Russia’s Imperial Mindset Hasn’t Changed
If its imperial vision isn’t decisively defeated, any peace agreement with Russia over Ukraine is guaranteed to be merely temporary.
Want these sent to your inbox?
Subscribe
Publications
The Middle East As Informational Battlefield
Once upon a time, the Middle Eastern media environment was predictable and staid, dominated by a few prominent outlets that in Arab countries were often owned and operated by the governments’ information ministries. No longer.
To Boost American Power, Lean into the Anglosphere
“Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia [and] who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the world.”
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 43
Australia's Maritime Vulnerabilities;
New Port Puts Cambodia on The Map;
Crypto: How North Korea Has Survived;
Fear and Loathing in Tokyo
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2672
Surkov's Imperial Vision;
The Kremlin Solidifies Its Grip on Eastern Ukraine...;
...As Prisoners Languish;
More on The Moscow-Pyongyang Connection;
Why the UN Human Rights Council Keeps Failing on Israel
UN’s Human Rights Council set to mock itself – The United Nations Human Rights Council is expected to reappoint its special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, to a second three-year term on Friday, mocking its own mandate to fairly and seriously investigate human rights problems around the world.
China Policy Monitor No. 1630
Secretive PRC Firms Lure Fired Federal Workers;
China Fetes U.S. Business Leaders in Beijing;
China Releases Staff of U.S. Due Diligence Firm;
China Unveils Its New Deep-Sea Cable Cutter;
U.S. Blacklists 50 PRC Firms to Curb Ai, Chip Capabilities
A Grim Message For Iranians
On March 20, Iranians in Iran and in the diaspora commemorated Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Typically, U.S. administrations have used the occasion to practice some soft power diplomacy. In the past, America's Nowruz greetings have taken pains to highlight Iran's proud pre-Islamic heritage, underscore its immense civilizational potential, and draw a distinction between the country's historic greatness and its current repressive clerical regime.
Global Islamism Monitor No. 126
HTI Exploits The Gaza Narrative;
Bangladesh's Turmoil: An Opening for Islamists?;
Morocco in The Isis Crosshairs;
"Pay to Slay" Stays Alive
Information Warfare Watch No. 44
China's Expanding African Propaganda;
More Russian Disinfo in Europe;
Qatar is Shaping The Post-Assad Media Environment in Syria;
Taking "Cognitive Warfare" Seriously;
How Moscow is Manipulating AI
South Asia Strategy Monitor No. 23
Doha Deepens Its Stake in India;
Pakistan's Westward Push;
India, France Plan Small Modular Nuclear Reactors;
Afghanistan's Taliban Head East
Defense Technology Monitor No. 109
Training for a War Without a Battlefield...;
...As China Targets American Space Superiority;
Awareness Across The Electromagnetic Spectrum;
Precision Radar in Development;
The UK's Answer to Drone Swarms
Africa Political Monitor No. 48
U.S. Expels South African Envoy;
Sanctions Prompt Rwanda to Sever Ties…;
…And Cause M23 Rebels to Withdraw From Peace Talks;
Ethiopia-Eritrea Tensions Risk New Conflict;
Mali Withdraws From French Bloc;
Score One for The Sudanese Army
China Policy Monitor No. 1629
Military Purge Deepens, Top Generals Arrested;
Provinces Encourage Babies With Childcare Subsidies and Milk;
China Executes Four Canadians for Drugs;
PRC EV Makers Accelerate Global Push;
Man Gets Prison for Helping Pressure PRC Expat to Return Home
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 241
Iran Makes A Play in East Africa;
Hopelessness Spreads in The Islamic Republic;
How Iran is Gaming "Resistance";
The Regime's Human Rights Crackdown Continues
China Policy Monitor No. 1628
As U.S. Tightens Sanctions, Chinese Firms Curb Russian Oil Imports;
PRC Hackers Stole Belgian State Security Emails;
New Chinese Quantum Chip is 1 Quadrillion Times Faster;
European Parliament Suspends Access For Huawei Lobbyists;
U.S. Sanctions Thai Officials for Sending Uyghurs Back To China;
Hamas’ Delusions and Israeli Strategy
Now, as Hamas retakes control of Gaza after a two-month ceasefire with Israel and reconstitutes its capacity to resume its terror, classified documents published in recent days by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center highlight Israel’s desperate need to restore a sense of deterrence in the minds of its bitterest enemies.
