Publications

This brief discusses the structure, capabilities and relevance of the Paraguayan military. It concludes that 1) the armed forces must modernize their largely outdated equipment, and 2) grapple with problems that have their roots in corruption, narco-trafficking, and political instability.chevron_right

This brief examines the efforts by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to synchronize their power grids with European systems, and thereby reduce their dependence on Russia. While the trio’s recent agreement with Poland marks a decisive step towards full synchronization, the...chevron_right

This commentary examines the potential political and economic fallout from Saudi Arabia’s and the United Arab Emirates’ decision to break off diplomatic relations with Qatar, and also to impose an economic boycott on the country.chevron_right

What impact might the Trump administration’s burgeoning security and trade policies have on relations between China and Europe? Although this text’s author doesn’t expect a realignment between the three global centers to occur soon, it could happen in the latter phases of...chevron_right

This brief looks at the EU’s new ‘military planning and conduct capability’ (MPCC) structure, which is 1) the most tangible example of Brussels’ recent attempts to revitalize its defense posture, and 2) the closest thing it can get to an operational headquarters in today’s...chevron_right

This text focuses on the EU’s preventive diplomacy (PD) efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. It specifically looks at 1) the overall role of PD in the EU; 2) the takeaways from Nepal, the Korean Peninsula, and other case studies; and 3) speculative scenarios that highlight...chevron_right

This commentary considers the nonproliferation and safety dimensions of constructing a nuclear waste disposal facility in Australia. According to the text’s authors, not only would there be substantial monetary benefits from creating such a facility, but a disposal site in...chevron_right

This commentary examines the possible consequences of America’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which include Washington’s isolation from the international climate diplomacy community, and greater difficulty in implementing effective climate change prevention measures.chevron_right

This paper sheds light on the diplomatic significance of the June 2017 Russo-Indian Summit, particularly given the likely admission of India and Pakistan into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). While New Delhi’s and Moscow’s military sales and nuclear...chevron_right

This paper analyzes the political and economic dimensions of the Southeast Asian haze crisis and highlights the obstacles that are preventing a solution to this borderless threat. After performing a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the situation, the...chevron_right

Fifty Years after Israel’s Six Day War, this Note highlights the pernicious effects of anniversaries and three major consequences of the conflict – 1) the political, social-psychological and demographic rebalancing that occurred between...chevron_right

This paper evaluates President Trump’s performance during his first visit to the Middle East. While the trip did strengthened US-Saudi ties, it failed to secure a wider strategic aim – i.e., a grand Arab-Sunni alliance against Iran and its Shia allies. The failure was due...chevron_right

This bulletin examines Russia’s interactions with key North African states, which include energy sector investments and greater military cooperation. The strategic rationales behind Moscow’s presence in the region are the US-Russia competition, Moscow’s desire to rebuild its great power status, and more.chevron_right

This report takes stock of the current socio-political, diplomatic and military aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In particular, it focuses on 1) the humanitarian and spillover risks of a revived conflict; 2) the radical changes that have occurred in the...chevron_right

The illegal exploitation of African fisheries by foreign fleets is undermining the continent’s human security, as is the corruption of officials who are responsible for overseeing fisheries sectors. Given these problems, the author of this brief believes 1) African countries must...chevron_right