Articles
Why 2026 Is Turning into a Good Year for Democracy
Will Benjamin Netanyahu Survive Israel’s Elections Next Week?
Next week, Israelis will go to the polls in what will arguably be the most important election in the Jewish state’s 78-year history. It is the first electoral contest since the horrific events of October 7, 2023, in which Palestinian terror group Hamas massacred more than 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians, and kidnapped 251 others.
Lebanon’s calm gives Hezbollah time to rearm
A tense calm has prevailed in Lebanon since Israel’s military withdrew to the “yellow line” outlined in the June ceasefire between the two countries.
Progress on the trajectory outlined in the ceasefire agreement is stalled.
How Israel’s Arabs Could Decide the Country’s Next Election
Israel’s 2.2 million Arabs, who comprise a fifth of the nation’s electorate, could decide who will serve as Israel’s next prime minister in the hotly contested election for the Knesset on October 27.
The Iran War Is A Crisis. It’s Also A Catalyst
Some seven months into the Trump administration’s war on Iran, it has become fashionable for much of the media to depict the conflict as a stalemate – one in which the Trump administration is drifting inexorably toward compromise with Iran’s new, military-dominated regime.
The Case for Economic Pressure Over Nuclear Diplomacy With Iran
Trump’s Iran Strategy Has a China Problem
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last week was a grand affair, full of pomp and circumstance designed to convey a clear message...
Don’t Be Fooled by Russia’s Latest Election Results
In Russia, we know elections are stage-managed affairs, with outcomes predetermined well in advance and then triumphantly presented as evidence of pluralism and representative government.
Japan’s Shrinking Population Is Changing How It Fights
Last month, Japan released its latest annual defense white paper. The document has a great deal to say about the threats now confronting the island nation, ranging from an increasingly assertive China to a nuclear North Korea. But one of its most important themes concerns something else entirely: the changing nature of warfare itself.
Why Central Asia’s Middle Corridor Needs Trans-Caspian Pipelines
The dream of the “Trump Route” in the Caucasus will remain unfulfilled without further connectivity to Central Asia.
Iran Has Doubled Down on Digital Repression. How Can Washington Help?
As the Trump administration grapples with how best to confront Iran, its efforts remain centered on sporadic military action and the promise of aggressive economic sanctions. Meanwhile, inside the country, a human rights crisis is escalating—one that Washington is uniquely positioned to help counter.
Why Egypt Has Taken An Eastward Turn
Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a very public state visit to Egypt. Officially, the three-day trip, the first of its kind by a Chinese leader in at least a decade, was intended to commemorate 70 years of bilateral ties between Cairo and Beijing.
Xi’s new mobilization law prepares China for prolonged war
On Oct. 1, a new mobilization law will take effect in China — one that puts Xi Jinping’s stamp on mounting war preparations.
Why Diplomacy with Russia Isn’t Working
"President Putin, thank you so much for having us,” U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff gushed recently in Moscow, where he and fellow U.S. Special Envoy Jared Kushner sought to coax Putin into making peace with Ukraine by offering more economic cooperation and the lifting of sanctions. “When we retire,” Witkoff added, “we’ll have all these incredible stories and memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all.”
Putin’s Finale and Beyond
On February 24 Vladimir Putin began the fifth year of his disastrous war against Ukraine. It has sacrificed a million men killed or wounded in order to gain a fragile hold on only a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
Washington Needs a Long Game on Iran
When the Trump administration launched Operation Epic Fury back in late February, its expectation was that the fight against Iran would be quick and decisive.
Tehran Ramps Up Its War On Information
In recent weeks, authorities in Tehran have stepped up the execution of political opponents, deepened the persecution of religious minorities and imbued the country’s domestic repression apparatus with new authority and freedom.
Space-Based Power: Why It’s Gonna Happen
Falling launch costs, private investment, and advances in orbital power are turning space-based solar power from a distant concept into an emerging industry.
The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity is More Than a Road
A year ago this month, President Trump launched the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, TRIPP for short, in partnership with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.