Global
Cross-regional, system-level stories that span multiple theaters, alliances, and strategic domains.
702 Dispatches
Vladimir Putin's Time Is Running Out
Elite fractures, Ukrainian deep strikes, public dissent, and a collapsing international position converge on a paranoid Putin in the spring of 2026.
The Wagner Group, Evolving: Cossack Camps, Rosgvardia, and the Africa Corps
How the Wagner Group survived Prigozhin's death—folding into Russia's National Guard at home and rebranding as the Africa Corps abroad under Putin's command.
What a US Invasion of Cuba Would Look Like
With Cuba choking under a near-total US oil blockade and Trump declaring it "next," we map the five military options Washington could use against Havana.
When Nepal Caught Fire: How a Social Media Ban Ignited a Gen Z Uprising
A localized Kathmandu protest swelled into a national reckoning that toppled Nepal's government, exposing decades of corruption and a generation's fury.
Where Will Trump Strike Next? Six Nations on Washington's List
After the capture of Maduro, Trump named the nations he might target next. A clear-eyed assessment of which are truly at risk—and which are not.
Who Could Lead Europe to War? The Continent's Missing Defense Leader
Europe is rearming but cannot agree on a leader. A nation-by-nation audit of who could command continental defense, and why no candidate clears the bar.
Who's Winning the Iran War? Tactical Dominance, Strategic Deadlock
The US and Israel dominate the battlefield against Iran, yet the Islamic Republic still stands. Why neither side is winning the war.
Why El Salvador's Gang Crackdown Can't Be Exported
El Salvador crushed its gangs and slashed its murder rate to Canadian levels. Yet Ecuador, Honduras, and others have tried the same playbook and failed. Here's why.
Why China May Be Running Out of Time to Invade Taiwan
Demographics, a fragile economy, and a fortifying island may have already closed China's window for a successful invasion of Taiwan.
Why Did the Iran Protests Fail? How Tehran Crushed a Nationwide Uprising
How Iran's regime crushed nationwide protests through mass killing, high-tech surveillance, a divided opposition, and the absence of foreign intervention.
Why Hasn't America Attacked Iran Yet? Reading the Buildup Behind the Pause
The US massed overwhelming force around Iran, then held fire. Reading the military movements and back-channel talks to explain Washington's pause.
Why Iran Now Wants the Bomb: Deterrence in the Shadow of the Mushroom Cloud
How a bruising war shattered Iran's threshold strategy and pushed Tehran toward the one deterrent that has reliably worked: a nuclear weapon.