Russian troops are within 35 km of the Zaporizhzhia plant and the South Ukraine power plant, although both plants are working normally Ukraine still controls two key nuclear power plants in the south of the country, including Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest, but Russian forces are closing in, the acting head of …
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Building Iraqi Army Will to Fight to Prevent Another Disaster
Conditions in Iraq have improved to the point that, in December 2021, the United States ended its combat support operations in the country. A residual force of about 2,500 U.S. military personnel remains to advise and train Iraq’s security forces. Operation Inherent Resolve—the U.S.-led campaign to defeat the Islamic State—has …
Read More »China and Russia are proposing a new authoritarian playbook. MENA leaders are watching closely.
When President Donald Trump lost the 2020 US presidential election to democratic candidate Joe Biden, many leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) saw an ominous warning that democracy may again take center stage in US foreign policy, with autocrats trying to consolidate power in their hands. However, …
Read More »As Qatar becomes a non-NATO ally, greater responsibility conveys with the status
On January 31, US President Biden told the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, that the United States would nominate Qatar as a “Major Non-NATO Ally” (MNNA). This status recognizes the bilateral security cooperation between the United States and Qatar has matured to the level beyond the already …
Read More »Analyzing the Russia-Ukraine Conflict from an African Standpoint
African countries’ reservations on condemning Russia’s invasion to Ukraine can be explored through growing Russian ties with African leaders. Those who did condemn also called out Western double standards on international law. How will African countries react to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what diplomatic fissures are likely to …
Read More »Europe needs to prepare for a future without Russian energy
As Russia ramps up its invasion of Ukraine, it’s increasingly obvious that Europe and the United States need to build resiliency against further hostile actions from the Kremlin such as the weaponization of energy. Western states have been left scrambling for nonmilitary interventions—but the problem for NATO is that European …
Read More »Russia Crisis Military Assessment: Why did Russia’s invasion stumble?
The bottom line During the first week of the war, Russian ground forces have become bogged down outside of the northern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Kyiv due to their failure to establish air superiority (which has resulted in significant aircraft and helicopter losses), too few troops to execute three …
Read More »Inside Vladimir Putin’s criminal plan to purge and partition Ukraine
As Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate, many are asking what the Russian dictator ultimately hopes to achieve. During his March 3 phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Russian ruler made clear that he is committed to taking full control of Ukraine and “neutralizing” the country. …
Read More »International Unity is Needed to Prevent a Divided Libya
Libya again has two rival administrations pressing claims to be the rightful government. Both sides have armed loyalists. Outside powers should join hands to help stop them from clashing once more. Libya is at a perilous crossroads – again. On 1 March, the country’s Tobruk-based parliament, the House of Representatives, …
Read More »Pentagon establishes communication line with Russians amid war in Ukraine
The Pentagon has established a communication line to the Russian Defense Ministry in attempts to reduce the risk of dangerous misunderstandings as Russia wages war on Ukraine, a U.S. defense official said Thursday. The Defense Department set up the deconfliction line on Tuesday “for the purposes of preventing miscalculation, military …
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