In May 2025, during the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, a video of Turkish President Reçep Tayyip Erdoğan grabbing the French President's finger and refusing to shake his hand went viral on social media. This clash was not the first time such an incident between the two leaders occurred. In 2020, Erdoğan said that Macron needed mental treatment over an argument when the French president defended the country’s policy of laïcité after a teacher got beheaded. The personal tension between Macron and Erdoğan illustrates the growing geopolitical rivalry between Ankara and Paris.

This paper argues that the Iran-Iraq War was essential to the securitization of Iran’s energy sector by transforming it from a standard political issue into a matter of national survival. The paper will first examine how Iran enabled the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to consolidate control of the country’s energy industry as a means of safeguarding it from external pressure, followed by an investigation into how the regime created a secret “shadow fleet” network to facilitate illicit oil exports, which Iran began to perceive as a crucial tool for its survival. Finally, the paper will explore how Iran has employed a range of unconventional tactics to defend its critical energy infrastructure from external attack, thereby cementing Tehran’s energy sector as a top priority for the regime.

Washington’s increasing attacks on the transatlantic alliance have led to the Europeans to seek partners elsewhere, especially in the Indo-Pacific. These outreach efforts by the EU illustrate its desire to look for alternative partners beyond Beijing, Moscow, and Washington. However, to deepen cooperation, the EU should put more emphasis on its commitment to multilateralism, rather than hyper-focusing on human rights. 

As global instability distracts American attention across Europe and the Middle East, a strategic reckoning is long overdue. Washington must recognize the urgency that it faces in the Indo-Pacific. The rise of China as a peer competitor presents not only an economic challenge but a military one. The ideological dogma of the Chinese Communist Party makes reunification with Taiwan a necessity. If the United States is not careful, they may well be walking into a military confrontation that they are wildly unprepared for.

This is the first in a multi-part series exploring Captagon and the future of the amphetamine trade inside the Middle East. In this article, we contextualize the importance of Captagon and explore its associated trade to both the former Assad regime and various non-state actors within the Middle East.

With the proliferation of communication and network technology, data centers have become increasingly more important to maintain low latency and increase the pace of online services. This growth is driven by expanding needs for data processing, storage, and digital communication, which will naturally lead to higher energy consumption. Without sufficient investment in data centers and promotion of efficient energy use, generative AI is unlikely to realize its full potential. It is estimated that AI could unlock between 2.6 and 4.4 trillion dollars throughout the global economy if data center electricity demand is met. As a result, energy efficiency has become the primary concern for operators, surpassing even security.

African Youth, particularly Nigerians, are beginning to showcase a clear pattern of leading an Africa-wide revolutionary anti-corruption movement with the ultimate objective of giving the political and economic face of the continent a new look. Unlike the passive positions they occupied in the past, African youths are now taking charge as active change agents in anti-corruption movements by engaging the mechanism of technology innovation, expanded educational options, and greater political consciousness.

Bhutan, situated between India and China, is nicknamed the “Hidden Kingdom,” given the lack of attention it receives from the media and policymakers abroad. However, a few weeks ago, Bhutan appeared in the news cycle for an odd reason: the American travel ban. This incident highlights the need for Bhutan to consider establishing formal diplomatic relations with the U.S. Having an embassy in Washington D.C will make it easier to handle these types of issues going forward.

On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was reelected the next president of the United States. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated “his friend” for winning reelection on X (Formerly Twitter). However, regardless of the cordial personal rapport between the two leaders, a Trump presidency has the potential to create issues for India, including human rights, China, Russia, and Iran, many of which stem from Trump’s erratic personality.

Lebanon’s new leadership under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam signals a potential shift from years of political deadlock and economic collapse. As they take office, they must confront deep-seated corruption, rebuild state institutions, and manage regional instability, all while balancing sectarian divisions and international expectations.

The imperial histories of Iran and Turkey have left an enduring imprint on their modern political identities, ideologies, and the public preferences of their citizens. Their similarities and distinctions present a unique case study of how historical grandeur informs modern governance.

On February 28th, 2024, the Ghanaian parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Act, a bill intended to criminalize a wide array of LGBT activities. Even for a country with a poor record on LGBT rights, the bill is repressive: same-sex relations, heretofore vaguely defined as “unnatural carnal knowledge” by the law, are explicitly criminalized. Nevertheless, the bill is not yet law. While it has passed parliament, it does not go into effect until signed by the president of Ghana, which President Nana Akufo-Addo has not done. Why not?