Iran and the Bomb: The Origins and Trajectory of the Iranian Nuclear Program
Among the many reasons for the long hostility between the U.S. and Iran that has twice erupted into warfare over the past year is fear that Iran would develop nuclear weapons. To understand the origins and possible trajectory of this program, the Stimson Center has invited Sina Azodi, author of a ground-breaking new book, “Iran […]
Untangling the Web of US Alliances
Many view the United States’ vast network of peacetime alliances as an immutable pillar of American influence and power abroad, ensuring both national security and global peace. But in the process of affirming this view over decades, Washington lost sight of the fundamental meaning, purpose, and value of alliances. At a time when nearly all […]
Pakistan at the Center: A Year of Change at Home and Abroad for Islamabad
Pakistan has once again made global headlines, this time for facilitating U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad. This has been an unexpectedly momentous year for Pakistan in other ways as well: an open war with Afghanistan, a crisis with India, and warming ties with the United States. Pakistan is engaged in remarkable feats of diplomatic juggling: […]
Engineering the Mekong: How Upstream Dams are Reshaping Cambodia’s Flooded Forest
The Stung Treng Ramsar Site in northeastern Cambodia is one of the Mekong River’s most important—and most threatened—flooded forest ecosystems. Our Southeast Asia team and IUCN teamed to develop a new report, Engineering the Mekong: How Upstream Dams are Reshaping Cambodia’s Flooded Forest, which shows how upstream hydropower operations have fundamentally altered dry‑season river flows, […]
Cognitive Warfare, AI, and Security: Insights from East Asia
The popular understanding of cognitive warfare focuses on disinformation and AI-generated content. In his opening keynote remarks, Japanese AI pioneer Dr. Tomabechi will explain why that framing is dangerously incomplete — and what cognitive warfare actually is, based on 30+ years of classified and operational research. Following these opening remarks, Stimson senior fellows Jenny Town […]
Implications of the War in Iran for Climate Security
While climate change is a global driver of instability, the Middle East and North Africa region stands out as a climate security hotspot, where environmental pressures and conflict dynamics reinforce one another. As the conflict between Iran, the U.S., and Israel intensifies and continues to spill over across the region, its consequences extend far beyond the battlefield, increasing pressure […]
A Conversation with H.E. Ambassador Taher El-Sonni: Libya’s Strategic Outlook
Libya sits at the intersection of North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Sahel, making it a pivotal actor in a region increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition, energy realignments, and persistent security issues. Over a decade after the fall of the Qaddafi regime, Libya continues to navigate complex political transitions, institutional divisions, and external pressures, while […]