Geopolitical Futures

Escalation. Addressing rising tensions in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he had ordered strikes on forces entering a part of Syria that Israel has designated as a demilitarized zone. He said Israel does not want a conflict with Syria but will protect its own security, adding that future actions depend on […]

Ready to retaliate. The European Commission has prepared tariffs on 72 billion euros’ ($84 billion) worth of U.S. goods in response to Washington’s plan to impose a 30 percent...

Energy relief. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to Baku and met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Energy was a major focus, with al-Sharaa complaining of a serious energy crisis....

Russia has been one of the most involved foreign powers in the Middle East over the past 15 years. But with the war in Ukraine, its attention has been turned elsewhere. Meanwhile, many in the West hoped that the massive sanctions placed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 would be enough to force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. And as rumors of an impending Russian recession loom, the Kremlin may be starting to feel the pressure.

(click to enlarge) Since 2016, the share of U.S. imports from China has fallen by nearly half, while imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have nearly doubled. The...

Drills and meetings. The United States, Japan and South Korea held joint air drills over international waters near South Korea’s Jeju Island. The exercises involved at least one U.S....