The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy
How’s Iran’s standoff with Israel and the West affecting everyday Iranians’ feelings about the regime? Trita Parsi on why nationalism is surging while Islamic Republic’s popularity continues to tank.
Obscured by clouds
Why does North Korea keep threatening South Korea and its allies without ever going to war? Michael Breen on theater and reality in one of the most enigmatic places on Earth.
Just a shot away
Why the spread of major crime within the U.S. Special Forces? Seth Harp on a dark legacy of America’s war on terror.
Alternative history
What does Germany’s new military expansion mean for Europe? Liana Fix on Berlin’s mission to build the Continent’s most powerful army.
Cold cash
What do you do if you’re the European Union, and you’re sitting on more than $200 billion belonging to the Kremlin? Sir William Browder on a potential turning point in the Ukraine war.
Red sea
Why is China building so many ships? Brian Hart on its plan to turn overwhelming commercial advantage into military power.
Terminators
What are the risks of “killer robots” to civilians? Lucy Suchman on the automation of modern warfare.
Moscow rules
How can Russia still be Europe’s biggest natural-gas supplier? Nicholas Kumleben on the Continent’s bad bet on a decades-long economic relationship with the Kremlin.
It’s me again
How did Afghanistan turn into a global security problem again? Nilofar Sakhi on the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and the expanding “web of militancy” within the country and beyond.
Shocks from underground
What’s driving the terrible conflict in Congo? The 2025 Oscar-nominee Johan Grimonprez on a history of violence and the costs of global competition over critical minerals.
