Iran War from the Perspectives of China and Russia

Examining the Crime-Terror Convergence in Venezuela

China and the War In Iran, High Risk for Marginal Opportunities

Kerry Chavez: Drones, Non-State Actors, and the Changing Nature of Warfare

Listen Now

What Works in Counterterrorism and What Doesn’t?

Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

Defense & Security, Indo – Pacific, Middle East, South Asia

Apr 13 , 2026

Op-Ed

Iran War from the Perspectives of China and Russia

Operation Epic Fury is the 2026 U.S.-led military campaign against Iran. The operation marks one of the most significant escalations in Middle Eastern conflict in the post–Cold War era and stretches beyond the issues between Iran versus the U.S.-Israel sides. As of 2026, the most powerful countries are the United

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Transnational Crime, Americas, Transnational Crime Project

Apr 9 , 2026

Policy Brief

Examining the Crime-Terror Convergence in Venezuela

Madeline Garber

Editor’s Note: This policy brief is Part IV of an Orion Policy Institute (OPI) Transnational Crime Project (OPI-TCP) series and culminating report examining Venezuela’s transnational criminal networks, their regional security implications, and the evolving U.S. policy response. Introduction Venezuela, ranked seventh globally for the highest homicide rate, is characterized by

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Defense & Security, Indo – Pacific, Middle East, South Asia

Apr 6 , 2026

Policy Brief

China and the War In Iran, High Risk for Marginal Opportunities

Miquel Vila Moreno

China has worked to build a diplomatic position in the Middle East, cultivating an image as a non-interventionist power that can be everyone’s friend and no one’s enemy. However, when the drums of war began to sound over the Strait of Hormuz, China found itself exposed to a conflict it

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Defense & Security, Americas

Apr 4 , 2026

Podcast

Kerry Chavez: Drones, Non-State Actors, and the Changing Nature of Warfare

Kerry Chavez

In this episode of Orion Talks, hosted by Suat Cubukcu, we are joined by Dr. Kerry Chávez to explore how drones are reshaping modern warfare and homeland security. As commercial drone technology becomes more accessible, the barriers to air power are rapidly eroding, enabling non-state actors and even lone individuals

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Defense & Security, Terrorism & Extremism

Apr 1 , 2026

Op-Ed

What Works in Counterterrorism and What Doesn’t?

Ismail Onat

Terrorism and counterterrorism have been significant concerns after terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in the United States. The concerns have valid reasons. Currently, the U.S. State Department lists approximately 70 Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) as of early 2026 [1]. In addition to domestic violent extremist groups, the FTOs pose

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Crime & Justice, Transnational Crime, Americas

Mar 17 , 2026

Policy Brief

Tren de Aragua – Background and Transnational Challenge

Craig Thomas

Editor’s Note: This policy brief is Part III of an Orion Policy Institute (OPI) Transnational Crime Project (OPI-TCP) series and culminating report examining Venezuela’s transnational criminal networks, their regional security implications, and the evolving U.S. policy response. Introduction The rapid expansion of Tren de Aragua (TdA) from a Venezuelan prison

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Defense & Security, Middle East

Mar 7 , 2026

Policy Brief

The Iran War and Ankara’s Three Strategic Scenarios

Suleyman Ozeren

The Iran war puts Turkey in a peculiar position, posing several challenges. Since the beginning of the US and Israel’s military confrontation with Iran, Turkey has adopted cautious neutrality, which aimed to avoid the escalation of tensions with either side of the conflict. However, the question is how sustainable Ankara’s

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Democracy & Human Rights, Middle East

Mar 4 , 2026

Op-Ed

Regime Change is Only Legitimate If Iranians Take The Lead

Colin Pascal

President Trump’s decision to undertake military operations against Iran was a bold, albeit risky move that has the potential to reshape the Middle East. As casualties mount on both sides, it’s critical that the U.S. government determines it’s aims. So far, the administration hasn’t been clear on what it hopes

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Latest Research

Democracy & Human Rights, Americas

Aug 7 , 2025

Policy Brief

The Security and Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti and Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy

Jackie Ducharme

Haiti is on the verge of a total institutional collapse, with only 10% of the capital in control of the Haitian government—a government entrenched with corruption.[i] Instead, Haitian gangs are nearing total control of the capital and Haitian authorities can no longer combat the escalating violence.[ii] The current crisis goes

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Terrorism & Extremism, Middle East

Jul 26 , 2025

Research Report

The Houthi Drone Supply Chain

Suat Cubukcu, Evan Jordan

The Houthi movement, designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), has emerged as the most prolific violent non-state actor employing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). According to GTTAC data, the group has conducted 388 drone attacks from 2018 to 2024, targeting a wide array of actors, including the

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Indo – Pacific, Middle East

Jul 10 , 2025

Policy Brief

IMEC and the Battle for Connectivity: Why Trieste Matters

Federico Donelli

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a visionary infrastructure and cooperation initiative that was officially launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. The IMEC’s primary aim is to enhance connectivity and promote robust economic collaboration between India and Eurasia. The corridor comprises land rail links and shipping

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Middle East

Jun 29 , 2025

Policy Brief

Gulf Arab States Need Israel and Iran to De-escalate

Giorgio Cafiero

President Donald J. Trump successfully cajoling Israel and Iran into a precarious ceasefire this month was welcome news in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Wanting stability to prevail in the region, the Gulf Arab monarchies have stakes in this truce holding up so that the Israel-Iran war does

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Democracy & Human Rights, Middle East

Jun 27 , 2025

Research

Women and War in Syria: Gendering of the Syrian Civil War

Ayse Ergene, Nihal Eken, Zach Pittman

A comprehensive overview of the Syrian Civil War extends from its origins during the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 through to the fall of the Assad regime in 2024 and continues into the country’s ongoing transitional period. It examines the rise of extremist groups and assesses the role of foreign

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

Defense & Security

Jun 5 , 2025

Policy Brief

Iran-Russia Military Technology Collaboration

John Wallshein

Executive Summary At the beginning of the Cold War in the 1950’s the United States and the Soviet Union competed with arms and technology exports in their respective regions of influence. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia sold much of its Cold War-era military and technology arsenal to Soviet satellites,

READ MORE : {{post_title}}

About Orion Policy

Research

Our comprehensive research spans critical sectors, offering detailed insights and actionable recommendations. Explore how we address pressing national and global issues to drive effective governance and informed decision-making.

Experts

Our team consists of a diverse group of professionals who bring a wealth of expertise in global security, governance, and development. With a deep commitment to policy solutions, our experts work to address the complex challenges of our time, ensuring that our insights drive impactful change.

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote good governance, advance human rights, and improve policy through high-quality research. We seek to generate practical and sustainable solutions based on multi-disciplinary, diverse, and in-depth scientific research and analysis.

Subscribe to the Orion Policy Brief

Get a daily newsletter with our best research on top issues.

Support Our Work

Invest in promoting policy and good governance