What DRC-Rwanda Peace Deal Means for the U.S. and Africa’s Mineral-Rich Great Lakes Region Last Friday, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) met in Washington to sign an agreement to end 30 years of conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region. The peace...

Last Friday, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo met in Washington to sign an agreement to end 30 years of conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region. We explore how control over critical minerals factors into the situation: www.usip.org/publications...

With Cease-fire Holding, Can Israel and Iran Move Toward De-escalation? Israel’s stunning and sophisticated June 13 attack on Iran set off a worrying 12-day escalatory spiral. Iran responded in short order with ballistic missile and drone strikes, which led to a series of...

Now that Iran and Israel have tested each other’s abilities and resolve, will they de-escalate or go back to covert operations and upgrade their capabilities for the next round? Sarhang Hamasaeed explores what could come next in the rivalry and the region:

What’s at Stake for China in the Iran War? China has major energy and economic interests that are threatened by an escalating conflict. But Beijing may also see some strategic opportunities with the U.S. focused on the war. Ultimately, China i...

The war in #Iran is a direct threat to vital Chinese interests. But it also gives Beijing opportunities, particularly in relation to its strategic rivalry with the United States.

Pursuing Stable Coexistence: A Reorientation of U.S. Policy Toward North Korea It is now clear that applying pressure does not lead to North Korean restraint; rather, it fuels North Korean provocations. The United States and its allies should instead seek stable coexistence with...

The status quo trajectory of U.S. policy toward North Korea is unsustainable, @frankaum.bsky.social and @nktpnd.bsky.social assess in a new analysis. It is clear that applying pressure does not lead to North Korean restraint; rather, it fuels provocations, they write.

How Vulnerable Is India to Chinese Economic Coercion? While India has taken a strong security stance against China, its economic posture has been cooperative. But India's reliance on Chinese imports may undermine its role as a counterbalance to China. Th...

As security tensions have risen between China and India in recent years, the economic imbalance between the two has only become more apparant, Sushant Singh writes. Why it would advance U.S. interests to help India de-risk:

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