SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The joint article by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, recently published in Politico under the title “Why we are seeking to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran,” was an apparent attempt to present a one-sided narrative regarding Iran’s nuclear dossier. While the article emphasized increased uranium stockpiles, limited cooperation with the IAEA, and Iran’s security threats, important facts of our country’s nuclear case were ignored entirely.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An American affairs expert stated that in recent weeks, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has undergone a distinct redefinition, shifting toward hard power tools. According to media reports, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the White House reviewed options for military operations “against drug cartels”. It even introduced a deadly attack on a suspected boat leaving Venezuelan waters as the beginning of a new phase of its campaign. This approach has been reinforced by the deployment of significant military assets to the Caribbean periphery, including cruisers equipped with cruise missiles and attack submarines, as well as the stationing of F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico. It is complemented by labeling Nicolás Maduro a “narcoterrorist” and doubling the bounty for his capture.
Although Trump, when asked about “regime change,” said, “We’re not discussing that,” by linking Venezuela to the anti-drug mission, he has effectively redefined the “maximum pressure” strategy within a security-military framework. At the regional level, the resurgence of the old concept of “gunboat diplomacy” in America’s backyard sends a deterrent message to Caracas and its allies on one hand, while increasing the risk of sliding into proxy and attritional conflicts on the other. At the structural level, the merging of U.S. domestic considerations, including the “crackdown on drug trafficking” agenda, with geopolitical calculations to control energy resources and routes of influence, indicates that the Venezuela issue is not merely a criminal-security matter but rather a reflection of great power competition and a test of the resilience of the Latin American regional order—an order that, with each crisis escalation, simultaneously creates opportunities and threats for both extra-regional and regional actors.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs analyst stated that the United States’ imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian export goods has not only severely impacted the economic relations between the two countries but has also opened a new path in New Delhi’s foreign policy. While Washington has justified this move as “punishing” India for purchasing oil from Russia, the Narendra Modi government has called it unfair and emphasized the necessity of ensuring its country’s energy security. However, India’s reaction has not been limited to mere verbal statements; Modi’s visit to China and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit can practically be assessed as a strategic pivot towards the East. Simultaneously, diplomatic exchanges among the three Asian powers have accelerated: China’s Foreign Minister visited New Delhi, his Indian counterpart went to Moscow, and Modi, in his meeting with Beijing’s leaders, sent a clear message of India’s desire for closer cooperation with Russia and China. In this context, the Indian Prime Minister’s lack of response to several phone calls from Trump suggests that New Delhi is redefining its foreign policy priorities in response to Washington’s pressure. Many analysts believe that India’s recent actions are not merely short-term reactions but rather a sign of a new balance of power forming in Asia’s equations.
Strategic Council Online: The President of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in response to the question of how you interpret the Zionist regime’s aggression against Qatar, while condemning the aggression of the sinister Israeli regime against the territory of a country that plays a mediating role in stopping Israeli attacks on Gaza, said: Before the 12-day war, in a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister of Qatar, in explaining the objectives of the United States and the Zionist regime for the entire region, I emphasized that we are all in the same boat and you should take the danger seriously.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst in West Asia affairs stated that while a wave of readiness for the official recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries is forming, the upcoming UN General Assembly session has become a decisive stage for the future of the Palestinian issue. At first glance, these moves are considered an essential step towards the potential advancement of the two-state solution and pressuring the Israeli regime to halt illegal settlements and accept the political reality of Palestinian sovereignty. Belgium’s decision to impose 12 firm sanctions against the Israeli regime and recognize the State of Palestine reflects this same perspective, which seeks to open a new political path in the face of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. However, there is another view that considers this diplomatic wave merely a symbolic reaction to public opinion pressure after nearly two years of slaughter and siege in Gaza, believing that as long as the United States stands alongside the Israeli regime, these movements will not lead to the establishment of a real Palestinian state. This viewpoint holds that the expansionist policies of Tel Aviv, the idea of Greater Israel, and the support of Western powers remain the main obstacles to any real change on the ground. Therefore, the September session of the UN General Assembly is considered an important test to gauge the seriousness of the international community in moving beyond symbolism towards practical action.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: By assassinating Yemeni executive officials, the Israeli regime has not only failed to achieve its military objectives, but its position has also been weakened in the diplomatic arena. In contrast, Yemen and the Resistance Front are continuing their path with greater cohesion, and the future outlook indicates that not only will their military capabilities not diminish, but their political standing will also be enhanced at the regional and global levels.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online Opinion: Despite past cooperation and extensive interactions between Ankara and Tel Aviv in various economic, commercial, political, and other domains, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, recently took an unprecedented step by recognizing the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, during World War I.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: France’s Mediterranean policy, which clarifies the country’s genuine political orientation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, can be summarized in three primary strategies: strengthening France’s position in the European Union, maintaining its strategic position in Africa, and enhancing France’s political and military role in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Ukraine and Armenia are also now gaining increasing importance in France’s Mediterranean policies.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The plan recently approved by the Lebanese government regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah is, in fact, an American project and scheme, which should be analyzed and assessed within the context of the developments of the past year in Lebanon, specifically the war waged by the Israeli regime against this country. The overarching goal of presenting such a plan is to enable the Israeli regime to impose new security arrangements in Lebanon as part of its efforts to change the regional order.
SCFR Online – Opinion: London’s decision to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in the Yemen file, beyond a limited aerial mission, could confront Britain with broad legal, security, economic, and strategic consequences.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The acceleration of AI competition has shattered the boundaries of economic, military, intelligence, and cognitive power, turning this technology into a strategic component of national power.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump on September 24 and 25, 2026, accompanied by a ceremonial welcome at Andrews Air Force Base, was more a diplomatic display for managing the level of tensions than an indication of a breakthrough achievement in relations between the two powers.
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.