Diplomacy & International Relations

US Boarding Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker Breaks Precedent: High Stakes on the High Seas (Kevin Rowlands and Caroline Tuckett – RUSI)

In the first week of January 2026, the world watched as one extraordinary moment followed another, notably the US action in Venezuela and the...

What would Trump’s threatened strikes on Colombia, Mexico or Cuba achieve? (Christopher Sabatini – Chatham House)

US President Donald Trump is feeling emboldened. Not one US soldier was killed in the 3 January US special forces operation to abduct Venezuelan...

USA’s exit from international organizations leaves digital governance largely unscathed (Jovan Kurbalija – Diplo)

On 7 January, the United States withdrew from a slate of international organisations and initiatives. It was not a surprise, following the overall spirit...

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 13, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)

Russian strikes caused significantly more civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2025 compared to previous years. Russia dramatically increased the size, scale, and destructiveness of its...

Korean Peninsula Update, January 13, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)

US-North Korean Relations Worsen: North Korea is likely to continue its “self-defensive” nuclear development following the US military operation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro...

UN News (13 January 2026)

(World News in Brief) More civilians in Sudan continue to be killed and displaced as fighting escalates in multiple parts of the country, the...

China’s AI Rise: Innovation Overcomes Chipmaking and Investment Gaps (Sovereign Magazine)

In January 2026, two Chinese AI startups, MiniMax and Zhipu AI, raised over USD 1.1 billion in their Hong Kong IPOs. This milestone reflects...

Kremlin Pushing Karelia to Become Anti-European Outpost (Vadim Shtepa – The Jamestown Foundation)

Russia’s Republic of Karelia historically thrived on deep cultural and economic ties with Finland and Europe, but Putin-era isolationism has severed cross-border cooperation, triggering...

Georgia Drifting Back Into Russia’s Orbit (Beka Chedia – The Jamestown Foundation)

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ashgabat during the December International Year of Peace and Trust Forum fueled...

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