The RIC (China-India-Russia) Revival and India's Starlink Freeze

Velina Tchakarova  

India faces increasing pressure from both the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral and the United States, revealing its deliberate multi-alignment strategy. China's Foreign Ministry recently endorsed deeper RIC cooperation, urging New Delhi to view Beijing as a partner, not a rival, following Vladimir Putin's praise for Modi and Xi. Simultaneously, India has frozen final approvals for Starlink's commercial launch, with security agencies demanding SpaceX explain how a U.S.-owned operator can guarantee compliance during geopolitical tensions, especially after Starlink terminals reportedly operated in Iran without a license.

In Afghanistan, Pakistan Tastes Its Own Medicine

National Interest  |  Eldaniz Gusseinov

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, establishing a doctrine treating state support for terror as acts of war, following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Pakistan, initially denouncing this doctrine, subsequently applied the same rationale against Afghanistan's Taliban government in February 2026. Pakistan initiated Operation Ghazab lil Haq, involving sustained air and artillery strikes across eastern Afghan provinces, targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps.

Myanmar’s Military Isn’t Conceding Much

Foreign Policy  |  Andrew Nachemson

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, released overthrown civilian president Win Myint in April after more than five years in prison, while former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi was transferred to house arrest. This move, five years after the coup, reflects the regime's growing confidence rather than significant concessions to international calls from the United Nations and the United States.

China learns to live on less fuel, to the relief of oil markets

Reuters  |  Chen Aizhu, Sam Li, Lewis Jackson

China, the world's largest oil importer, requires significantly less fuel than anticipated, a reality emerging three months into the Iran war. Gasoline sales at Sinopec, the world's largest refiner, dropped 8% year-on-year in April, while diesel fell 6%, with Goldman Sachs estimating a 20% decline in gasoline use.

The False Promise of U.S.-China Stability: Washington Will Come to Regret Its Stalemate With Beijing

Foreign Affairs

U.S.-Chinese relations during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term are defined by an uneasy quiescence, termed "constructive strategic stability" by both governments, but more accurately a stalemate of "mutually assured disruption." Beijing perceives this stalemate as a victory, leveraging it to accrue advantages without global responsibilities. Washington, under Trump, is seen as squandering hard power and military strength by prioritizing commerce over security and diverting resources to another war in the Middle East.

Trump’s Iran deal ends war but leaves Tehran stronger

Asia Times  |  Amin Saikal

US President Donald Trump has secured an agreement with the Iranian regime to end a war initiated in late February, a conflict that significantly roiled the region and global energy markets. This "memorandum of understanding" leaves Iran in a stronger regional position, diminishes US leverage, and leaves Israel in a precarious situation.

How Saudis really view the US-Iran war

Asia Times  |  Robert Kubinec, Alexis Montambault-Trudelle

A rare academic poll reveals Saudi public opinion is sharply divided on military action against Iran, but broadly supportive of strong US ties amidst the ongoing Iran war. Conducted since March 2026 by Robert Kubinec and Alexis Montambault-Trudelle, the survey of Saudi nationals found approximately three-quarters of respondents favor a stronger relationship with the United States, even after US attacks on Iran on February 28.

Pentagon’s Cyber Defense Command drafting plan to defend critical infrastructure

Breaking Defense |Mark Pomerleau

The Pentagon’s new Defense Cyber Defense Command (DCDC) is drafting a comprehensive plan to defend US critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, specifically addressing the threat from Chinese hackers like Volt Typhoon who are mapping networks to cause disruption and deter US responses to a potential Beijing move against Taiwan.

Why America’s Critical Infrastructure Could Be Iran’s Most Attractive Target

National Interest  |  Jonathan Hollerman

The United States recently conducted air strikes on Iran's critical infrastructure, specifically targeting two reservoirs in Jask and Sirik, which left 20,000 residents without safe drinking water in extreme temperatures. This action provides a strong motive for Iran to retaliate by targeting American critical infrastructure, moving beyond traditional missile capabilities to leverage its formidable cyber warfare division and substantial "sleeper cell" presence within the U.S.

Trump the unreliable narrator fails to force reality to match his story on Iran

The Guardian  |  Andrew Roth

The US-Iran war continues with President Donald Trump acting as an "unreliable narrator," repeatedly threatening Iran and claiming a peace deal is "close" without tangible results. Trump has asserted "complete victory" in the conflict, yet the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to over 20% of global oil traffic.

AI Governance by Phone Call

Lawfare | Kevin Frazier, Alan Z. Rozenshtein

The White House abruptly postponed signing an executive order on AI and cybersecurity, initially planned for a ceremony with tech leaders, after President Trump expressed concerns it would impede U.S. leadership against China. Lobbying by former White House AI czar David Sacks, who warned a voluntary review system could become a de facto licensing regime, influenced the decision.

