Publications
Here Comes Saudi Arabia’s African Offensive
Slowly but surely, Riyadh is beginning to look west. After years of comparatively modest engagement with the countries of East Africa, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is today putting in motion and ambitious strategy for engagement with the continent.
Coronavirus Is Risking China’s Dream Of Global Leadership
The coronavirus pandemic has helped to loosen China’s grip on international opinion.
Defense Technology Monitor No. 51
Somewhat-Superman suits...;
...and radiation-eating space sunscreen;
Video gaming advances robot swarms;
How AI is helping fight pathogens
Don’t Let the Chinese Communist Party Use the Coronavirus to Its Advantage
The CCP is trying to escape blame for COVID-19 and take advantage of recovery. Don’t let it.
Iran’s coronavirus response highlights authoritarianism’s dangers
With the coronavirus forcing Iran to dig mass graves for its victims, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. aid offers of recent days and suggested that America “specifically built” the virus “for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians which they have obtained through different means.”
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2374
The cost of the Saudi-Russian rift;
U.S. sanctions subsidiary of ROSNEFT;
A blow to Russia's billionaires;
A Russian troll farm thrives in Africa
China Reform Monitor No. 1411
U.S. warships visit VIetnam to commemorate anniversary;
The KMT drops the "1992 consensus";
Crackdown intensified on critics of Xi's virus response;
Coronavirus lockdown curbs pollution, saves more than 50,000 lives;
Ten speed boats attack Taiwan Coast Guard
New York Times’ ‘1619 Project’ unjustly weakens America abroad
The New York Times’ decision of recent days to make a “clarification” to one sentence in the lead essay of its “1619 Project” won’t do much to quell a growing fight over the meaning of America’s founding — a fight with profound implications for the nation’s continuing influence around the world.
Iran’s Current Crisis – And Its Next One
The Islamic Republic is profoundly sick – and getting sicker. Since the global outbreak of coronavirus in recent weeks, Iran has emerged as one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.
China Reform Monitor No. 1410
China-Sweden relations take a nosedive;
China's Ambassador rails against Norway's Fokus 2020;
PRC asylum applications to Germany double in a year;
U.S.-backed candidate for UN top IPR post beats out PRC candidate;
China is converting internet domains into "content farms"
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2373
Russian campaign against Jehovah's Witnesses expands to Belarus;
Moscow streets swell with protestors (again);
Moscow's high-tech deterrence;
Behind the Kremlin's plan to populate the Russian Arctic;
Navalny org fined as foreign agent;
Hoarding hits Russia

Mend the Gap: 5G, the US-UK Split over Huawei, and National Security Implications
Britain’s decision to allow Huawei built 5G infrastructure presents acute challenges to the U.S.
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 6
China seeks to reshape the narrative around COVID-19;
Coronavirus and Chinese leverage in Asia;
Taiwan's KMT to reassess its China policy;
Indonesian purchase of Russian fighter jets in doubt;
Blue dot network funds 5G in Southeast Asia
Africa Political Monitor No. 1
On Israel, Trump makes an African play;
Coronavirus impacts East African shipping imports;
The GERN continues to roil Egyptian-Ethiopian relations;
Sierra Leone ends recognition of Kosovo;
Unprecedented locust swarms threaten African resource security;
The Kremlin's military play in Libya
China Reform Monitor No. 1409
Led by Huawei, China's firms are expanding into Russian AI;
Hackers add Taiwan to World Health Organization website;
Huawei to build 5G factory in France;
Myanmar's Kachin State approves China-backed business park;
Reddit CEO calls Chinese app TikTok "parasitic" spyware
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2372
Coronavirus impacts Siberia...;
...and Moscow;
Russians charged in Bulgarian poisoning;
Mexican scientist swept up in a Russian spy game;
Serbia buys Russian missiles
Iran’s Illness Comes From Asia
Why, exactly, has Iran been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus?
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 204
* * * SPECIAL ISSUE: THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC AND CORONAVIRUS * * *
A raging infection;
Tallying regime losses so far;
The likely cause of Iran's suffering;
The cost of "Islamic medicine"
Tehran moves to mute criticism
Will Iran’s Regime Survive Coronavirus?
ith the advent of COVID-19, matters have become much, much worse for the Iranian regime -- so much so that it isn't unreasonable to think that the Iranian regime could buckle under the weight of its own internal contradictions.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2371
Russian military intel active in Ireland;
Russia's parliament wants to grant Putin immunity;
Finance Ministry to buy controlling stake in Sberbank;
Nobody wants Russian passenger jets;
London claims GRU behind Georgian cyber attack
Saudi Deradicalization Faces the Future
The ongoing Saudi social and cultural transformation discourages religious extremism and encourages deradicalization as the Kingdom attempts a “course correction” toward moderation.
