IRR ONLINE

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Fergana Valley region – encompassing parts of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – has been plagued by recurring violence rooted in decades of undefined borders. Minor disagreements frequently escalate into full-scale territorial and ethnic clashes, and the absence of regional cooperation has long stalled peace efforts in the Fergana Valley. Yet in March of 2025, the three states signed a historic treaty, offering new hope of easing tensions in the valley.

Amid rising global instability, EU foreign policy has sought to defend the current rules-based world order, which protects the security of its member states. At the 80th UN General Assembly, EU leaders attempted to advance this objective by advocating for three key political priorities: supporting Ukraine, advancing climate commitments, and strengthening UN institutions. However, internal divisions due to domestic political changes risk complicating the EU’s ability to achieve these priorities.

South Korea and Thailand are turning fashion into a diplomatic language– one spoken through K-pop runways, artisanal textiles, and global storytelling. South Korea’s state-driven, celebrity-powered machine broadcasts an image of sleek modernity, while Thailand’s heritage-rooted entrepreneurship transforms tradition into contemporary allure. Together, they reveal how fashion can rewrite stereotypes, cultivate national pride, and pull global audiences closer, one strategically crafted garment at a time.

On October 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, authorized a 20 billion-dollar currency swap with the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic. Economic instability in Argentina has been a consistent issue for decades, and proponents hope that the currency swap will bring stability to the Argentine peso while increasing investors’ confidence. Some call this currency swap a “bailout” to the Argentine government, whose president, Javier Milei, is a close ally of Trump. Is this currency swap a sign of continued and growing American interference in Latin America?

Morocco’s postcard-perfect image is cracking, as thousands of young people, mobilized online, take to the streets, demanding “freedom, dignity, and justice.” Facing soaring youth unemployment, underfunded education and healthcare, and accusations of government corruption, protesters call for reform and accountability. Their movements reflect a rising wave of Gen-Z led uprisings across the globe, fueled by frustration and social media organized unity.

The Enlargement Package Report represents both recognition and restraint from the EU in terms of Ukraine. It acknowledges Ukraine’s extraordinary progress under extreme duress, but warns that membership will still require years of sustained reform from the country. Ukraine’s government continues to insist that reforms are advancing as quickly as wartime conditions allow. As Brussels debates the mechanics of accession, the larger question may not be if Ukraine joins the EU, but how and when Europe can adapt itself to welcome a member forged through war and resilience.

Widespread protests have thrust the East African nation of 70 million people into chaos. Outrage emerged in the wake of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s massive electoral victory and amid allegations of corruption and repression of opposing political parties and their leaders. 

Lake Baikal illustrates how environmental vulnerability becomes intertwined with political and institutional constraints. Despite its global significance, the Lake’s protection remains hindered by fragmented authority, shifting development priorities, and uneven enforcement—revealing broader tensions within Russia’s approach to environmental governance and long-term ecological stewardship.

Lebanon’s economic and political collapse has eroded public trust and weakened state institutions. Once called the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” it now faces blackouts, inflation, and a devalued currency. Decades of sectarian power-sharing paved the way for the 2019 financial crisis, marking the collapse of the postwar order. Hezbollah—a political party and paramilitary group backed by Iran—has expanded its role in governance, security, and welfare, reinforcing a shadow-state dynamic as the country drifts further from democracy. Yet under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s new 2025 administration, early reforms in energy, banking, and transparency signal a fragile but honest effort to restore accountability and rebuild democratic state legitimacy.

Nearly ten years after Brexit, Britain’s political landscape remains defined by the unresolved tensions that referendum unleashed. Populist narratives around identity, immigration, and sovereignty continue to shape political debate, fueling voter disillusionment and empowering movements like Reform UK. As the party gains traction, the question is whether Britain can move beyond the impulses of the Brexit era before they come to define its political and global identity.

On October 21, 2025 Japan elected Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. She heralds a milestone achievement as Japan’s first female prime minister, especially given the severe underrepresentation of women in Japanese politics, with the country ranking 118 out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Index. However, she also signals the rise of far-right nationalism all over the world, and her election could send shockwaves throughout East Asia.

Tanzanians with albinism suffer violent persecution at a rate inexperienced by the rest of the country’s population. Attempts by the government to reduce discrimination and violence have had varied success, but official collaboration and work with albinism specific NGOs prove the most successful. 

María Corina Machado, Venezuelan political activist and former presidential candidate, nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Her activism spans decades, working to promote fair elections, liberalization of the economy, and human rights for the Venezuelan people. She is an outspoken critic of current President Nicolas Maduro, claiming that his administration has ties to transnational drug cartel Tren del Aragua and human trafficking circles. Most recently, she supported the Trump administration, and called for its help in ousting Maduro. Her willingness to support US-backed regime change has garnered many critics, who argue that it is not reflective of the values of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

U.S. political rhetoric has revived attention to Nigeria’s struggle with extremist violence, often relying on dramatic but unverified statistics that oversimplify the conflict. Although Christian communities have suffered greatly under jihadis group, Boko Haram, Muslims and other groups have also been targeted, complicating claims that Christians alone have been targeted. When inflated figures dominate the conversation, they distort public understanding and encourage one dimensional U.S. policy responses that overlook Nigeria’s broader security challenges.

