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An Alternative Assessment of President Trump’s Strategy in Venezuela
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Transnational Crime Project (OPI-TCP)
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Data Privacy & Governance Hub Project
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Mauro Lubrano: A Deep Dive into Anti-technology Extremism
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An Unwinnable Claim, A Strategic Opportunity: Japan, Dokdo, and the China Challenge
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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

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Defense & Security, Americas, Transnational Crime Project

Apr 28 , 2026

Policy Brief

An Alternative Assessment of President Trump’s Strategy in Venezuela

Editor’s Note: This policy brief is Part V of an Orion Policy Institute (OPI) Transnational Crime Project (OPI-TCP) series. While unprecedented and unexpected, it increasingly appears that the United States’ capture of Nicolas Maduro in January 2026 was more than an isolated regional event. Instead, it was a broader strategic

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Cyber Security & Info Technologies, Terrorism & Extremism

Apr 27 , 2026

Podcast

Mauro Lubrano: A Deep Dive into Anti-technology Extremism

This episode of Orion Talks, hosted by Marta Furlan, features Dr. Mauro Lubrano examining the rise of anti-technology extremism. He begins by distinguishing it from anti-technology activism, emphasizing that conflating the two risks discrediting legitimate concerns and may even contribute to further radicalization. The discussion situates recent attacks on tech

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japan s korea

Defense & Security, Indo – Pacific, South Asia

Apr 23 , 2026

Op-Ed

An Unwinnable Claim, A Strategic Opportunity: Japan, Dokdo, and the China Challenge

Japan and South Korea share a difficult history that complicates their bilateral relationship. This is a problem since an effective Japan-Korea alliance would be a bulwark against China’s regional ambitions and allow the U.S. to redirect resources to other parts of the world. The long-discussed U.S. pivot to Asia, announced

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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

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Transnational Crime, Americas, Transnational Crime Project

Apr 9 , 2026

Policy Brief

Examining the Crime-Terror Convergence in Venezuela

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

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china iran war

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

Apr 6 , 2026

Policy Brief

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

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

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Defense & Security, Americas

Apr 4 , 2026

Podcast

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

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

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Defense & Security, Terrorism & Extremism

Apr 1 , 2026

Op-Ed

What Works in Counterterrorism and What Doesn’t?

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

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Latest Research

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Defense & Security, Americas

Dec 12 , 2025

Policy Brief

The Trump Corollary: Venezuela as the First Test of a Neo-Monroe Doctrine

Foreign policy analysts had long suspected that President Trump was reviving a Monroe Doctrine–style policy for Latin America. With the release of the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), that idea now has a formal name: the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. This newly declared doctrine revives a two-century-old concept

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Defense & Security, Transnational Crime, Americas, Indo – Pacific

Dec 8 , 2025

Policy Brief

Operation Southern Spear and the Escalation Against Narcotraffickers

More than two months have passed since our last assessment on Airstrikes in the Caribbean, yet U.S. action against suspected Venezuelan narcotraffickers has accelerated, expanding in both scope and frequency. The situation has evolved into a sustained operation with far-reaching implications for U.S. policy and regional security. What began as

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Nov 18 , 2025

Policy Brief

Rising Tensions: The U.S.–Russia Standoff and Its Consequences for NATO and Ukraine

Introduction President Donald Trump recently accused Russia of conducting underground nuclear tests, while President Vladimir Putin, responding to U.S. discussions about providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, warned that such a move would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.”[1] These developments signal a renewed rise in U.S.-Russia tensions and highlight

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Democracy & Human Rights, Terrorism & Extremism, Africa

Nov 11 , 2025

Policy Brief

Sudan: Theatre Where Many, Competing Interests Meet and Clash

After 18 months of siege marked by starvation, targeted killings, and sexual violence, El Fasher – the capital of North Darfur – fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As of the time of this writing, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) control most of the north, east, and central regions,

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red sea article

Defense & Security, Africa

Nov 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Bridging Land and Sea: Rethinking Security in the Red Sea Arena

The Red Sea has shifted from a central shipping lane to a strategically important area linking Africa, Arabia, the Indo-Pacific, and global powers. The distinction between land and sea is fading — as are old assumptions about regional order. From Peripheral Sea to Global Chokepoint Long seen as a peripheral

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Defense & Security, South Asia

Oct 31 , 2025

Policy Brief

ASEAN Summit 2025: Navigating Great-Power Rivalry in Kuala Lumpur

From October 25 to 28, the ASEAN 47th Summit in Kuala Lumpur became the world’s most important diplomatic scenario. The summit gathered thirty heads of state and government, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The gathering, thus, has been crucial not only for the future of

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