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Europe’s New Leadership Faces a Teamwork Test

The incoming EU leadership will have to navigate political turbulence and internal power dynamics. Working together as a real team would help in tackling the challenges ahead. Despite some last-minute bickering among party groups, the European Council, which represents the EU member states, appears on track to decide on who …

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Spotlight on Iran

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri-Kani visited Qatar and met with the Qatari prime minister and the head of Hamas’ political bureau. Bagheri stressed Iran’s support for Hamas and called for expanding the “resistance” to the legal, political, and diplomatic spheres. Against the backdrop of Israel’s threats to initiate an …

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Iranian Proxies in Iraq, Yemen Launch New Attacks on Israeli Targets

Latest Developments Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Iraq and Yemen launched fresh attacks on Israeli targets on June 25 and 26 as the prospect of a regional escalation continues to intensify. The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the southern Israeli port city of Eilat …

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Russia’s Response To Ukraine’s US-Backed Bombing Of Beachgoers Wasn’t What Many Expected

President Putin isn’t a “madman”, “monster”, or “mastermind” like many imagine that he is, but is a consummate pragmatist at least as how he sees himself and is therefore unlikely to ever do anything that could be spun as emotional or radical. President Putin proved once again that he’s mature …

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What is the Real Cost and Benefit of Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Refining?

The bulk of the current analysis of the attacks on refineries is celebratory, with a strong element of confirmation bias—and that is a classical folly that prevents learning. Russia’s refining sector, unlike its Black Sea Fleet, has proven to be resilient to the recent type of attacks, rather than the …

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Iran-affiliated cell reportedly found storing explosives in Jordan’s capital

The Jordanian Public Security Directorate announced on June 22 that security forces are handling an investigative case in the South Marka area of the capital, Amman, according to the official Jordanian News Agency. Authorities stated that initial investigations indicated several individuals had been storing significant quantities of explosive materials inside …

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The Pivot That Wasn’t

Did America Wait Too Long to Counter China? During the past two decades, many American leaders have argued that U.S. foreign policy must focus more on Asia. In 2009, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that “the center of gravity of international affairs is importantly shifting from the Atlantic to …

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Ukrainians’ Unwavering Path Toward the EU

The steadfast support for European integration among Ukrainians is rooted in a perception of the EU as a community of shared democratic principles. The union should leverage its democratic appeal to solidify its role as a catalyst for change beyond its borders. Ukraine’s quest to join the EU can be …

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Can EU Enlargement Work?

The EU’s enlargement momentum, fueled by Russia’s war against Ukraine, is wearing off. To make political conditionality work, the union must prioritize securing buy-in from candidate countries’ elites and civil society. Not that long ago, enlargement was a second-order priority for the EU: never off the radar but never really …

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Hezbollah Turns Down Offer From Fellow Iran Proxies to Send Troops for War Against Israel

Latest Developments As fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah continue to grow, the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group has turned down an offer from other Iranian proxies in the region to send fighters in solidarity, the Associated Press reported on June 23. During a speech …

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