Withering relations, market vulnerability, and growing external pressure have forced Turkmenistan to choose between continued isolation and long-term economic decline or opening up to the world. Turkmenistan has historically maintained itself isolated through authoritarian control, self-sufficiency, and abundant natural gas to fund its endeavors. However, its eroding alliance with China and previous economic crisis have propelled Turkmenistan to diversify its trading partners and sources of income.
This article examines the evolving political, military, and strategic alliance in the Middle East through the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Under this security and defense pact, both nations agree to treat any act of aggression against one as an act against both.
The European Union has been a key contributor to Ukraine’s defense since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022. Hoping to ensure Ukraine’s stability, the EU has developed a post-war plan to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and put it on the path towards EU accession. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics risk making the continued support and post-war stabilization of Ukraine more challenging.
In South Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon. As the nation reels from repeated conflict, President Salva Kiir’s government stands accused of using starvation to crush opposition and assert power. Aid routes are blocked, crops destroyed, and millions are left on the brink of famine– all due to this man-made crisis.
For years, the Central African Republic has been afflicted by war between armed groups and the government. Although peace agreements from this summer hint at change, the nation continues to struggle with rebel groups selling blood diamonds to finance their activities. In retaliation against such groups, the CAR was forbidden from exporting diamonds in a decision that ultimately caused more problems than it solved.
For centuries, Russians lived under rulers who demanded obedience, from the Mongol Yoke to the iron grip of serfdom and the Church’s calls for humility. These forces taught generations that survival meant submission. Even now, traces of that legacy endure, shaping a culture where authority is feared, accepted, and rarely challenged.
China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) extends beyond economic infrastructure, functioning as a tool of digital statecraft that shapes connectivity and norms. By linking investments in 5G, cloud computing, and standards with political narratives, Beijing fosters dependencies and promotes a model of cyber sovereignty. Responses from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia reveal both the appeal and risks of the DSR, highlighting the contested and strategic nature of cyberspace today.
Próspera, Honduras is a Zone for Employment and Economic Development, aimed at attracting investment and helping develop the nation. Since its creation, it has been governed by a U.S.-based company, Honduras Próspera Inc., which has implemented low tax rates, with aims to become a haven for deregulated business. In recent years, the zone has been criticized for undermining the sovereignty of the Honduran state, and the two are locked in a legal battle to determine the constitutionality of these special zones.
This article will examine the relationship between competing renewable energy markets in the United States and China. China’s advancements in “green” energy technology, most notably, EV battery development has given China unique leverage in orchestrating multilateral clean energy deals, excluding the U.S.. Seemingly, China’s progress is unmatched, as U.S. policy continues to backslide renewable energy development and policy, shifting to traditional fuel sources instead. With oil on the rise in the U.S., and China implementing solar and wind energy projects for global partners, it is clear a “green” future of climate cooperation is uncertain.
A number of court rulings have expanded the rights of queer Hong Kong citizens, such as QT vs Director of Immigration (2018), which granted same-sex partners access to spousal visas, while another ruling in 2018 permitted same-sex couples to file joint tax returns. While these developments may paint the region as progressive, the laws remain relatively conservative, as Hong Kong still does not recognize gay marriage.
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to orchestrate a coup and overturn the 2022 presidential election. The conviction has sparked a multitude of reactions within the deeply polarized state, and instigated responses from the United States and the Trump administration. The sentence marks an important milestone in Brazil’s history of pardoning political insurrection, and many regard it as a victory for Brazilian democracy.
By criminalizing lawyers committed to defending the right to a fair trial and exposing human rights abuses, the Government of Belarus undermines essential international standards and further drives Belarus away from democracy. These measures reveal a regime intent on eradicating independent voices and tightening authoritarian control, while simultaneously signaling to the international community the urgent need for continued attention and accountability.
In September 2025, France’s government collapsed yet again, a symptom of the political fragmentation that has hindered the country’s ability to make meaningful progress on addressing economic concerns. Meanwhile, in the arena of foreign policy, French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to cultivate an image of strength abroad, leading Europe’s response to U.S. tariffs and Russian aggression in Ukraine. For Macron, mounting domestic instability presents an existential challenge to his legitimacy as Europe’s chief statesman.
Israel’s strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar raised serious questions on international law and sovereignty, with Israel framing the operation as a counterterrorism measure. Critics, however, have noted a breach under the UN Charter, specifically violating the human right to life, the UN Charter prohibition on excessive use of force, and Qatar’s sovereignty. Qatar’s role as a prominent mediator and small nation-state was further highlighted by its central involvement in the ceasefire negotiations, while the United Arab Emirates-once a key partner through the Abraham Accords — has seen strained relations with Israel since the 2023 Gaza war, making the partnership particularly costly. The incident reinforced Gulf alignments, with Saudi Arabia hedging and Turkey and Iran backing Qatar, underscoring the risks of rigid blocs and the potential for escalating tensions in the region.
The 2011 Arab Spring was a series of mobilizations across seven countries in the Arab World in protest against repressive regimes and diminished economic, political and social opportunities. In Egypt, these uprisings created a political opening for the Islamist group The Muslim Brotherhood to garner major political traction. During this time the women of the group, the Muslim Sisters, began to exercise greater political autonomy as they pushed for women-led political opportunities.
Russia has weaponized artificial intelligence to spread disinformation, infiltrating chatbots and trusted sources. Transforming its traditional propaganda tactics and capitalizing on gaps in U.S. cyber oversight, Russia has distorted public perception, spreading false narratives about Ukraine and the West.
At 3:02 on the morning of February 24, 2022, Russia launched a cyberattack on the American satellite company Viasat. Just one hour later, Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This attack signaled the initiation of Russia’s hybrid war strategy, using cyber capabilities in tandem with military forces against Ukraine. The use of cyber warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian War challenges the standards of traditional warfare and sets a new precedent for future conflicts.
The self-proclaimed “world’s coolest dictator” is lauded by his people for making them feel safe in their own neighborhoods, however, President Bukele’s approval rating conceals his administration’s ignorance of past and future rural life in El Salvador. While President Bukele’s crackdown has provided short term success, his actions ignore El Salvador’s history of war and violence that motivates gang participation in the first place. Explicitly, Bukele’s mano dura (firm hand) policies have undermined impoverished communities more than they have helped them and centralization of state power has contributed to a democratic backsliding in El Salvador that exacerbates the class divide between industry elites and the rural population.
Climate change, rising ocean temperatures, and destructive fishing practices have bleached and destroyed Kenya’s coral reefs, which has generated a domino effect of declining fish stocks and diminished income for fishers across the Swahili Coast. Nonetheless, through restoration efforts by nonprofits, supported by the Kenyan government, as well as conservation projects by local activists, reef stocks have come back to life. Kenya–and its coastal neighbors–must continue balancing coral reefs as both a profitable economic endowment, and a scarce natural resource vital for biodiversity.
Lesotho and the United States have a long history of diplomatic relations, a relationship that was recently dismissed by President Trump as an ‘unknown country.’ However, Lesotho and the United States maintain strong economic ties and Lesotho remains a prominent figure in regional and international affairs.