China Reform Monitor No. 1408
Russian experts oppose sharing AI innovations with China;
Local officials "resorting to extreme administrative measures";
Australia's spy chief warns of "unprecedented foreign threat";
Lack of free speech spread COVID-19 -- Peking University professor;
Tech giants continue moving production out of China
Defense Technology Monitor No. 50
The future of organ transplants?;
China focuses energy on airborne laser...;
...while Israel readies laser defense;
The next evolution in eyesight;
Making better body armor
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2370
Toward diplomatic normalization with Ukraine;
The politics of namesakes;
Stellar stalkers;
Agency requests ban on foreign IT;
Russian MH17 skepticism grows
Venezuela’s refugee crisis is an international emergency
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2369
Pompeo accentuates the positive in Minsk;
Russian aviation company wants its French loans back;
Ergogan backs Tatars in Kyiv;
Lavrov mirrors Pompeo's moves...but in Latin America;
Another Kadyrov critic killed
Why the Trump Administration’s Central Asia Strategy Improves Over Its Predecessors
U.S. Central Asia policy has room to improve, but the Trump administration is steering things on the right track.
Defense Technology Monitor No. 49
The shortcomings of synthetic training;
A successor to the sand table?;
3D printing critical plane components;
Post-nuclear space cleaning
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2368
New Russian fighter captured on film;
Russia makes headway in Africa;
Crooked cops charged in Golunov case;
The fight over facial recognition in Russia
West should echo Prague’s Nemtsov remembrance
This week, the city of Prague will commemorate the fifth anniversary of the slaying of Russia’s freedom-promoting opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov, by renaming for him the square where Russia’s embassy is located.
The United States Needs to Declare War on Proxies
The most important takeaway from the killing of Qassem Suleimani doesn’t just have to do with Iran.
Global Islamism Monitor No. 76
Militant Islamists rise in Africa;
At long last, a British ban on Hezbollah;
The pace of Palestinian terror;
A Saudi step forward;
How Turkey is transforming the Libya conflict
China Reform Monitor No. 1407
U.S. designates China's official media outlets as state agents;
Norway: China has acquired our space technology;
Germany stops short of Huawei 5G ban;
Aussies rip UK counterparts for giving Huawei access to "Five-Eyes";
China keeps Kenya, Djibouti guessing on Security Council seat
In Iran, an Electoral Flop
What if you held a national election and no one turned out? That’s the situation currently confronting Iranian officials, who are grappling with the aftermath of a truly disastrous outcome in last week’s parliamentary elections.
China Reform Monitor No. 1406
Hubei party heads replaced over "botched outbreak response";
Xi ally installed in Hong Kong;
Huawei hit with more charges of racketeering and IPR theft;
Motorola wins $764.6 million in compensation from China's Hytera;
Pentagon supports restricted chip sales to Huawei
How The Revolutionary Guards Could Reshape Iran
Iran’s clerical army could decide that an internal transition is the best answer, and move to remove (or at least subordinate) the country’s current clerical elite. Such a step, after all, would allow the IRGC to preserve its current, extensive grip on national power while simultaneously working to alleviate economic pressure from the U.S. and reintegrate into the international community.
The Risks Of Sino-Saudi Partnership
What does Riyadh really think about China? It was one of the questions on my mind last week, when I led a research delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 5
Coronavirus nudges Japan toward recession;
U.S.-Philippines relationship on the rocks;
Australian officials cancel UK trip over Huawei;
Singapore targets political opposition, media with "fake news" law;
Quarantined Chinese workers delay Belt and Road projects
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2367
Surkov steps back from Ukraine file;
Preinstalled smartphone apps will prioritize "moral values";
Russian media: U.S. government behind coronavirus;
Encryption service blocked by Russian censors
A new strategy for Central Asia
This month, the Trump administration released its strategy for Central Asia.
Energy Independence? We’re Not There Yet
Yet while shale production has dramatically cut reliance on Middle East and other imported oil, trumpeting our “energy independence” is premature.
Maduro acknowledges his socialist delusions
Venezuela’s tale is hardly a unique one. In recent decades, socialist nations across the world have scrapped their doctrinaire visions and incorporated elements of free enterprise to rescue their ailing economies.
Resource Security Watch No. 24
A new day for nuclear power?;
Germany's long energy transition;
Rising sea levels put more of the world's population at risk;
A growing food security crisis in southern Africa;
The two sides of gene manipulation
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2366
Bomb threats disrupt daily living;
Expert: Putin's fertility plans ineffective;
The new (and old) faces of Russian power;
Russia fails to expel North Korean workers by deadline
China Reform Monitor No. 1405
UK gives Huawei the green light...;
...while France chooses Nokia and Ericsson for 5G;
China's interference threatens New Zealand's role in "Five Eyes";
Danish PM responds to China over satirical flag drawing;
Student jailed for mocking Xi on Twitter while in the U.S.
China Reform Monitor No. 1404
Florida scientists fired for hiding participation in China program...;
...as Harvard chemistry chairman is arrested;
Apple: Beijing's requests for user data spiked in first half of 2019;
China has "no intention to participate" in arms talks;
U.S. sanctions Chinese companies for "funding Iran's terrorism"
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2365
In a major address, Putin focuses on advanced technologies...;
...and announces a cabinet shakeup...;
...as well as significant constitutional changes;
Russia's cyber warriors take on Ukraine
Huawei threatens the US-UK ‘special relationship’
On Jan. 28, British officials announced that, after extensive internal deliberations, the government had decided to move forward with a limited partnership with China’s Huawei corporation to build 5G telecom networks in the country.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2364
A victory for Arkhangelsk protesters;
Another near-miss on the high seas;
Moscow scores one for Assad;
Treason charges for military researchers;
Putin's new political project