On Monday, February 6, Georgia’s court rejected the release of their former president Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili is a tragic hero in Georgian history, but he is mostly remembered for attempting to transform Georgia from a post-Soviet state into a liberal democracy. After coming to power following the Rose Revolution in 2003, Saakashvili rapidly perused policies to...
A peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea, signed in November with the goal of ending Ethiopia’s two-year civil war in the northern region of Tigray, is in jeopardy this week. Many local sources claim that Eritrean troops, which fought in cooperation with the Ethiopian military and friendly militias against rebel groups in Tigray, have remained...
This past Saturday, January 21, Peruvian police stormed San Marcos University amid the ongoing protests against Dina Boluarte’s presidency. These protests, causing over 50 deaths and hundreds of arrests and injuries, are a consequence of President Pedro Castillo’s removal from power. Castillo, who was impeached after he attempted to dissolve congress, represented Peru’s far-left Perú Libre party....
Last week, former Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian — who became famous and controversial for his role as the leading figure of “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy — was unexpectedly reassigned to a less prominent role as the deputy head of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs. Although the specific reason for his transfer is...
On Tuesday, January 10, Russian soldiers launched an assault on Soledar, a reminder to the world that the war in Ukraine is rapidly reaching its year anniversary. The war, which many predicted Russia would win with ease, is likely to continue well into 2023 and beyond, as neither side has successfully secured a decisive victory....
Last weekend our National Defense Fellows concluded their fellowship by attending the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. The forum was attended by members from all aspects of the national security industry; from think tanks and Congress to the military and defense contractors. Panels discussed topics such as combating America’s dwindling military recruitment numbers, strengthening cooperation and...
Currently, Brazil is undergoing a rocky transition to a new government following the election on October 31st. President Jair Bolsonaro, the incumbent, lost a close election to President-Elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the former president of Brazil from 2003-2010. The Brazilian election was followed closely by the international community, as Bolsonaro’s populist government was...
Iran has been gripped by a month of protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in September in police custody after allegedly wearing “unsuitable attire.” Amini’s death sparked widespread protests across Iran, strikingly featuring women cutting their hair and burning their hijabs in protest of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s strict religious laws. The government has...
Last week, the Biden Administration released the much-anticipated National Security Strategy (NSS). The administration had faced heavy criticism for not producing the NSS sooner, as the document is meant to make clear the U.S, strategic priorities clear to the American public, Congress, and our allies. The newly released NSS has received mixed reviews. On the...
This Sunday, October 16, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will host its 20th National Congress. The National Congress occurs once every five years, and many scholars are anticipating this congress to be particularly historic. Xi Jinping, now head of the party for 10 years, is expected to utilize this congress to solidify his prospects for an...
