Articles

The Third Act of Epic Fury: Why the War of Attrition Against Iran Now Favors America

March 24, 2026 Eran Ortal 1945

As of late March 2026, the strategic landscape of Operation Epic Fury has shifted from a high-intensity “shock” campaign to a calculated war of attrition. According to Brig. Gen. (res) Eran Ortal, the conflict has entered a decisive third phase where the combined industrial and logistical weight of the United States, Israel, and the Gulf states is systematically dismantling the Iranian regime’s ability to project power.

Uzbekistan Tourism: The Quality Imperative

March 20, 2026 Mamuka Tsereteli CACI Feature Article

This article examines how Uzbekistan can strengthen its economic security by leveraging its extraordinary cultural heritage and strategic positioning to transition from a volume-driven tourism model towards more of a value-driven approach.

An American Return To The Western Hemisphere

March 19, 2026 Ilan I. Berman NIPP Occasional Paper

In the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, the Trump Administration launched "Absolute Resolve," a military operation to apprehend Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and remove him from office. The effort marked the most consequential U.S. intervention in Latin America in decades, involving large-scale coordinated intelligence, air and special operations assets.

How Ukraine Can Help the Iran War Effort

March 13, 2026 Anna Harvey RealClear Defense

Iran is pounding U.S. military positions across the Middle East with missiles and cheap but highly effective drones, killing U.S. troops and wreaking havoc across the Persian Gulf. The cost to the U.S. of its defensive systems far exceeds the cost of Iran’s drones, and America and its regional partners are burning through their air defenses.

Donald Trump’s Viktor Orban Endorsement: Setting A Bad Historical Precedent?

February 20, 2026 Lawrence J. Haas

In February 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Budapest to herald a “new golden age” of relations, signing a major civilian nuclear deal and pledging a “financial protective shield” for Hungary. This visit followed President Trump’s “complete and total” endorsement of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who currently trails challenger Péter Magyar in the polls ahead of the April 12 election. Critics warn that making bilateral relations contingent on individual leaders turns long-term alliances into fragile transactional affairs. Furthermore, Orbán’s continued energy dependence on Russia and his security ties to China present a significant paradox for the administration’s broader “Great Power” strategy.

America Pivots Away From Syria’s Kurds

February 19, 2026 Ilan I. Berman The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

After years of military involvement in the Syrian theater, America is understandably eager to turn the page. But doing so prematurely risks abandoning a known and capable counterterrorism partner for a still-untested arrangement. That is hardly a recipe for lasting stability.

China has leverage over US agriculture. Missouri farmers deserve protection

February 10, 2026 James B. Skinner The Kansas City Star

China doesn’t need to invade America to control its farmland. It just needs to buy it. Through state-backed conglomerates, shell companies and global acquisitions, Beijing is doing just that, gaining fiduciary leverage over farmland across our nation and threatening America’s long-term food security. It is clear that more must be done to prevent the Chinese Communist Party, our foremost global competitor, from weakening America’s agricultural independence from within.

What Israel Sees in Somaliland

February 3, 2026 Ilan I. Berman National Institute for Public Policy

The strategic logic underpinning Israel's outreach to Somaliland, in other words, is compelling. It simultaneously provides the country with a strategic foothold opposite Yemen, greater proximity to the ongoing threat posed by the Houthis, a deeper stake in Red Sea security, and the potential to become a much bigger player in African politics. For those reasons, Israel's newest partnership is well positioned to endure.

The Organization of Turkic States’ Push into Green Finance and Digital Innovation

February 3, 2026 Lindsey Cliff CACI Analyst

The Organization of Turkic States has expanded beyond its cultural foundations to address regional challenges through green finance, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence initiatives. Led by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the OTS established the Turkic Green Finance Council and proposed collaborative AI networks, responding to economic pressures from sanctions and oil price fluctuations. 

From Rivalry to Recognition: The OTS’s Evolving Approach to Tajikistan

February 3, 2026 Lindsey Cliff CACI Analyst

The Organization of Turkic States has evolved its approach toward Tajikistan, shifting from explicit support for Kyrgyzstan during border conflicts to more inclusive language. Early OTS statements emphasized brotherly solidarity with Kyrgyzstan while implicitly attributing blame to Tajikistan, prompting sharp criticism from Dushanbe. Following diplomatic progress culminating in the March 2025 Kyrgyz-Tajik border treaty, OTS rhetoric shifted significantly. 

Iran’s Digital Repression Has Entered A New Phase

January 29, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Forbes

Today’s internet blackout in Iran, in other words, is merely the most visible manifestation of an accelerating information arms race. Iran’s radical regime is racing to consolidate digital control over its captive population. If it succeeds in doing so, Iran’s brave protesters will find themselves truly cut off from the outside world.

A Canadian Solution to the Greenland Problem

January 22, 2026 Damjan Krnjević Mišković The National Interest

Canadian and European political leaders of various stripes seem to be tripping over themselves to articulate a sensible position on the escalating conflict between NATO allies over Greenland, a Danish colonial possession until 1953 that is now an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and a territory the United States now seeks. However, this collective incoherence does nothing to reduce tensions, much less help overcome the danger we all face. As a Canadian, I propose an outside-the-box compromise solution that puts Canada First. 

Washington Must Get Serious About Eurasia

January 22, 2026 Ilan I. Berman The Washington Times

Big changes are afoot in Eurasia. Over the past several months, the region has undergone a series of tectonic shifts, as countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus have recalibrated their respective foreign policies and expanded ties with the West.

Spiritual Science and Sacred Tradition: The Esoteric Sources of Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s Worldview – Part III

January 16, 2026 Alexander John Paul Lutz Hypotheses

To make sense of how Gamsakhurdia engaged with Georgian Christian mysticism, I organize his sources into two analytical categories—what I term the “Gelati current” and the “prophetic current.” These are, crucially, not divisions that Gamsakhurdia himself articulated, but rather, groupings that help illuminate the different functions these sources served in his thinking.

Spiritual Science and Sacred Tradition: The Esoteric Sources of Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s Worldview – Part I

January 16, 2026 Alexander John Paul Lutz Hypotheses

In these pieces, I begin (but certainly do not finish) the process of undertaking that engagement by tracing and examining the esoteric sources that shaped Gamsakhurdia’s worldview. To Gamsakhurdia, Georgia was not just a newly independent state among many newly independent states, but the bearer of an ancient history and a future mission of great significance. It was a chosen mediator between—and synthesizer of—worlds: Western and Eastern, earthly and divine.

Beijing Is Facing A Population Bust

January 2, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Newsweek

When it comes to a nation's potential, few factors matter more than demographics. The pace of a country's population determines a great many things, from the vibrancy of its society to its global competitiveness.

Central Asian States and the Bagram Dilemma

December 16, 2025 Aleksandar Ivanović Central Asia-Caucasus Institute

The tense clash in opinions over Bagram has left Central Asian countries, Afghanistan’s northern neighbors, in a complex position. The five states initially hinted at opposition to Trump’s efforts, shown in a joint statement of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan.

Kinmen: Taiwan’s Forgotten Line

December 15, 2025 Shayna Faul The National Interest

Yet the real challenge facing Kinmen isn’t military—it’s a matter of political economy. Administratively tied to Taiwan, Kinmen illustrates the complex dynamics of geopolitical influence and economic integration.

Europe’s Next Big Task Is Military Transport

December 4, 2025 Ilan I. Berman Newsweek

Military readiness isn't simply about money. It also depends on mobility. Put another way, even if it is produced in greater quantities than before, European battlefield equipment won't do the Ukrainians—or anyone else—much good if it can't be transported to the frontlines.