Turkey’s evolving policy on freedom of religion, reflecting its Anatolian identity, drives its multi-aligned foreign policy and redefines its partnership with the U.S.
Browsing: Policy Brief
Iran expands influence over Thailand’s Shiite community via religious and cultural institutions, posing a “soft power” threat to Israeli interests.
Iran’s reformists, marginalized by repression, are presenting themselves as a potential political alternative amid the regime’s legitimacy crisis.
U.S. envoys should use the threat of military strikes to press Iran for nuclear, missile, and human rights concessions.
China used economic ties and support for Iran to exploit post-Arab Spring instability, turning the region into a key front in US‑China competition.
Egypt is pushing Saudi-Eritrea security ties to counter UAE-Ethiopia cooperation, highlighting a complex Red Sea rivalry and shifting regional alliances.
U.S. ambiguity on the PMF risks Iraqi stability and elections, demanding clearer support for sovereignty.
China values Iran for oil and anti‑U.S. alignment but offers no security guarantees, prioritizing its own stability above Tehran’s regime.
Iran relies on oil sales to China for nearly 90% of its export revenue, funding its nuclear and missile programs. The U.S. must crack down on the “Axis of Evasion,” using secondary sanctions and diplomatic pressure to cut off this financial lifeline.
Beijing’s influence grows when regional dynamics offer easy wins but reverses quickly during instability. With no core interests at stake and foreign policy a lower priority, China adopts a passive approach, unable to shape events when diplomatic statements prove insufficient.