Brookings
How cultural expression shapes policymaking and why it matters for democracy
North America · Global politics
North America · Global politics
North America · Global politics
The acknowledgment has sparked fears of a new arms race with China and Russia.
North America · Defense · Global politics
Smaller powers cannot go it alone, but Canadian history shows that integration with the United States will not always be benign.
North America · Global politics
North America · Global politics
War has returned to Tigray. This time it may not stay in Ethiopia Expert comment LToremark 1 October 2026 As fighting escalates in Tigray and neighbouring areas, there are fears that Ethiopia’s internal instability could spill over into the wider Horn of Africa region. Conflict returned to Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray on 23 September, as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces stormed three national airports in Tigray. In what the TPLF claimed was defensive combat , ground offensives were also expanded along Tigray’s southern and eastern borders with the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. The TPLF and its allies captured parts of Afar but lost several key areas in southern Tigray, including Alamata town. Ethiopia’s federal government forces and the allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) are now advancing towards Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. Meanwhile, reports of drone strikes in Addis Ababa and on government-controlled airbases alters the nature of the war. Although Tigray has seen conflict before, this time there is a risk that hostilities could extend into Eritrea and Sudan. The slow creep towards renewed conflict Related work Ethiopia needs more than an election to calm internal and regional conflict The risk of renewed hostilities in Tigray had been clear for some time, given the steady decline in relations between the federal government and the TPLF. The failure to build on the Pretoria Agreement – the ceasefire deal that brought an end to the war in 2022 – was largely the result of a continued zero-sum approach by both sides, as well as weak implemen
East Africa · Defense · Global politics
To reduce its dependency on Russia, Armenia is diversifying its foreign policy. Until peace with Azerbaijan is secured, Europeans need to provide Yerevan with extra support
Europe · West & Central Asia · Oil & energy · Global politics
New research shows Russians see little prospect of influencing the war in Ukraine, but expect relations with Europe to improve in the future.
Europe · Global politics
The European Commissioner for Trade is headed to China. But after President Xi’s bridge-building visit to Washington, can a more isolated EU overcome Beijing’s stranglehold on critical raw materials? Who will blink first?
Europe · East Asia · Global politics
A week of high-level diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), including the first U.S.-Iran meeting since June, failed to alter the strategic dynamics of the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, contingent on the lifting of the U.S. […] The post Dueling Perceptions Cloud Resolution of the U.S.-Iran Conflict appeared first on The Soufan Center .
West & Central Asia · North America · Global politics
East Africa · Global politics
Some of Europe’s biggest defense spenders — and U.S. allies — were not invited to a Pentagon-led meeting to discuss the alliance.
Europe · North America · Defense · Global politics
East Asia · North America · Global politics
South & Central America · Global politics
Trump, midterms and the Middle East: What comes next? 13 October 2026 — 16:00 TO 17:00 BST Anonymous (not verified) 30 September 2026 Online As the midterms approach, hear from a panel of experts on how domestic politics are shaping US policy in the Middle East. As the midterms approach, hear from leading policymakers and analysts on how domestic politics are shaping US policy in the Middle East. The Trump administration enters the midterm election season facing major challenges across the Middle East, from regional conflicts and great-power competition to questions over the future of US engagement. Domestic political pressures are increasingly shaping policy choices. These dynamics will have significant implications for America’s role in the region and its relationships with allies and adversaries. This event discusses: How are the midterm elections shaping US policy in the Middle East? What are President Trump’s main regional priorities? How could developments in the Middle East affect domestic politics in the United States? What role do Iran, Israel and the Gulf states play in Washington’s current strategy? How might US policy evolve after the elections? What do current trends mean for the future of US engagement in the region?
West & Central Asia · North America · Global politics
The summit may be remembered as a fatal blunder, when Washington, Beijing, and the AI industry collectively chose ceremony over action.
East Asia · North America · Global politics
East Africa · West & Central Asia · Defense · Global politics
Cargo traffic through Russia’s Northern Sea Route has increased because of the disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the Ukraine war, and U.S.-China tensions.
Europe · West & Central Asia · East Asia · Global politics