The nation at war: There will be Belfasts across Europe, too

Brussels Signal | Konstantinos Bogdanos

Riots in the United Kingdom serve as a critical warning for Europe, stemming from decades of "detached political elites" imposing "radical demographic and cultural transformation" under progressivism, which undermines traditional values and indigenous populations. This societal collapse is driven by economic mechanics, where mass, low-wage immigration suppresses wages, erodes domestic purchasing power, and stifles technological innovation, fostering a "pre-modern labour structure."

A Liberal Vision For Europe

Persuasion  |  Frank

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at the February 2026 Munich Security Conference, asserted a "Western Civilization" identity for the U.S. and Europe based on "Christian faith" and "heritage." This contrasts with a liberal understanding emphasizing Enlightenment values: universal human equality, openness, tolerance, and rule of law, rooted in 17th-century separation of religion and politics.

Anti-immigrant terror takes Northern Ireland back to its ‘darkest chapters’

Politico | Shawn Pogatchnik

Northern Ireland experienced renewed anti-immigrant violence into Wednesday morning, with mobs targeting ethnic minority households, restaurants, and shops in Belfast. Police reported dozens of homes and cars torched, alongside a city bus, as authorities prioritized evacuating threatened individuals. This destruction followed Monday night’s alleged knife attack by 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid on Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye.

Ukraine’s Drones Can Now Kill Without a Human in the Loop

National Interest  |  Stavros Atlamazoglou

Ukrainian military has revealed the use of "Terminator" autonomous drones, capable of executing missions without human input, including patrolling, identifying Russian soldiers, and detonating explosives. A senior Ukrainian defense official confirmed an operational test in 2024 involving 10 Terminator quadcopter drones that operated completely independently over three miles, engaging targets based on predetermined AI inputs.

Iran’s regime survives, Israel worries: Winners, losers emerging from new US-Iran deal - analysis

Manual Input  |  Amichai Stein

Two Israeli strikes over the past year significantly influenced a rapid American push toward ceasefire agreements in the Middle East, impacting both the Israel-Hamas conflict and US-Iran relations. On September 9, 2025, an Israeli strike targeting senior Hamas leaders in Doha during Operation Summit of Fire in Qatar directly led to a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War several weeks later and the release of all Israeli hostages.

Sovereign Resilience: An Analytical History of the State of Israel

Niti Shastra  |  Navroop Singh, Himja Parekh

The conflict between Israel and Palestine, a central and enduring confrontation in the Middle East, is often characterized by a polarized narrative depicting an occupying military state against a displaced native population. This rigid framing, evident in international institutions like the UN Human Rights Council, reflects fundamentally irreconcilable definitions of security, sovereignty, and historical justice.

The New Weapon Behind Ukraine’s Battlefield Success

Foreign Policy  |  Sam Skove

Ukraine is employing mid-range drones capable of striking targets almost 100 miles behind Russian lines, significantly altering the battlefield dynamics and spurring optimism about gaining the upper hand. These drones, such as the Bulava strike drone, are central to a major campaign designed to starve Russian troops of supplies.

A First Step to Unpacking Cyber, Deception, and Intelligence Contests

Lawfare | Jason Healey

Cyber operations primarily serve intelligence functions, driven by a "logic of deception" termed "secret statecraft," according to Jon Lindsay’s book, "Age of Deception." The book's first section, which the author finds convincing, explores this concept through case studies like Bletchley Park, the Stuxnet program, Russia's 2016 election interference, and Chinese cyber power.

How ISIS Uses Cryptocurrency: The Case Of Al-Hol Camp And A Model For The Future

MEMRI  |  Steven Stalinsky

The Islamic State (ISIS) has fundamentally shifted its financing strategy following the 2019 collapse of its territorial caliphate, now heavily relying on cryptocurrency to sustain its global networks. This decentralized approach, documented by the MEMRI Cyber Jihad Lab (CJL), enables ISIS supporters to transfer funds internationally via Bitcoin, Tether (USDT), QR codes, and encrypted platforms, bypassing traditional banking oversight and sanctions.

Nasa tells ISS astronauts to shelter during air leak repair attempt

BBC News  |  Pallab Ghosh, Dan Sales

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) were ordered to shelter in the docked SpaceX Dragon "Freedom" shuttle on Friday afternoon after an air leak in the Russian segment worsened, prompting a potential evacuation. Five of the seven crew members were directed to the Dragon, which functions as a lifeboat, while two Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, attempted repairs.

Iran Won’t Cross the Bridge. Make Standing Still Cost More.

Real Clear Defense  |  Mike Lyons

The United States, two months after Operation Epic Fury, faces Iran's continued defiance despite a military defeat and a deal on the table. Tehran is testing Washington's patience by edging toward escalation, threatening to seal the Strait and striking Kuwait with a missile, prompting a U.S. cease-fire violation charge.

