Eurasia

Putin’s ‘civilizational’ speech frames conflict between east and west

In his Federal Assembly address, President Putin emphasized that Russia is not only an independent nation-state but also a distinct civilization with its own identity, which is in conflict and actively opposes the values of ‘western civilization.’ Russian President Vladimir Putin’s much awaited address to the Russian Federal Assembly on …

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In a US-China confrontation, West Asia will bow out

The prospect of a US-China war has entered the realm of reality. Increased provocations from US military and political officials regarding the status of Taiwan – which China considers to be part of its historic territory – have heightened the possibility of confrontation in recent years. With only 13 out …

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Jihadi ‘Counterterrorism:’ Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Versus the Islamic State

Abstract: Once allies in the same organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Islamic State have an interesting history that turned them into ‘frenemies’ from April 2013 to February 2014 and then outright enemies over the past nine years. This led to a broader global fight between al-Qaida and the …

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Meet the “White Power Rangers”: The Far-Right Violent Extremist Group Gaining Traction in Russia

A little-known far-right extremist group known as the “White Power Ranger Squad” (WPRS) seems to be gaining traction within Russia as the country prepares for a protracted conflict with Ukraine. The group, which recruits and trains members inside Russia, is some combination of a survivalist, reconnaissance, tactical, and weapons enthusiast …

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A “Biden Doctrine” for the Middle East

A top U.S. policymaker on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, this month articulated a “Biden Doctrine” consisting of major principles guiding U.S. policy toward the region. Notably omitted from the doctrine was a potential U.S. response to Iran’s increasingly viable nuclear weapons program or mention of regional counterterrorism operations. The …

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One Year After Russia’s Invasion, Will Support for Ukraine’s Displaced Continue?

Over eight million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine one year ago, in what many experts agree is the most significant displacement of people in Europe since World War II. Europeans’ general welcoming of Ukrainian refugees starkly contrasts the continent’s discourse around refugees from the …

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Russia-Ukraine Fighting Devolves Into Hand-To-Hand Combat

Much of Russia’s yearlong invasion in Ukraine has devolved into infantry fighting in the eastern regions of the country, in part because Moscow’s forces are short on artillery munitions, the British Ministry of Defense said Sunday. In its latest assessment, London said, “Recent evidence suggests an increase in close combat …

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UN Chief Should Never Have Met Qais Al-Khazaali, The Terrorist – OpEd

After his last visit to Iraq in the spring of 2017, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres went to Baghdad to express international commitment in support of the troubled country. As soon as he landed in the Iraqi capital, the UN chief stressed to reporters that the international community should not brush …

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Kazakhstan: Opposition Candidates Battle To Compete In Parliamentary Elections – Analysis

Nobody can accuse Lukpan Akhmedyarov of being a system candidate. His campaign video ahead of March 19 parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan details his journey through Kazakhstan’s independence — uncovering graft in media investigations, participating in anti-government rallies and, most famously, surviving an assassination attempt that saw him stabbed eight times …

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Despite The Odds, Multilateral Cooperation Has Helped Secure Global Food Security – Analysis

It has been a tough year for hundreds of millions of households across the world since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Major food supply chains, especially for wheat, corn and vegetable oils, were disrupted overnight. The spike in food prices came on top of record high prices caused …

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