Product Types: Commentary

Commentary

The Game of Middle Powers in North Africa

How Russia, the Gulf states, and Turkey are reshaping North Africa through security partnerships, investment, and political influence.
June 15, 2026
Commentary

Trump Takes the Deal and Claims Victory in the Iran War

While many Iranian officials gloated, Iran’s more than 90 million people are among the war’s biggest losers.
June 15, 2026
Commentary

Xi Jinping’s Visit to Pyongyang: Regional Roundup

Stimson experts weigh in on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June 8-9 visit to North Korea and its implications for bilateral relations, regional
June 12, 2026
Commentary

The Post-War Gulf: Arms Competition, Nuclear Latency, and Regional Security

Future acquisitions may focus less on prestige platforms and more on layered defense, resilience, and domestic industrial capacity.
June 11, 2026
Commentary

Lessons for US-India Strategic Partnership

At a critical juncture in the bilateral relationship, Senior Fellow Dan Markey assesses the enduring ties and unique challenges US-India relations confront
June 11, 2026
Commentary

Is Claudia Sheinbaum Head of State or Head of Her Party?

The U.S. indictment of a sitting governor was unprecedented and will reshape US-Mexico relations and security cooperation.
June 10, 2026
Commentary

Bushehr, Barakah, and the Future of Nuclear Security in the Persian Gulf

Strikes could gradually degrade the conditions that make nuclear safety possible and transform a local incident into a broader regional concern.
June 9, 2026
Commentary

Is Congress Losing Its Grip On The Nation’s Purse Strings?

Defense bill would further weaken congressional control over defense spending.
June 5, 2026
Commentary

What Would Militia Disarmament in Iraq Actually Mean and Can It Be Achieved?

Removing militias from state institutions would require a fundamental restructuring of Iraq’s post-2003 political order.
June 5, 2026
Commentary

The Silent Infrastructure of Survival in Iran

After three months of war with the U.S. and Israel, the care economy — largely informal, gendered, and household-based — is all
June 3, 2026
Commentary

Renewing the UN’s Toolbox for Peace and Security

Amidst growing funding constraints, hardening geopolitical rivalries, and surging conflicts, how should the UN “get back to basics”?
June 2, 2026
Commentary

Is the Iran War Worth It?

Weighing the costs and benefits of the U.S. decision to go to war.
May 29, 2026