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2671
Putin's (Sort of) Police State;
Brussels Raises the Alarm...;
...As Poland Preps for Confrontation;
Trump Cuts Complicate Recovery of Children Taken by Russia
Understanding ASEAN
ASEAN has grown from a small, consensus-based group into a significant regional bloc, now at the center of U.S.-China competition. Its expanded scope and diverse membership make it both a key player and a complex challenge for external powers.
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2670
More Grim Demographic Data;
Ex-UK Intel Chief: Russia Will Test Europe's Resolve;
Naypyidaw Makes A Play;
Chinese-Style Surveillance Comes to Russia's Second City
China Policy Monitor No. 1627
Falling Prices Stoke Deflation Fears;
Premier Li Qiang Calls for More Stimulus;
Amid U.S. "Chaos," China Offers "Certainty"– FM Wang Yi;
U.S. Soldiers Arrested for Selling Secrets to China;
China's New Spy Satellite Can See Details from Low Orbit
China Policy Monitor No. 1626
PRC Universities Open Their Doors as U.S. Cuts PhD Programs;
U.S. Resumes $870 Million In Security Assistance to Taiwan;
China Conducts Second Live-Fire Drill Near New Zealand...;
...And Live-Fire Exercises Near Vietnam;
Thailand Deports At Least 40 Uyghurs
Africa Political Monitor No. 47
U.S. Freezes Aid To South Africa…;
…And Withdraws from South Africa Climate Pact;
RSF Attacks Sudan Refugee Camp, WFP Halts Aid;
Regional Blocs Weigh Troop Deployment in Eastern Congo;
Somalia Punches Back Against ISIS;
AFRICOM Faces A Bleak Future;
EU Strengthens Ghana’s Defense Against Sahel Threats
With Iran, Vladimir Putin Is Both Arsonist And Firefighter
Meanwhile, the new White House's penchant for deal-making is providing an opportunity for Russia to improve its position still further—by offering itself up as a diplomatic intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2669
How Grozny is gaining leverage over Kyiv;
A New Lease on Life for Nord Stream... Maybe;
Who are Russia's Islamic Radicals, really?;
Europe takes aim at Frozen Russian Assets;
The Haves and Have-Nots of Putin's War
Why Donald Trump Can’t Have Peace In Ukraine and Gaza
A desire to end conflict will not suffice in achieving an actual end to hostilities in either Ukraine or Gaza.
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 240
Iran Makes Strides in Tajikistan...;
...As Tehran and Moscow Inch Ever Closer;
The Growing Tehran-Caracas Connection;
An Iranian Execution Spree
Global Islamism Monitor No. 125
Cracks In The Taliban Consensus...;
...And More Movement Toward International Rehabilitation;
The Birth of Syria's Morality Police;
Turkey, Europe, and Syrian Jihadism
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 42
Vietnam's Booming China Trade;
More Pressure on Manila;
Now, A Helping Hand From Moscow;
Beijing Strengthens Its Grip on The Pacific Islands
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2668
The Ukraine War's Criminal Alumni;
Now, Rehabilitating HTS;
Dugin's New Focus: Refashioning Academia
African Democracy Is In Retreat. That’s A Problem For America
When the Soviet Union collapsed nearly a quarter-century ago, it led to triumphalism about the "end of history" and the ultimate victory of liberal democracy over other forms of government. Since then, it's been a difficult couple of decades for global freedom.
Ukraine Reform Monitor No. 15
A Personnel Scandal Roils Military Procurement...;
...And Gets Others Involved;
Court Reforms Kick Into High Gear;
Ukrainians Fear Graft More Than War
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2667
Targeting Russia's Shadow Fleet;
Estonia Issues a Call to Arms...;
...And A Maritime Warning;
The Plight of Putin's Central Asian Soldiers
China Policy Monitor No. 1625
PRC Influence Center Stage at Yoon Impeachment Hearings;
Cook Islands Inks Deal In Beijing, Upsets New Zealand;
U.S. Amends Wording on Taiwan Independence;
China Repatriates 1000 Scam Victims from Myanmar;
China Backs U.S.-Russia Ukraine Peace Initative
Africa Political Monitor No. 46
Russia Begins Final Withdrawal From its Syrian Naval Base…;
… In Favor Of New Accommodations In Sudan;
Senegal Moves Closer to a French Departure;
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister to Lead African Union;
Satellite Imagery Reveals Rwandan Casualties;
African Leaders Meet Over DRC Crisis;
Iran and Sudan Strike a Deal
Conference Summary: 2025 “Airlie Dialogue”
On February 12th, the American Foreign Policy Council convened its third “Airlie Dialogue” conference at the University Club in Washington, DC. The full-day event brought together leading scholars, officials and experts for a day of discussions about the common intellectual fight against Islamic extremism, and the “war of ideas” now taking place in the Muslim World. What follows is a summary of the conference’s proceedings.
