Product Types: Commentary

Commentary

Iran’s Not So New Leaders May Strike a Hard Bargain

Israel’s assassination campaign has led to the promotion of IRGC old-timers who are likely to prove more hostile to the U.S. and
March 26, 2026
Barbara Slavin
Commentary

Where the American-Israeli War on Iran Leaves the Gulf Arabs

GCC states are moving toward a more confrontational posture with long-term negative ramifications for relations with Iran.
March 25, 2026
Giorgio Cafiero
Commentary

Uncovering the Roots of Crisis in the Sahel

State collapse, climate stress, and demographic pressures drive escalating violence and fragmentation across the Sahel, with mounting regional and global consequences.
March 24, 2026
Federica Saini Fasanotti
Commentary

Five Things to Know About Iranian Minelaying

Iran’s mining of the Strait of Hormuz turns cheap, asymmetric weapons into strategic leverage against the U.S. Navy.
March 23, 2026
Marie-Louise Westermann
Commentary

What to Know About Emergency Arms Sales to the Middle East

How Trump’s use of emergency powers to rush arms to the Middle East raises concerns about necessity, timing, and congressional oversight.
March 23, 2026
Elias Yousif
Commentary

Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Path Will Not Depend on Iran or the War’s Outcome

Saudi Arabia’s evolving nuclear calculus reflects not only Iran’s program but also eroding U.S. security guarantees.
March 23, 2026
Nour Eid
Commentary

Flip the Script in the Strait: How a Unilateral Ceasefire Could Pressure Tehran to Restore Navigation

American attempts to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to exacerbate the current crisis. But a unilateral U.S. ceasefire
March 20, 2026
Peter Slezkine
Commentary

Trump and Takaichi Set Out a Shared Future Vision in Washington

Joint US-Japan cooperation on military shipbuilding and repair at Pearl Harbor could send a powerful signal while boosting strength and prosperity.
March 20, 2026
Andrew Oros
Commentary

South Pars Strike Marks Major Step in Persian Gulf Energy Warfare

The crisis has shifted from a logistical bottleneck to a structural supply shock, with far more severe implications for global energy stability.
March 19, 2026
Umud Shokri
Commentary

Addressing the Tactical Nukes Challenge in North Korea’s ‘Assumed Battles’ Scenario

North Korea is attempting to deter war by possessing tactical nuclear weapons; the U.S. should counter this policy with its own.
March 16, 2026
Hideya Kurata
Commentary

Iran Isn’t ‘Flailing’ — It’s Executing a Coercive Risk Strategy

Understanding Iran’s military strategy in response to Operation Epic Fury.
March 13, 2026
Kelly A. Grieco
Commentary

Attempting to Silence a UN Voice

U.S. sanctions on UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese raise questions about unilateral sanctions, UN immunity, and the future of international justice.
March 13, 2026
Rebecca Snyder
Load More