Cyberwar’s New Frontier
The article warns that autonomous cyber‑agents are moving from theory to operational reality, capable of launching attacks in minutes and persisting undetected across critical sectors. It highlights the U.S. 2026 Cyber Strategy’s embrace of such agents while noting severe staffing cuts at CISA that weaken defenses. The piece calls for coordinated intelligence, mandatory incident reporting from frontier AI labs, and a revitalized DARPA research agenda to develop automated defenses. Finally, it argues that existing international law is ill‑suited for rogue AI operations and urges a bilateral U.S.–China pact to prohibit autonomous attacks on essential infrastructure.
For Iran, Hormuz Is More a Weakness Than a Weapon
The United States launched a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz six weeks into its conflict with Iran, aiming to choke a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. While analysts have long viewed Tehran’s control of Hormuz as a...
The Tech High Ground
The United States must overhaul its technology strategy to counter China’s expanding control over critical supply‑chain nodes such as batteries, rare‑earths, and biotech inputs. Washington’s plan centers on four high‑ground pillars: revitalizing the techno‑industrial base, accelerating military innovation, building a...
The Real Thucydides Trap
Joshua Rovner’s April 14, 2026 essay warns that the classic “Thucydides Trap”—the tendency for a rising power to clash with an established hegemon—now applies to U.S.–China relations. He argues that Chinese confidence, demonstrated by recent drills around Taiwan, combined with U.S. strategic...
How Congress Can Help Ukraine
The article argues that Congress should adopt a Taiwan Relations Act‑style framework to provide sustained, bipartisan support for Ukraine amid President Donald Trump’s erratic peace overtures. It highlights Trump’s 28‑point plan, which many view as overly favorable to Russia, and...
A Test of Wills in Iran
The United States and Iran failed to reach a cease‑fire agreement during talks in Pakistan, leaving their war unresolved. Washington pressed Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, curb its nuclear and missile programs, and halt support for proxy groups....
The Trouble With Permanent Alliances
The United States has relied on permanent alliances such as NATO, South Korea and Thailand since World War II, a strategy that worked during the Cold War but now hampers flexibility in a multipolar world. Historically, alliances were temporary coalitions formed...
How to End the Iran Crisis
U.S. and Iranian negotiators abruptly ended peace talks, with the nuclear program proving the decisive sticking point. The recent war crippled Iran’s enrichment facilities but left its scientific expertise and long‑term capability largely intact. Analysts argue that coercive pressure alone...
Why the Cease-Fire With Iran Will Hold
On April 7 the United States and Iran agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire, framing the conflict as a draw rather than a decisive victory. Both sides entered the truce exhausted, having realized that continued escalation would cost more than any strategic...
Venezuela’s Treacherous Recovery
The United States has installed an interim caretaker government in Venezuela after removing President Maduro, opening the door to a potential economic rebound driven by oil, mining and diaspora capital. Restoring oil production could require more than $100 billion and a...
Europe’s New Defense Core
Facing an increasingly hostile Russia and a wavering U.S. security guarantee, the EU is racing to build a home‑grown defense architecture. Brussels has launched a $175 bn loan program and a modest €4.6 bn annual research fund, but most of the heavy...
How a Cease-Fire Can Lead to Disaster
The article warns that the April 7 cease‑fire ending the U.S.–Israel air campaign against Iran could repeat the post‑Desert Storm quagmire the United States faced in Iraq. It argues that leaving Tehran’s regime in place but weakened will force a costly...
Don't Partition Sudan Again
Three years into Sudan’s devastating civil war, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) control the north, east and central regions while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) dominate Darfur and Kordofan, creating a de facto partition with rival governments and economies. Both sides...
How the Iran War Will Upend the Global Economy
In late March Israel and Iran struck gas fields in the Persian Gulf, creating a sharp supply shock that will push global energy prices higher. The disruption has already prompted U.S. markets to price in further Federal Reserve rate hikes...
America and China Can Make AI Safer
The article argues that the United States and China, as the world’s leading AI developers, must cooperate to make artificial intelligence safer. It highlights how AI can be weaponized to create pathogens, launch autonomous cyber‑attacks, or spread convincing deepfakes, posing...