Security & Defense

How the Iran war could trigger a European energy crisis

By Lisa Basquel

Refilling Europe’s depleted gas storage—already a difficult task given the continent’s efforts to stop purchasing Russian gas—is even more difficult now with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed.

The Iran war is good for the Russian economy but bad for Putin’s prestige

By Maksym Beznosiuk, Will Dixon

From Armenia and Syria to Venezuela and Iran, Moscow’s inability since 2022 to aid its allies in times of crisis has seriously damaged Russia’s reputation as a global power, write Maksym Beznosiuk and Will Dixon.

Reconstructing Gaza starts with giving Palestinians financial agency

By Melanie Robbins 

Palestinians are dependent on Israeli banks for cash and access to the financial system, and Jerusalem has floated the possibility of cutting off that access. Any credible reconstruction plan for Gaza has to account for this—otherwise, essential aid organizations can’t pay local staff, and households and businesses can't pay for daily necessities.

Inside Trump’s economic strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic

By the Atlantic Council

Amid a war in Iran, a slowdown in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and tariff uncertainty, John Jovanovic, chairman and president of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM), explains why he believes “these times call for a very strong, robust export-import bank.

The coming compute war in Ukraine

For the United States, the coming compute war isn't just a Ukrainian problem—it's a preview of US challenges in future conflict.

UN: Putin’s deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity

By Peter Dickinson

Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity, a new United Nations investigation has found. The mass abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children is part of a genocidal Kremlin plan to erase Ukrainian identity, writes Peter Dickinson.

Chinese narratives around Anthropic highlight contradictions for the US

By Kenton Thibaut

Commentators in Chinese state media outlets have seized on the dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon to make larger critiques of US tech governance.

Romania’s drone and energy plans with Ukraine make Europe stronger and more secure

Romanian President Nicușor Dan hosted his Ukrainian counterpart on March 12, underscoring Bucharest’s growing role in regional security.