 2026, accusing its former colonial ruler of pursuing “neo-colonial ambitions,” and maintaining “subversive networks,” and even supporting terrorist groups against the Burkinabè state....

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A Crown Jewel in Peril: Russia’s Arctic Aggression Masks Nuclear Vulnerability

Russia sees opportunity in the Arctic. For centuries, ever-present sea ice has made the region hostile to trade or military exploitation. But as the ice melts, that reality is changing. Russia plans to capitalize on the economic benefit of...

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Losing the Ambiguity, Missing the Strategy: US Policy Towards Taiwan in Flux 

A series of high-level meetings between leaders and visits by prominent politicians from the United States, China, and Taiwan has roiled chronically fraught issues of Taiwan policy and cross-Strait relations. The May summit between President Donald Trump and Xi...

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Beyond the Supply Chain: South Africa’s China Dilemma

At the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 22, 2026, South Africa’s deputy president Paul Mashatile signaled a renewed partnership with China amid a complex geopolitical global environment.  Speaking at the event, he emphasized that...

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From Greenland to Spain: Trump Threatens Allies While Embracing Turkey at NATO Summit

At last week’s NATO Summit in Ankara, President Trump was hosted warmly by Turkish President Recep Erdogan. Trump, who generally attends NATO summits with a petulant attitude, reportedly said that he would not have attended this year’s summit had...

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