Armed Conflict
BRICS Is Getting Bigger. The More Important Question Is Whether More Members Actually Means More Power.
The BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, concluded this week with leaders from an expanded group attempting to present something increasingly visible in international politics: the institutions created after the Second World War no longer reflect…
Iran Has Fired Ballistic Missiles at Israel Again. The Problem With “Restoring Deterrence” Is That Both Sides Are Trying to Do It at the Same Time.
Iran launched roughly 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on 1 October, its second direct attack on the country this year and a major escalation from the shadow war that defined their relationship for decades. Iran…
Israel Has Killed Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah Has Lost Its Leader of 32 Years. The Harder Question Is What Comes After Decapitation.
Israel has killed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary-general since 1992 and one of the most influential political and military figures in the Middle East, in a massive air strike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in southern Beirut.
Israel and Hezbollah Spent Eleven Months Trying to Avoid a Full War. They May Now Be Discovering That Limited Escalation Has a Limit.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has entered its most dangerous phase since the Gaza war began. Over the past week, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon in attacks…
Modi Went to Moscow in July and Kyiv in August. That Is Not Neutrality. It Is India Trying to Maximise Diplomatic Freedom.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv on 23 August, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992. The symbolism was unusually strong…
Ukraine Has Invaded Russia. The Immediate Military Gain Matters Less Than What It Reveals About Risk, Surprise and Bargaining Power.
Ukraine’s surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk region has now become the largest incursion into Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, and one of the most politically significant battlefield developments of the…
The G7 Is Lending Ukraine $50 Billion Against Profits From Frozen Russian Assets. That Sounds Technical. It Is Actually a Major Change in How Economic Power Is Used in War.
The G7 agreed this week to provide Ukraine with roughly $50 billion in new financing, using the future profits generated by frozen Russian sovereign assets as the economic foundation for repayment. Most of Russia’s immobilised…
Taiwan Has a New President. China Answered With War Games. The Real Contest Is Over Whether Pressure Changes Political Identity or Hardens It.
Taiwan inaugurated Lai Ching-te as president on 20 May after his victory in January’s election, extending the Democratic Progressive Party’s control of the presidency into a third consecutive term. Four days later, China concluded two…
Iran Just Attacked Israel Directly for the First Time. The Most Dangerous Part Is That Both Sides May Believe They Can Control What Happens Next.
Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles towards Israel overnight on 13–14 April, marking an extraordinary escalation from the decades-long shadow conflict between the two states into direct military confrontation. Israel…
Seven Aid Workers Were Killed in Gaza. The Larger Failure Is That Humanitarian Work Has Become This Dangerous.
Seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen were killed in Gaza on 1 April after their convoy was struck by Israeli forces while travelling in vehicles marked with the organisation’s logo. The group included citizens…
People in Gaza Are Not Going Hungry Simply Because There Is No Food. The System That Moves Food to People Is Breaking Down.
More than one hundred Palestinians were reported killed on Thursday around an aid convoy entering northern Gaza, after thousands of people gathered around trucks carrying desperately needed food. Palestinian authorities have accused Israeli forces of…
Indonesia Just Voted for Continuity. The Question Is Whether Continuity Is Becoming a Dynasty.
Indonesia held one of the world’s largest elections on Wednesday, with more than 200 million registered voters choosing a president, national legislators and thousands of regional representatives across an archipelago containing more than 17,000 islands.
