Events

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  Russia Courts North Korea: Implications for Europe and the Indo-Pacific

  The deepening partnership between Russia and North Korea—fueled by Moscow’s global search for troops and weapons to sustain its invasion of Ukraine—carries profound security implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Although Pyongyang has contributed relatively few soldiers compared to Russia’s large military force, their presence on Europe’s frontiers has raised alarm among policymakers

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  Can Afghanistan Improve American and Regional Prosperity?

  The Trump administration has been clear that its America First foreign policy prioritizes making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. However, it has not articulated how those objectives apply to Afghanistan policy beyond expressing priority interests in countering terrorism and securing the release of American detainees. But is there a viable way for Afghanistan to

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  Central Asian Fighters and Global Jihad

  Central Asian fighters have been active on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as in various military conflicts across the Greater Middle East and beyond. How are these individuals recruited, financed, and organized? One critical node is the Afghan border with the Central Asian states of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Has their role

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  Rising Lion, Falling Order? The Israel-Iran Conflict and What’s Next

  Following Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion”—a series of coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military installations, nuclear facilities, and leadership—the Middle East has once again been plunged into turmoil. How likely is direct U.S. involvement, including a potential bombing campaign? What are the implications for global oil markets? Could this conflict open the door to renewed diplomacy over

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  Implications of Ukraine’s Drone Strikes

  On June 1, Ukraine conducted coordinated drone attacks on four Russian airbases—its most extensive strike against Russian military infrastructure to date. These attacks appear to reflect both Kyiv’s growing reliance on long-range unmanned systems and its efforts to impose greater costs on Russia’s war effort inside Russian territory. The strikes raise important questions about how

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