The S-400 Question: Ankara’s Bargain, Moscow’s Litmus Test

For Türkiye, the S-400s have become something far greater than air defense assets. They are a measure of strategic resolve. By Yıldıran Acar, Political Scientist Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system has long ceased to be a technical or even military issue. In Russian media and expert circles, it is now treated as a strategic resilience test—one ...

America is reshaping the Middle East to prevent the emergence of a “hegemonic power”

A look at Trump’s new National Security Strategy and beyond. By Mohammed Sabreen, from Cairo / Egypt The people of the Middle East are waiting to see if Washington will withdraw from the region, or if the administration of US President Donald Trump, like the four previous administrations, will instead become more deeply mired in the Middle East’s quicksand. Despite ...

Türkiye’s patience with the ‘mine donkeys’ has run out!

For it is clear that an agreement between the SDG, which first flew the US flag, then the Russian flag, then the Israeli flag, and now the US flag again, and the Syrian Arab Republic will not bring lasting peace. By Adem Kılıç, Political Scientist Over a year has passed since the chaotic environment of the Syrian civil war, which ...

EU’s Push to Use Frozen Russian Assets Threatens Emerging Peace Initiatives

By continuing to fund the war, European countries are attempting to maintain political standing and justify earlier strategic investments. By Feyyaz Erkin Eşli The European Union has scheduled a summit for 18 December 2025 at which member states are expected to decide whether frozen Russian sovereign assets — Russian sovereign assets immobilized by EU sanctions since 2022 — should be ...

Erdoğan in Turkmenistan; Developments in the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process; Foreign Minister’s remarks

Main political events in Türkiye in the last week. Last week in Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Turkmenistan, new developments in the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process, and statements by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on international issues with a particular focus on Palestine, made up the top topics. Erdoğan in Turkmenistan President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “International Forum of ...

China: It’s all too late for the West

Impressions from an 11-day-trip to the People’s Republic of China. I have been to many cities and states across the US, from Washington to New York, from California to Texas, and from Chicago to Atlanta. I have been to all G-8 countries except Japan. I have also traveled to numerous European countries outside the G-8. I am familiar with major ...

Likelihood of Israel attacking Iran again is high

Here are the reasons according to the Iranian expert on Israeli politics. By Azar Mahdavan, Tehran / Iran An Iranian expert, referring to the clashes between Tehran and Tel Aviv, said: Netanyahu, who must hold the next elections in 6 to 10 months, is still in a losing position, and this increases the likelihood of renewed conflict for him. The ...

Positions are set, but not the trajectory: “Terror-free Türkiye” process and integration of the SDF into the Syrian state

Interview with Fikret Akfırat, an expert of West Asian politics. The March 10, 2025, agreement between the SDF and the Damascus government included provisions on overcoming religious and sectarian divisions, officially recognizing the Kurds and securing their constitutional and citizenship rights and establishing a ceasefire across all of Syria. Regarding the country’s territorial and administrative structure, the most important article ...

The tactic of logistical strangulation: Extraterritorial seizures by the United States

Global context of the recent seizure of Venezuelan oil. By Dr. Fernando Esteche On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice executed a seizure warrant against the vessel “Skipper” in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. The indictment was based on previous 2022 sanctions against the vessel (when it sailed under the name “Adisa”) for its involvement in ...

An Open Letter to Elon Musk

Confronting Western Myths of Exceptionalism in the History of Slavery By Dr. Halim Gençoğlu (halim.gencoglu@wits.ac.za) Recent discourse on social media platforms, including statements by high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, has invoked simplified narratives framing Western intervention as the sole liberator from global slavery while downplaying the Ottoman Empire’s humanitarian role and the enduring legacies of Western colonialism in Africa. ...