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MENASource

Sep 30, 2025

Is the Baghdad-Erbil oil deal a blueprint for settlement—or a stopgap? 

By Victoria J. Taylor , Yerevan Saeed

Whether the oil deal will be a tactical stopgap or a step towards permanent settlement will become known after the Iraq's elections and the year's end.

Energy Markets & Governance
Geopolitics & Energy Security

MENASource

Sep 30, 2025

ISIS has its sights set on a new potential ally—Uyghur jihadi groups

By Morgan Tadych

The burgeoning ISIS-K and Turkestan Islamic Party partnership is likely to further threaten Chinese interests.

China
Extremism

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2025

Drug cartels are adopting cutting-edge drone technology. Here’s how the US must adapt.

By Stephen Honan

Mexican cartels are apparently learning from Ukraine’s defense against Russia and twisting Kyiv’s example to their own illicit purposes.

Defense Technologies
Drones

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2025

In defense of the US maintaining a balanced nuclear triad

By Paul Amato

The strength of the triad is not just a function of the existence of its three legs, but also of the balance in numbers and capabilities among the three legs.

Defense Technologies
Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2025

Dispatch from Kyiv: Why so many Americans support—and should continue to support—Ukraine

By William B. Taylor

On a recent trip to Kyiv, a former US ambassador to Ukraine shares what he has heard from Americans, including anger at Russian atrocities and a hope in Ukrainian success.

Conflict
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2025

Guatemala’s Puerto Quetzal project can become a model of US engagement in the Americas 

By Isabella Palacios, Jose Echeverría

The modernization of Puerto Quetzal is part of a broader US strategy to deepen economic ties with reliable partners in Central America.

Central America
Economy & Business

MENASource

Sep 26, 2025

For an increasingly isolated Netanyahu, it’s money time with Trump

By Shalom Lipner

Amid growing international criticism, the Israeli Prime Minister is playing his ace—or rather, his Trump—card in Washington.

Israel
Middle East

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2025

Dispatch from Chișinău: Will Russia’s political pincer move put Moldova’s EU hopes in jeopardy?

By John E. Herbst

Ahead of parliamentary elections in Moldova on September 28, Moscow appears to be throwing its weight behind two political parties to pull support from the party currently in power.

Elections
European Union

MENASource

Sep 26, 2025

The Saudi-Pakistan defense pact highlights the Gulf’s evolving strategic calculus

By Eleonora Ardemagni

In Riyadh’s multi-aligned policy, signing a mutual defense deal with Pakistan is complementary, not alternative, to US security guarantees.

India
Indo-Pacific

MENASource

Sep 26, 2025

How Armenia-Azerbaijan peace could reshape Israel’s regional ties

By Sheila Paylan

If Armenia’s peace with Azerbaijan holds, it could offer an imperfect, but instructive, model for other protracted conflicts.

Eastern Europe
Israel