Instead of confronting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, the international community clings to the mirage of Palestinian statehood. But the version currently on offer will neither end Gaza’s devastation nor deliver the genuine sovereignty implied by the longstanding promise of a two-state solution.
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.
