RealClear World

Central Asia Is Escaping the ‘Backyard’ Label Three decades after their independence, Central Asia is still often viewed through outdated geopolitical lenses— a region once called “Russia’s backyard” and more recently as an arena of competition among Russia, China, and the West. Read Full Article »

Ana Palacio Project Syndicate September 5, 2026 European Union leaders should have received several messages during the recent surge of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. In particular, cohesion without trust is fragile; dependence without limits leads to vulnerability; and selective enforcement of international law risks eroding a pillar of Europe’s strategic identity. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

If Andy Burnham were looking for a quick popularity boost, he might decide to order the deployment of a flotilla of Royal Navy vessels towards the South Atlantic today – so as to warn the Argentinians off the Falkland Islands. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

Washington’s announcement last week — claiming 55 percent control of a new venture holding more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan crude, under field concessions U.S. officials say could last a century, part of a wider energy accord — looked, at first glance, like a regional story. A post-Maduro resource deal in America’s backyard. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

Pedro Sánchez’s government is facing widespread protests across Spain for its handling of the crisis in Ceuta. Five weeks ago, the Spanish city in North Africa faced a record-breaking illegal border crossing of more than 70,000 people from Morocco. Read Full Article » Related Topics: Spain Show comments Hide Comments

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) could bring in massive changes should it form a government in Saxony-Anhalt. The far-right party, currently way ahead in opinion polls, is hoping to form a single-party government and have its lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, serve as state premier. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

As the senior military analyst and correspondent for the paper over the last half-decade (and before that, its legal correspondent), his stories have encapsulated and explained the dizzying pace of events the country has endured in recent years and have helped readers understand the implications and intricacies of the wars, campaigns, negotiations, and dilemmas that are a constant part of Israel’s landscape. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

Trumpism Is Changing World Order The post-World War II era was dominated by idealism that gave birth to a dense architecture of multilateral institutions and Western-led governance frameworks. Read Full Article »

Thomas Graham The National Interest September 5, 2026 Ending the Ukraine War can happen only through multiple, phased agreements, which means territorial issues may be put on the back burner. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments

Three decades after their independence, Central Asia is still often viewed through outdated geopolitical lenses— a region once called “Russia’s backyard” and more recently as an arena of competition among Russia, China, and the West. Yet this familiar narrative no longer captures the region’s strategic reality. Central Asian states are increasingly using great-power rivalry not simply to navigate external pressure, but to expand their own choices and strategic room for maneuver.