Ukraine

The G7 Meeting: New Roles for a Venerable Organization

The annual meeting of the world’s seven most economically prosperous democratic countries—plus the European Union—that comprise the G7 always generates a good deal of anticipation. That was especially the case this year, given Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Originally founded...

Read more »

Stress-Testing Chinese-Russian Relations

The statements could not have been more different. As Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to Russia in March, the two governments released a joint statement that described their relations as having reached “their highest level in...

Read more »

The Breakdown of the US-South African Strategic Partnership

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in Asia Times under the title “US-South Africa ties explode on Russia arms claim.”   The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put tremendous strain on the strategic partnership between South Africa and...

Read more »

What Happens Next with the Wagner Group?

In a recent video released by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, he stares into the camera and berates several of the Russian military’s top leaders, including Russian army general and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed...

Read more »

High North, High Tension: The End of Arctic Illusions

For a long time, the Arctic was seen as a zone free of geopolitical tensions. Apart from joint military drills between NATO members and Russia that were discontinued after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, “High North, low tension” was the...

Read more »

Putin’s Holy Grail: Myth, Power, and the Retaking of Russian-Occupied Crimea

“Now, they will call you ‘Putin the Crimean.’” – Alexei Venediktov, editor-in-chief of the Echo of Moscow, to Vladimir Putin after the Russian annexation of Crimea   Following weeks of Kyiv’s warnings about an upcoming counteroffensive, Russian troops in...

Read more »

The Wagner Group’s Expanding Global Footprint

Wagner Roadmap: Ten Recommendations to Fight the Group 1. The sanctions discussion needs to be expanded, as such designations should aim to shame Wagner’s state partners.  2. Sanctions lists should expand to include actors in third-party countries, such as...

Read more »

When Diplomacy Goes to War

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, several questions remain about what the US government would have, could have, and should have done differently since the war started. Should the United States have funneled more weapons and...

Read more »

Big Changes in United Arab Emirates Foreign Policy

Editor’s Note: This paper is based inter alia on insights from a series of meetings and interviews during a recent visit to the Gulf. Diversification and Less Confrontation After a Decade of an Activist Foreign Policy The United Arab...

Read more »

War As a Neighbor: Moldova and the Challenges of Facing Russian Aggression in Ukraine

“The Kremlin is thinking about ways to strangle Moldova.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his speech during the Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2023 to convince Ukraine’s Western partners to speed up the delivery of weapons...

Read more »