This situation assessment examines how domestic electioneering shapes Israel’s fragmented political landscape, its approach to Gaza, settlement expansion in the West Bank, and military operations and negotiations in Lebanon. It argues that the election outcome may alter the pace and rhetoric of Israeli policy without substantially changing its core objectives.

This situation assessment examines the strategic connection between Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab and its implications for Gulf energy trade and maritime security. It argues that a sustainable response requires re-establishing sovereignty over Yemen’s coast and building a Yemeni state capable of guarding its own shores.

Key Takeaways Rather than seeing a transfer of dominance from Russia to China, Central Asia is moving toward multipolarity: While Russia retains extensive security, economic, and human ties, China has become a structural component of the regional economy through trade, energy, and infrastructure. The deeper shift is that no single power monopolizes the region, creating… Continue reading Central Asia in an Emerging International Order: Shifting Strategic Partnerships with the GCC