Defensive realism provides the most analytically sound framework for explaining the rise of the Houthi threat and the strategic environment shaping U.S. policy options. Rooted in the logic of the international system, defensive realism maintains that states, faced with anarchy and uncertainty in the absence of global authority, pursue strategies aimed primarily at securing survival rather than maximizing power.

With the rise of Islamist terror in West Africa increasing and the geopolitical scene on the continent being sensitive to world shocks, this article delves into the origins of the various terrorist actors present in the Sahel. Understanding the impact of a colonial past and politically unstable present on government responses to attacks is important to navigate the realities faced by communities in the region. 

When crowds took to Iran’s streets to protest against the government in early 2026, the images seemed familiar. The demonstrators across cities, not just Tehran, chanted against political authority, and security forces responded with overwhelming force. But one of the most important stories of the current movement and politics of Iran is not whether the protests are visible. Rather, the more important story is how repeated cycles of protest and repression have transformed how young Iranians think about power, risk and the possibility of change.

Italy has leveraged ENI’s hybrid corporate–state role to reposition itself in Europe’s post-Ukraine energy order, using investments, pipelines, and regional partnerships in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean to enhance geopolitical influence and energy security.

Russia’s long struggle to control Moldova, from imperial annexation to Soviet rule, shaped enduring divisions. In 2025, Moscow deployed political proxies, energy pressure, and disinformation to block European integration, but Moldovan voters decisively backed Maia Sandu’s pro-Western path forward clearly.

The European Union faces internal and external challenges that threaten its continuity. This article examines these issues and the EU Strategic Agenda’s responses, assessing the Union’s state to explore whether the EU is likely to emerge as a global actor.

Grand corruption in Ukraine shows gendered patterns: women's lower involvement stems from underrepresentation, portfolio allocation, and differing attitudes toward corruption, while persistent institutional weaknesses remain amid war and reform pressures.

Serbia–Kosovo normalization has stalled since the Brussels Agreement due to unresolved Serb autonomy, sovereignty disputes, and weak EU enforcement, while stronger EU mediation is crucial for Balkan stability and broader international credibility.

Economic redistribution, migration policy, corruption, nationalism, and falling U.S. support are eroding the EU’s unity, leaving it increasingly fragmented and institutionally weakened. 

The article examines Ukraine’s long relationship with NATO, weighing strategic, democratic, and security arguments for and against membership amid war with Russia, assessing barriers, alternatives, and uncertain future prospects for Europe and transatlantic stability overall.

Since Russia's invasion, Russian authorities have kidnapped thousands of Ukrainian children, placed them for adoption in Russia, and reeducated them under the guise of therapy. The global community's neglect has reduced the likelihood of their return.