Central Asia

Daily Memo: US-Iran Escalation, Cuba on the Brink

Geopolitical Futures - January 29, 2026

External input. The Trump administration held meetings with senior Israeli and Saudi officials in Washington this week to discuss possible military strikes against Iran, Axios reported. Israeli officials offered the U.S. intelligence on possible targets for an attack, while Saudi representatives passed on messages to try to avert escalation. Trilateral talks? Turkish President Recep Tayyip […]

The Southern Flank Unraveled: Russia’s Grip Loosens in Eurasia

Kamran Bokhari - January 29, 2026

A profound geopolitical realignment is unfolding at the heart of Eurasia as the influence of both Russia and Iran recedes. Moscow’s grip on its...

Daily Memo: Chinese Corruption Probe Targets Top Military Officials

Geopolitical Futures - January 26, 2026

Reshuffle. China has launched an investigation into two senior military officials for suspected violations of “discipline and law.” Zhang Youxia is the first-ranked vice...

Daily Memo: On Reviving Ukraine Talks

Geopolitical Futures - January 23, 2026

Renewed dialogue. Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the first trilateral dialogue since Russia’s full-scale invasion...

The Evolution of the Collective Security Treaty Organization

Ekaterina Zolotova - January 21, 2026

Last week, Russia announced that it will soon host the International Forum for Collective Security under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization,...

Daily Memo: Islamic State Militants Escape Prison in Syria

Geopolitical Futures - January 20, 2026

Chaos in Syria. Clashes erupted between armed groups and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces around Shaddadi prison, which holds thousands of Islamic State fighters,...

2026 Forecast: Re-anchoring the World

Geopolitical Futures - January 16, 2026

Global In 2025, we noted that the world was becoming more unanchored compared to years past. Since World War II, the global order had had...

Daily Memo: US Weighs Options on Iran, Armenia Cedes Control of Corridor

Geopolitical Futures - January 14, 2026

Making contact. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held a secret meeting with exiled former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to discuss the ongoing mass...

A Regional Order Without Russia

Ekaterina Zolotova - December 30, 2025

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin convened the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States for their annual meeting. The CIS comprises former Soviet...

The Military Benefits of Quantum Technology

Andrew Davidson - December 24, 2025

Modern militaries increasingly depend on the continuous functioning of complex systems rather than on decisive battlefield victories. Military advantages, then, are created less by...

Daily Memo: French Defense Plans, Israeli Warnings

Geopolitical Futures - December 22, 2025

Out with the old. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he had given final approval to replace France’s flagship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier....