‘The thing about Putin is, if he has an instrument, he wants to use it. Why have it if you can’t?,’ a U.S. expert on Russia cautions Most of the world’s attention is naturally focused on the horrific images from the combat zones in Ukraine: bombed-out buildings, dead and wounded …

Belarus updated its constitution on Sunday in a referendum to ditch its non-nuclear commitments, which could open the gates for the first nuclear warheads on Belarusian soil since 1991 The United States warned Russia and Belarus at a UN arms control meeting on Thursday not to deploy nuclear arms in …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …