Author: Jordan Henry

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  Iraq After the 2025 Elections

  The November 2025 Iraqi elections produced strong results for incumbent Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani and saw a high voter turnout. Masoud Barzani’s KDP and Muhammad Halbusi’s Taqaddum also performed well. Nevertheless, government formation will likely require months of negotiations. The Shi’a Coordination Framework will advance its own vision for a governing coalition, while Muqtada al-Sadr

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  GCC-Central Asia Relations in the Post-Cold War Era

  The Center for the National Interest is pleased to present its latest report examining the evolving relationships between the Gulf Arab states, Iran, and the countries of former Soviet Central Asia. Authored by Center Senior Fellow Greg Priddy and Research Fellow Elvira Aidarkhanova, the report analyzes the profound geopolitical and economic shifts reshaping interregional ties,

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  December 14, 2025: Beware What You Wish For

  December 14, 2025: Beware What You Wish For Russian state television depicts a Europe unraveling under the weight of its own security fantasies, and the specter of escalation—dirty bombs included—is discussed. In this episode, Andy Kuchins and Chris Monday explore what this message reveals about Moscow’s confidence and its anxieties. Listen now on Apple, Spotify,

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  How Will the Russia-Ukraine War End? (w/ Andrew Kuchins)

  How Will the Russia-Ukraine War End? (w/ Andrew Kuchins) The ongoing peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine War have entered a delicate phase, with both Kyiv and Moscow signaling interest in talks even as fighting continues on the ground. Can Ukraine secure meaningful security guarantees without conceding territory? Is Russia seeking a genuine deal or

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  Great Power Competition in Central Asia

  Central Asia has long been subject to the influence of Russia and China, as their proximity and historical relationships with these states have fostered longstanding strategic and economic ties. While American engagement with the Central Asian States has intensified as the U.S. seeks to access critical minerals, transportation corridors, and energy resources, centuries of Russian

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