Soner Cagaptay and Andy Taylor
The truth is that Ankara feels threatened by Moscow, but security concerns, mistrust of the West, and an inability to secure American missiles left Erdogan searching for an alternative.
Among other steps, Washington should release more intelligence on Tehran’s efforts to target energy assets while urging Gulf and European allies to visibly step up their military posture.
An Israeli analyst shares observations from an intensive round of discussions with senior Chinese military, diplomatic, and academic officials.
Although Hezbollah and its allies might use the upcoming talks as a mere stalling tactic, negotiators will still have opportunities to exploit the group’s domestic vulnerabilities.
Ultimately, no deal is better than a bad deal, and Moscow’s track record in Syria suggests it is both unable and unwilling to keep Iran out.
The Yemeni group appears to select targets directly inspired by its principal complaints, potentially helping security officials protect against future attacks while negotiators promote overall de-escalation.
Ambassador Robert S. Ford and Michel Duclos
Watch a live webcast as former American and French ambassadors to Syria preview the upcoming trilateral summit on Syria with U.S., Russian, and Israeli officials.
As Congress questions whether certain arms sales merit emergency treatment, the White House may have opened a Pandora’s box of long-term consequences for legislative oversight, Gulf relations, and defense profits.
The trial of a senior operative reveals the extent of the terrorist organization’s reach in the United States and Canada.
PolicyWatch
Michael Eisenstadt and Farzin Nadimi
Washington should reduce tensions, open lines of communication, and restore deterrence, though managing the contradictions between these objectives will be challenging.
PolicyWatch 3124
By holding fast to his defiant approach while stopping just short of war, Khamenei may be hoping to stall until the next U.S. and Iranian election cycles.
Articles & Op-Eds
Despite the challenges that usually accompany these high-level talks, Gulf countries seem keener than ever to counter the threat across the Persian Gulf.
PolicyWatch 3125
Tehran has reportedly told its militia proxies to be ready for escalation, so Washington must prepare to maintain a full presence in Iraq even under potentially increased fire.
