Middle Orient

The potential upsides of implementing the Trump administration’s poorly conceived idea are negligible at best, while the downsides would be legion, including further damage to Middle East stability and American interests. From the Gaza Riviera to the promised annexation of Greenland to the alienation of India, to neutrality in Ukraine—and …

No matter when and how the war in Ukraine ultimately ends, an aggressive Russia will remain a challenge for the United States and the broader West. In December 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said as much in his speech before the Munich Security Conference. “We are Russia’s next target,” …

Any move by the United States to make good on Trump’s suggestion that Washington persuade Damascus to confront Hezbollah militarily would have catastrophic consequences. On June 16, 2026, during a meeting with Qatar’s ruling emir on the sidelines of the Group of 7 summit in France, U.S. President Donald Trump …

Whether or not the memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran on June 18 collapses or leads to a peace agreement between the two nations, it is important to take stock of the high costs and failed ambitions of the illegal war of aggression President Trump launched …

Although the understanding limits the prospects for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran in the short term, it does not necessarily consolidate the basic pillars of a stable regional order, but may even lead to a gradual erosion of the US deterrent policy, especially as it reinforces the impression of …

India is expanding ties with Greece, Cyprus, Armenia, and Israel to counter Turkey’s growing regional influence and its partnership with Pakistan. By strengthening defense cooperation and strategic partnerships, New Delhi is increasing its footprint in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. As a result, the India–Turkey rivalry has the potential …

Real drivers behind new crisis escalation by US, Israel. Three Scenarios for Interpreting Israel’s Recent Aggression in the Region Perhaps the most significant outcome of recent developments is neither the outbreak of a full-scale war nor the collapse of negotiations. The region has instead entered what may be described as …

Interview with Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) and France have signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The agreement, which provides a legal framework for the deployment of French troops on the island and …

Irrespective of whether a deal is reached to end the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, it seems likely that Tehran will continue to cultivate a network of proxy groups, including terrorist organizations, criminal entities, and so-called “disposable agents” both in the Middle East and abroad. Iran views its use of …

While the Islamic State (IS) remains territorially defeated in Iraq and Syria, emerging gaps in the region’s security landscape have incentivized the group to change its modus operandi. When looking quantitatively at IS operations, attack numbers have hit a historic low thus far in 2026, with two spikes in IS …