SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A strategic affairs analyst said: Iran’s missile doctrine is not only part of its deterrent capability but also part of the security identity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and should not be weakened.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a phone call this week with Sanae Takaichi, asked her not to further escalate disputes with China. Earlier this month, Takaichi created a rare tension with Beijing by stating that “a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to military action by Japan,” remarks that drew a sharp reaction from China. Beijing demanded that she retract these statements, but the Japanese Prime Minister has not done so thus far, and Tokyo has only emphasized that its policy regarding Taiwan has not changed.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst said: The issue of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia is not merely a military case, but rather part of a regional engineering that Washington is trying to advance.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional security researcher said: If the security of the Persian Gulf becomes an area of cooperation among governments, many political and security misunderstandings will also be eliminated.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: “Any miscalculated move could lead to escalating tensions and uncontrollable crises, but Beijing’s prudence and precise strategies have so far prevented the Taiwan issue from escalating into a crisis similar to that of Ukraine,” said an East Asia analyst.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that NATO’s recent nuclear deterrence-centered exercise is not a sign of stability, but rather indicates the world’s return to the tense arms race between East and West.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The presence of Turkish forces in over 60 military positions in northern Iraq and repeated attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated: “If Iran can simultaneously strengthen its military deterrence and actively pursue and reinforce regionally focused dialogue-driven initiatives, it can assume a decisive role in shaping the new security architecture of the Persian Gulf.”
Strategic Council Online- Interview: A researcher from the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, referring to Russia’s recent move to cancel the agreement to destroy plutonium stocks officially, stated: Russia, through such actions, is sending messages to declare that the era of Western control and domination is over, and that Moscow is monitoring actions. The reality is that the Ukraine war has intensified the geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the US/West, and Moscow is trying to redefine the rules of the global security game.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: Developments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia indicate that transit competition has become an arena for a new staging of influence among Iran, Turkey, Russia, and China.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The upcoming Palestinian elections, after nearly two decades of hiatus, could affect the arrangement of political forces, the legitimacy of institutions, and the future path of Palestinian governance.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The direct war of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, disruption of nuclear inspections, and intensification of great power competition have taken the non-proliferation crisis beyond the issue of Iran’s nuclear program.
SCFR Online – Opinion: In the Iran–U.S. equation, China pursues a cautious balance between its energy and transit interests with Tehran and considerations related to sanctions and competition with Washington.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.