Trump’s Iran Deal: What We Know, What's Contested, and What Remains Unresolved

Council on Foreign Relations | Phil McCausland

The United States and Iran reached an agreement on June 14 to settle a three-and-a-half month-long conflict that closed the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil markets. This initial memorandum of understanding (MOU), mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, primarily focuses on reopening the Strait, a critical choke point for nearly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas.

The Limitations of Hard Power in Iran

Council on Foreign Relations | Michael Froman

The ongoing "Operation Epic Fury" in Iran reveals the significant limitations of hard power and the chaos from a weakening rules-based international system. The conflict, starting February 28, has made reopening the Strait of Hormuz a central issue, with U.S. President Donald Trump claiming 100 million barrels of oil were secretly transited.

Why Iran’s New Strategic Doctrine Demands a Western Response

National Interest  |  Lawrence J. Haas

Iran announced a new "strategic doctrine" this week, declaring its "Axis of Resistance" proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi rebels, as "vital infrastructure." This policy signifies Tehran will respond to any attack on these groups, extending beyond geographic borders and escalating regional conflicts into multi-party conflagrations.

Beyond Six Sigma

Real Clear Defense  |  Meda Parameswara Reddy

The recent gunfire near the White House, where Secret Service agents neutralized a gunman, highlights a critical need for a "13-Sigma" security paradigm to address relentless, compounding global threats. Traditional "Six Sigma" standards, which accept a 0.00034% failure rate, are insufficient for existential risks, as they guarantee failure over time.

Senators want a new robot warfare-focused combatant command

Defense One  |  Thomas Novelly

U.S. Senators are advocating for the establishment of a new combatant command specifically focused on robot warfare, to be led by a 4-star general. This proposal is included in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signaling a significant shift in defense strategy.

The Cyber Threat to the 2026 World Cup

CSIS | Nikita Shah

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, faces unique and cumulative cyber risks due to its expanded digital attack surface and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Cybercrime is the primary threat, with criminals already staging infrastructure, registering 1,000 suspicious domains, and cloning FIFA's website across 300 domains to exploit tournament-goers through fraud, fake apps, and scams.

Dismantling Syria’s chemical-weapons stocks and legacy

IISS  |  Annemiek Dols

Syria's transitional government unveiled a plan in March 2026 to track and destroy the former Assad regime’s remaining chemical weapons (CW) and facilities, establishing an international task force with the OPCW. This process faces significant obstacles, including landmines around CW sites, domestic unrest, non-state armed groups' activities, and regional conflicts.

The case against AI: writing isn’t meant to be easy

Engelsberg Ideas | Alexander Lee

AI's encroachment into literature, highlighted by recent scandals involving Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk's use of AI for ideas and Granta magazine publishing a potentially machine-written story, is catastrophic for writers. The author argues this impact stems not from AI's poor output or potential for unoriginality, but from what it does to the *practice* of writing itself.

The Lithium Mirage

Frame the Globe News

The Geological Survey of India announced in February 2023 the discovery of fifty-nine lakh tonnes of lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mythos and cybersecurity reckoning: The new Artificial Intelligence challenge to critical infrastructure

ETGovernment  |  Anoop Verma

Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview has forced global governments, regulators, and technology companies to reassess digital security assumptions. This AI model demonstrates unprecedented ability to identify software vulnerabilities and automate complex cyber operations faster than human teams, disrupting traditional cybersecurity strategies. Anthropic's Project Glasswing reported over 10,000 high- and critical-severity software vulnerabilities across participating organizations in 15+ countries, including India.

Afghan–Pakistani Conflict Not Stopping Kabul Corridor Construction

The Jamestown Foundation  |  Nargiza Umarova

Uzbekistan is actively developing critical infrastructure to connect Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan, despite ongoing Afghan–Pakistani tensions. On May 21, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, announced the reopening of the final port of the 75-kilometer Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway, significantly enhancing connectivity between northern Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Pakistan: Unexpected Host of U.S.–Iranian Talks

The Jamestown Foundation  |  Andrea Serino

Following the February 28 U.S.–Israeli joint attacks against Iran (Operation Epic Fury), Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator, leveraging its strong diplomatic ties with the United States, Iran, Gulf countries, and the People’s Republic of China. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir promoted this intermediary role, with Munir's domestic position significantly bolstered after the May 2025 India-Pakistan war.

Pakistan’s Hard-State Turn in Azad Kashmir Is Creating the Very Crisis It Seeks to Prevent

FrameTheGlobeNews  |  Frank Genovese

Pakistan's recent "hard-state turn" in Azad Kashmir, characterized by increased coercion, political centralization, and significant democratic deficits, is paradoxically generating the very crisis Islamabad seeks to avert. For decades, Pakistan has consistently advocated internationally for the Kashmiri cause, asserting the people of Jammu and Kashmir's right to self-determination.