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.

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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Hamas Allegations Threaten Another Breakdown in US-South Africa Ties

The Biden administration is facing an emerging challenge that could result in another breakdown in the strategic partnership with South Africa. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel, there are concerns that the South African government has...

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Atoms for Peace 2.0? On Negotiations Between Israel and Saudi Arabia

In the early 1950s, the Eisenhower administration pushed the Atoms for Peace program forward as part of the American Cold War strategy. The idea was to supply emerging nations with nuclear technology so they could produce energy and run...

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Why the West Should Stick with Conventional Arms Control in Europe for Now

On May 10, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that marked the end of an era. He formally initiated Russia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Arms Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty or “Treaty”). The Treaty obliges...

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