Global Order
Is Washington Sacrificing Deterrence on the Korean Peninsula for Diplomacy with Pyongyang?
On August 16, Trump abruptly commanded the Pentagon to “substantially” reduce joint military exercises between the US and South Korea (ROK). The annual Ulchi...
Who Will Lead the UN After Guterres? The Race Nobody Is Watching Closely Enough
When António Guterres's second term expires on 31 December 2026, the United Nations will not simply be changing its chief executive. It will be...
The Benefits of ‘Expo’ Diplomacy
Expo isn't usually seen as a platform for international diplomacy. Conceived as a world's fair to showcase the achievements of nations, it has traditionally...
The SCO Summit: The New Architecture of a World Without Washington
Xi, Modi and Putin in the same room is easy to read as a rival bloc assembling against Washington. The more accurate reading is...
Can US Courts Ignore International Law in Maduro’s Case?
The prosecution of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to test how US courts apply international law in criminal cases involving foreign leaders...
The Future of the ICC is reform, Not Isolation
The United States’ recent confrontation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) raises a question about international law and geopolitics that needs urgent attention. Washington...
When International Institutions Cannot Stop States from Walking Away: The IWT and the Limits of International Law
The continuing proceedings under the Indus Waters Treaty have exposed an uncomfortable contradiction at the heart of the international system: international institutions can create...
Setting Terms and Deciding Agendas: Opacity and Division in Iranian and American Leadership
On Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that a navigation map had been agreed upon in diplomatic talks with Oman. The Iranian spokesman emphasised...
Has the US South Korea Alliance Changed Under Trump?
Yes. The US South Korea relationship has not broken down under Donald Trump, but it has become more transactional, cost focused and strategically uncertain....
Why Is the Real Fight Over the UN Security Council Happening Outside It?
Eighteen Years, Zero Texts
On July 28, the UN General Assembly did what it has done every year since the effort began: it rolled Security...