The proposed TRIPP stands as a potent symbol of what could be achieved: economic growth, regional connectivity, and lasting peace. But, without final signatures, it remains a vision rather than a reality. The unfinished nature of this agreement underscores that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be declared through ceremony alone; it must be built through sustained trust, compromise, and accountability. Until then, the promise of peace remains just out of reach, suspended between hope and hesitation.

Mounting tensions between the Trump Administration and Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro have come to a climax in the Caribbean Sea. President Trump has launched a series of offensive strikes against ships allegedly carrying large quantities of deadly narcotics. Trump’s failure to consult with Congress over the matter has called into question the exact scope of power that the president is allowed to exercise in deploying domestic armed forces in international conflicts. The death count continues to grow as a result of these strikes, with no indication of a peaceful agreement between Trump and Maduro, and Congress for that matter, in sight.

The one year anniversary of Kenyan runner Rebecca Cheptegei’s murder at the hands of her ex-partner illuminates Kenya’s gender-based violence crisis. Kenya’s high rates of femicide and abuse against women and girls makes the nation difficult to live in for females.

In 2024 alone, Africa hosted $97 billion in foreign direct investment, a 75 percent increase from 2023. Emerging ‘green’ innovation and existing renewable technologies are playing a key part in this increase. These technologies need Africa’s raw materials to fuel their advancement cost-efficiently while meeting increasing demands. Global rare earth mineral demand is expected to reach three times current levels, making Africa’s 15 percent share of world reserves essential to a ‘green’ future. 

Before Pennsylvania or the Middle East, Baku was the world’s oil capital. Its 1846 well sparked an industry that fueled empires, transformed economies, and reshaped society. Yet prosperity brought pollution, inequality, and political unrest. From imperial reforms to revolutionary collapse, Baku’s story reveals how energy can build, and destabilize a nation.

Lebanon’s economic and political collapse has eroded public trust and weakened state institutions. Once called the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” it now faces blackouts, inflation, and a devalued currency. Decades of sectarian power-sharing paved the way for the 2019 financial crisis, marking the collapse of the postwar order. Hezbollah—a political party and paramilitary group backed by Iran—has expanded its role in governance, security, and welfare, reinforcing a shadow-state dynamic as the country drifts further from democracy. Yet under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s new 2025 administration, early reforms in energy, banking, and transparency signal a fragile but honest effort to restore accountability and rebuild democratic state legitimacy.

Germany, a country rocked by runaway hyperinflation a century ago during the Weimar Republic, has clung to fiscal conservatism for decades, illustrated in its hesitancy and reluctance to bailouts during the EU debt crisis in the 2010s. Now, facing economic stagnation and growing defense demands, Berlin’s September 2025 reforms mark a turn toward large-scale investment in infrastructure and security, reshaping both its domestic identity and its role in Europe.

On September 29, 2025, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Cebu region of the Philippines at 10:00 p.m. local time, killing 72 people and making it the deadliest earthquake in the region since 2013. The Philippines is no stranger to earthquakes; located above the tectonic Ring of Fire, the island nation has experienced more than 2,400 earthquakes within the last two weeks, from September 25th to October 9th. Yet this earthquake begs the question: what went wrong in this particular instance, and can the Philippines prevent similar catastrophes from occurring?

As gang violence in Haiti continues to inflict devastating effects on Haiti’s population, the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution authorizing a ‘Gang Suppression Force’ to confront the mounting security crisis. It will replace the previous Kenyan-led ‘Security Support Mission,’ and work in collaboration with the Haitian National Police and Haitian armed forces with primary goals of neutralizing armed gangs and strengthening infrastructure to build Haiti’s ability to assume responsibility for its own security.

From Bangkok’s bustling street stalls to Hanoi’s hidden pho shops, food has become Asia’s newest form of diplomacy. Thailand’s state-backed “Global Thai” campaign turned its cuisine into a world brand, while Vietnam’s street-food fame has grown more organically through social media. Together, they show how taste can shape tourism, strengthen national identity, and transform local dishes into tools of global influence.

The Suwałki Gap remains one of NATO’s most strategic vulnerabilities. This 65-km stretch of border between Poland and Lithuania is the only corridor separating Russia’s close ally, Belarus, from the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is vital to Russia’s naval and military projection in the Baltic Sea, and securing a land route would be invaluable for Moscow’s strategic ambitions. As tensions with Russia persist, many defense experts warn that if Putin were to strike a NATO member, the conflict would likely begin in the Suwałki Gap.

Although Global Witness’ 2024 report on international violence against environmental land defenders reported a fewer number of killings and disappearances than years prior, closely observing these ongoing trends is pertinent to protecting human rights and our environment. Breaking down this report, particularly the nations and subgroups in which defenders are most commonly targeted, allows us to obtain a greater understanding of proper policy drafting and implementation moving forwards.

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.