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Regime change in Iran is far harder than many assume. But if the Islamic Republic were to fall, the country already possesses a robust institutional scaffolding – linking central ministries to elected authorities in more than 1,000 cities and 35,000 villages – that could become the foundation for a democratic system of governance.

The failure of the trade negotiations now underway between the US and the Philippines would reinforce the perception that US alliances have morphed into pay-to-play schemes – and expensive ones, at that. Many others, not least China, are watching closely.

While European countries have pledged to boost defence spending, they remain strategically reliant on the United States, an increasingly unreliable ally. As the US threatens disengagement, political leaders still refuse to ask the only question that matters: Can Europe ensure its security on its own?

One of the best ways for the European Union to bolster its military might and economic competitiveness is to become a world leader in quantum technologies. That will require the bloc to focus its research and design efforts, establish protective safeguards for sensitive research, and embrace a culture of deliberate risk-taking.

Ukraine has shown that high-tech capabilities alone don’t win wars. Victory also depends on low-tech solutions – and on rapidly and cheaply integrating the two.

Taiwan may need to craft a new foreign policy framework for a fast-evolving geopolitical environment, as the Trump administration policy trajectory toward China is far from certain.

The complex mosaic of resistance networks and paramilitary groups within Ukraine's ground forces – all with their own political ambitions – presents a haunting challenge for any version of post-war Ukraine that may follow.

As the US-China rivalry intensifies, both powers are courting mineral-rich African countries in an effort to secure critical raw materials. Translating Africa's vast natural-resource wealth into lasting development requires an infrastructure-led strategy that delivers long-term value for local communities.

Since the Myanmar military’s overthrow of a civilian government in 2021, the US has taken a punitive approach to the country, emphasising broad-based sanctions and aid to rebel groups. But far from promoting a democratic transition, this approach has perpetuated violence and suffering, while strengthening China's strategic foothold.

With Donald Trump effectively abandoning America's 80-year-old commitment to the transatlantic relationship and the broader international order, the future of European peace and prosperity is now wholly in Europeans’ hands. The task now is to unlock the continent's full technological, economic, and military potential.

The current US administration has lost its spirit of international cooperation, but this could be a mixed blessing for the other members of the United Nations.

After the Ukraine war caused natural gas prices to rise sharply, Norway collected windfall profits totalling an estimated $113 billion. Refusing to use these gains to support Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction is not only morally wrong; it also reflects a myopic perspective that Norway’s government should abandon.

As the new US president threatens to impose steep tariffs on any country challenging the dollar’s global dominance, India has been quietly making overtures to China. This development, partly driven by both countries’ attempts to strengthen their bargaining position, could herald a seismic geopolitical shift.

A stable, democratic Philippines is vital to US interests and regional security. The US and its Indo-Pacific partners and allies must do more to help the country build resilience against Chinese aggression not only in its territorial waters, but also in its politics.

An unstable Bangladesh mired in radical Islamism and political violence has long been India’s geopolitical nightmare. One hopes that the US soon recognises that this is not conducive to its interests, either, and puts pressure on Bangladesh’s interim government to protect its minorities and restore stability.

The experience of the US’s defeat in Vietnam shows that ending the war in Ukraine requires a comprehensive strategy, combining military, economic and diplomatic pressures to force Russian withdrawal and secure lasting peace.

Kazakhstan’s multivector foreign policy has enabled it to navigate great power rivalries, safeguarding its autonomy while emerging as a key middle power on the global stage.

As African states turn to nuclear power to meet growing energy demands, they do so against a backdrop of intensifying global geopolitical competition, raising questions about sovereignty, alliances and long-term societal impacts.

As Israel continues to grapple with the loss of its aura of inviolability following last year's Hamas attack, Iran is struggling to maintain influence as its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen suffer heavy losses. Both countries know that an all-out war would be catastrophic, yet neither side can afford to back down entirely.

With Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine approaching its third anniversary, the financial, technological and demographic hurdles facing the Russian economy are more severe than is commonly understood. Contrary to what the Kremlin would like others to believe, time is not on Russia’s side.