China Policy Monitor No. 1624
In 2024, $168 Billion Exited China;
PRC Cranes Raise Homeland Security Concern at U.S. Ports;
China Merges Hundreds of Banks to Alleviate Bad Loans;
China Smuggles Parts for Russian Drones – Estonia;
Beijing To Underwrite Vietnam's $8.3 Billion Railway
South Asia Strategy Monitor No. 22
Sensing an opening, India deepens its ties to the Taliban;
Pakistan, Bangladesh revive direct shipping route;
Sri Lanka throws in with Chinese energy giant;
Afghan refugees in a bind
Europe Can’t Do It Alone
It might be too much for the Trump administration to expect that Europe will guarantee a Ukraine peace settlement they had no part in making.
Resource Security Watch No. 59
DOD considers climate change a growing security threat in Africa;
Tehran faces shutdowns amid worsening air quality;
A new cold war over rare earth elements;
Famine in Sudan expands as government resists foreign aid;
China's water policies endanger central Asian stability
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2666
The Kremlin's War On Everyone;
An Unexpected Solution To Europe's Gas Crisis Emerges...;
...While The Baltics Look West For Energy;
Moscow's Challenges – And Its Plan To Overcome Them;
Denmark Warns, Nato Weakness Is Provocative
The Case For CACE
A Central Asia-Caucasus-European Corridor (CACE) would reinvigorate historic trade routes and improve regional energy security.
Information Warfare Watch No. 43
How Russia Is Boosting Germany's AfD;
India Seeks To Regulate Social Media...;
...While Islamabad Adopts A Scorched-Earth Strategy;
Poland Needs To Up Its Counter-Disinformation Game;
A Tech Breakthrough In Targeting Disinformation
Africa Political Monitor No. 45
African Nations Pledge $35 Billion For Electrification;
Congo Crisis Escalates As M23 Rebels Advance;
New Signs Of Life For Militants In Nigeria;
West African Nations Withdraw From Ecowas;
U.S.-South Africa Tensions Escalate Over Land Reform Law
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2665
Russia's LNG Lifeline;
North Korea... No Longer At The Front;
The Reasons For Russia's Downhill Demography;
Laying The Groundwork For A New Draft;
From Russia, With Love
Trump Needs A New ‘Maximum Pressure’ Policy ... Against Russia
For all of its public rhetoric to the contrary, Europe has failed to meaningfully wean itself off Russian energy, a key strategic vulnerability. In fact, the continent's dependence on Moscow has grown...
Russia Policy Monitor No. 2664
The Grim Toll Of Putin's War;
Moscow Thinks Beyond Damascus;
More Signs Of Economic Fragility;
How Is Russia's Recruitment Drive Really Going?
China Policy Monitor No. 1623
China Builds World's Largest Fusion Energy Reactor;
PRC Influence Operation Pushs For Overthrow Of Spain's Government;
Florida Police Bust Smuggling Operation, Detain 26 Chinese Migrants;
Massive Dam In Tibet Alarms China's Neighbors;
China's Spies Recruit U.S. Clearance Holders
Thousand Sails: Why Low Earth Orbit is the Next Frontier for Great Power Competition between the U.S. and China
As China rapidly expands its network of satellite mega-constellations, it grows in informational power. As a result, it could acquire a dominant position in global connectivity, greatly expanding the reach and impact of its messaging, propaganda and influence operations.
Africa Political Monitor No. 44
World Bank Suspends Gabon Disbursements;
Kenya Turns To The Uae;
Nigeria Becomes A Brics Partner;
Sudanese Army Captures Strategic City;
Illegal Mining Crackdown Causes Chaos In South Africa;
New Mozambican President Sworn In Amid Mass Protests