SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert of international issues mentioned the reason why Russia and China did not accompany the West on North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missiles because of security balance considerations and balance of power versus the West and said:” new circumstances in international system caused Russia and China to strategically distance from some of their principles”.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on the US affairs, commenting on China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands, said: Security agreement between the presidents of the Solomon Islands and China, which was signed on April 19 was a strategic agreement between Beijing as a major world power and a small island nation that would undoubtedly have global consequences.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on US affairs commenting on the White House approach to the North Korea supersonic missile tests said: At present, the only tool available to the US is sanctions, but even Washington knows that it cannot resort to the option of war in order to solve the North Korean problem and the only option is the same option of diplomacy.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: As a legacy of Cold War era, prevailing concern over Korean peninsula is among challenges which has continued to date even after the (cold) war finished between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Mohammad Javad Ghahremani, Expert on China issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Missile tests of North Korea has once again turned to a major security challenge in the East Asia region and also for the United States of America.
Hassan Sayahi, Researcher of international issues
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Some international media outlets have recently claimed that China has conducted a missile test in which a hypersonic missile was able to reach its predetermined target after orbiting the Earth. Although the Chinese government has denied such allegations, the news has once again brought under question China’s missile strategy in the spotlight and China’s target of developing its missile program.
Hossein Sayyahi – Researcher of East Asia
Strategic Council Online- Opinion: After a six-month cessation of missile tests, in September and October 2021North Korea launched a range of missile tests containing an ultra-sonic new missile (a very sophisticated weapon that is being developed by military powers like the U.S. and Russia), a recently developed new Cruise Missile, and a ballistic missile launched from a train.
Zeinab Farhadi, Researcher on East Asian affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An expert of international issues says on the US concern about the Cyberwar with Russia that “in recent years, the issue of technological and cyber competition with Russia and even China is one of the most important issues in the domestic circles of the United States.”
Strategic Council Online – A university professor described the signals exchanged between Washington and Pyongyang as indicating a desire to reduce tensions between the two countries, saying: It seems that the United States will take these messages seriously and take steps in this direction; because getting countries out of “China’s strategic embrace” is one of America’s current strategies.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: A member of the academic staff of the University of Tehran says Biden and Putin seems to have spoken about setting aside differences and return to a series of military agreements as the United States is fragile against China economically and does not want to remain fragile in military issues as well and definitely in the near future, we cannot expect relations on the basis of alliance or signing cooperation agreements between these two countries.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.