SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs analyst stated: The Syria-Turkey-Azerbaijan gas project goes beyond simple energy cooperation and must be evaluated within the context of regional power competition, efforts to redefine the political order in Syria, and the strengthening of the Turkish-Qatari-Azerbaijani axis in West Asia. An order whose future will largely depend on the stability of the Damascus government and Turkey’s ability to manage security, economic, and geopolitical crises simultaneously.
At a time when Syria is still grappling with extensive infrastructure problems and an energy crisis, the inauguration of the gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey, with Qatar’s financial support, has drawn the attention of regional analysts. This project, which in its first phase will transfer 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day and will eventually reach a capacity of 6 million cubic meters per day, could add approximately 750 megawatts to Syria’s electricity generation capacity.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A regional affairs expert stated that at present, it is impossible to have an accurate prediction whether Syria will move towards stability or another civil war will occur in the country in the next six months to a year.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the current geopolitical situation has created an unprecedented space for strategic changes in Europe, adding that the recommendation letter from France’s parliament is essentially a strategic response to these conditions. The release of the French parliament’s 153-page report—dubbed by Arnaud Bertrand (French journalist) as “the most prominent geopolitical document of the century”—has sparked a wave of debate and reactions in global political and intellectual circles. This document describes the European Union’s strategic dependence on the United States as a catastrophic failure and, through 50 practical recommendations, proposes a new path to escape Atlanticist hegemony and move towards equal partnership with China. If the contents and recommendations of this document are taken seriously in Europe, the consequences will extend beyond the geography of the Green Continent and directly impact relations among emerging powers, financial markets, and even international security equations. Furthermore, the document goes beyond “defense independence” to address “economic and monetary independence”—an area hitherto under the shadow of the US dollar and Washington’s policies. From this perspective, the present moment may mark the beginning of a new chapter in international politics, where Europe defines itself as an independent actor in the future multipolar order.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: In recent years, with the expansion of international sanctions and the intensification of economic pressures on specific countries, many have turned their attention to new financial technologies. Among these technologies, cryptocurrencies have garnered more attention than others. Media, economic actors, and even some politicians have referred to cryptocurrency as a potential tool for bypassing sanctions, as if these cryptocurrencies are the very keyword that unlocks the closed doors of the global banking system.
Strategic Council Online in – Interview: A senior Arab world analyst stated: When 61 thousand people are killed in Gaza and the Security Council is not even willing to issue a simple resolution in condemnation of the Zionist regime, it means the international structure is entirely dysfunctional. In such a situation, it is the nations that must cry out and awaken the global conscience.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated: “The final week of summer 2025 marks a sensitive test for international relations and the future of the Ukraine war. The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska was merely seven months after Trump’s return to the White House, as the Ukraine war rages on relentlessly.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has preemptively rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan—likely based on territorial concessions to Russia—warning that any agreement without Kyiv’s presence and consent would be a “dead solution.” Observers view the clash of interests among Moscow, Washington, Kyiv, and Europe as the intersection of four conflicting logics: Washington’s deal-driven logic, Moscow’s consolidationist logic, and Kyiv’s and Europe’s survivalist logic. While scenarios range from a minimal agreement to tacit Putin-Trump collusion solidifying current frontlines, each carries profound implications for European security and global power balances. Zelenskyy’s absence from Alaska could heighten risks of a deal that not only weakens Ukraine’s position but also undermines the legitimacy of fundamental international law.
Strategy Council Online – Opinion: At the recent summit of European Union leaders and China, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties once again sought to redefine their relationship in an atmosphere filled with mutual opportunities and threats. While the European Union emphasized the need to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in combating climate change and removing trade barriers, the heavy shadow of the Ukraine crisis and the escalating geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing pushed the talks to an unprecedented level of prudence and caution.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Arab world affairs said: One of the Zionist regime’s primary motives for insisting on disarming Hezbollah is to create a security vacuum in Lebanon so that, if needed, the possibility of attacking it again is provided. Today, Lebanon is witnessing one of its most sensitive political junctures in recent years; the Lebanese cabinet, in its recent session chaired by Najib Mikati, the country’s Prime Minister, approved the content of the US proposal for disarming Hezbollah and monopolizing weapons in the hands of the army, despite opposition from some ministers. The US proposal, which has faced firm opposition from the Hezbollah, was brought to Beirut by Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy, and with a paternalistic approach, considers disarming the Hezbollah a precondition for starting any dialogue and border demarcation, explicitly stating that this plan must either be entirely accepted or Lebanon must accept the consequences of its rejection.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior West Asia affairs analyst stated: The explicit support of Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and some political factions in the Netherlands and Britain for France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state indicates that the public atmosphere in Europe is changing. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has announced that in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. This decision, amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli regime’s military attacks, is considered a significant step in the diplomatic arena. Of course, it should not go unmentioned that France, as one of the founders of the Israeli regime’s nuclear program and a member of the Rome Statute, has a past full of legal and moral responsibilities towards this regime. In this vein, many analysts believe that if France wants to go beyond this symbolic decision and truly play a role in changing international relations regarding the Palestinian crisis, now is the time to reexamine its historical past.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The recent visit of the President of Iran to Islamabad, which went beyond a conventional diplomatic meeting, is regarded as a fundamental step towards deepening and expanding bilateral strategic relations as well as influencing the regional balance of power. This visit took place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing rapid and complex developments, and Iran seeks to redefine and strengthen its axes of cooperation with its traditional and regional partners.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The expansion of artificial intelligence and influence operations has drawn the field of conflict from physical space to the perceptual and algorithmic environment and has turned cognitive deterrence into a strategic necessity.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Riyadh, amid the Iran war, Yemeni pressure, and ambiguous Washington guarantees, has turned to flexible balancing in order to both preserve its security and increase its bargaining power.
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.