Syria’s Lost Children: The Assad Regime’s Legacy of Disappearances

Cyber Espionage and U.S. Policy Responses

The SCO 2025: Progress and Reality Checks

Airstrikes on Drug Traffickers in the Caribbean

Vibe Hacking: An Emerging Cyber Threat

Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

Democracy & Human Rights, Middle East

Oct 16 , 2025

Op-Ed

Syria’s Lost Children: The Assad Regime’s Legacy of Disappearances

With the protracted Syrian Civil War and the recent collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria remains one of the largest humanitarian crises globally. After nearly 14 years of war, approximately 16.7 million Syrians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The prolonged violence has taken a devastating

South Asia

Oct 10 , 2025

Policy Brief

The SCO 2025: Progress and Reality Checks

Miquel Vila Moreno

Xi Jinping had a September full of diplomatic wins. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its 25th summit in Tianjin, drawing the largest attendance in its history. Later, Beijing hosted a military parade commemorating the defeat of Japan in World War II, referred to in China as “The War of

Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Oct 7 , 2025

Research

Cyber Espionage and U.S. Policy Responses

Suleyman Ozeren, Kate Shymkiv

Introduction Between September 1986 and June 1987, a group of German hackers conducted the first recorded act of cyber espionage, breaching US civil and military organizations and selling stolen data to the Soviet KGB. Since then, cyber espionage has become an evolving threat and state-sponsored campaigns targeting sensitive government and

Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Oct 1 , 2025

Op-Ed

Vibe Hacking: An Emerging Cyber Threat

Mehmet F. Bastug

AI has become a buzzword in the tech world, often incorporated into many new products or services – even into things you would not expect, such as toasters and toothbrushes. It has the potential to enhance human knowledge, advance technology, and contribute to building a brighter future. However, it is

Defense & Security, Americas

Sep 22 , 2025

Op-Ed

Airstrikes on Drug Traffickers in the Caribbean

Jackie Ducharme

Introduction In September 2025, the United States conducted a series of airstrikes against suspected drug traffickers operating off Venezuela’s coast, marking the first publicly known instance of U.S. airstrikes being used against traffickers at sea outside a traditional warzone. The strikes reflect a sharp escalation in counternarcotics operations. This article

Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Sep 17 , 2025

Webinar

OPI Seminar Program on Tech & Security

Orion Policy Institute

Orion Policy Institute (OPI) hosted an online seminar program on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, between 10 am – 12:50 pm EST to discuss the latest trends and strategies shaping the modern landscape of technology and international security. The seminar schedule was as follows: 10:00 am – 10:50 am EST >

Democracy & Human Rights, Europe & Central Asia

Sep 10 , 2025

Op-Ed

Ukraine’s Abducted Children: Humanitarian Impact and the Road Ahead

Ayse Ergene, Virginia Buffum

Three years after Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the war continues to have devastating consequences for civilians. A quarter of Ukrainians have fled the country, and millions more have been internally displaced. Furthermore, nearly 13 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. As the attacks continue, the lives

Africa

Sep 5 , 2025

Policy Brief

Betting on Addis Ababa: Meloni’s African Strategy Between Realpolitik and Risk

Federico Donelli

At a time when Ethiopia is experiencing domestic instability, Rome is doubling down on its support for Abiy Ahmed — a bold move that combines opportunity with significant political risk. The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit on 27–28 July 2025 — which marks her second trip in two years

Latest Research

Africa

Mar 1 , 2025

Policy Brief

From Paris to Ankara, Moscow and Budapest: Chad’s Search for New Partnerships

Federico Donelli

On 30th January, the French troops stationed in Chad completed their withdrawal. For the first time in more than sixty years, France had no soldiers on Chadian soil. This withdrawal is in line with similar actions in other countries with historical links to France, such as Niger, Mali and Burkina

Middle East

Feb 18 , 2025

Policy Brief

Role for Gulf States in Syria’s Reconstruction

Giorgio Cafiero

The longer-term geopolitical ramifications of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other armed groups overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December have yet to be fully realized. Yet, a little more than two months into Syria’s post-Ba’athist period, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members and Turkey have, at least so far, emerged as

Middle East

Feb 17 , 2025

Policy Brief

Saudi Arabia’s Stance on the New Syria

Mohammad Salami

On December 8, 2024, within 13 days, Syrian opposition militias entered Damascus from Idlib, a city in northwestern Syria bordering Turkey, with the political and moral support of the Turks, and with the escape of the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Russia, they were able to destroy the Assad

Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Jan 13 , 2025

Policy Brief

The USSC Channels the Strategic Computing Program

Vincent Carchidi

Mark Twain is often quoted saying (perhaps apocryphally) that “history does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.” Whoever spoke these words first, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USSC) is determined to prove them right. The USSC released its 2024 annual report in November with 32 recommendations, 10 of

Middle East

Jan 1 , 2025

Research

Women and War in Yemen: Gendering of the Yemeni Civil War

Ayse Ergene, Nihal Eken

The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when Houthi rebel forces took control of the capital Sanaa. Already destabilized by the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, the country is now home to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. With almost 75% of its population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,

Middle East

Dec 22 , 2024

Policy Brief

The Impact of Israeli-Iranian Tensions on Iraqi Policy

Mohammad Salami

On April 13 and October 1, 2024, the hostility between Iran and Israel turned into open confrontation after several decades of shadow war, marked by bombings, assassinations, and sabotage. On these dates, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic and cruise missiles at Israel in retaliation for the April attack

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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

Syria’s Lost Children: The Assad Regime’s Legacy of Disappearances

READ MORE

The SCO 2025: Progress and Reality Checks

READ MORE

Cyber Espionage and U.S. Policy Responses

READ MORE

Vibe Hacking: An Emerging Cyber Threat

READ MORE

Airstrikes on Drug Traffickers in the Caribbean

READ MORE

OPI Seminar Program on Tech & Security

READ MORE

Ukraine’s Abducted Children: Humanitarian Impact and the Road Ahead

READ MORE

Betting on Addis Ababa: Meloni’s African Strategy Between Realpolitik and Risk

READ MORE

Latest Research

From Paris to Ankara, Moscow and Budapest: Chad’s Search for New Partnerships

READ MORE

Role for Gulf States in Syria’s Reconstruction

READ MORE

Saudi Arabia’s Stance on the New Syria

READ MORE

The USSC Channels the Strategic Computing Program

READ MORE

Women and War in Yemen: Gendering of the Yemeni Civil War

READ MORE

The Impact of Israeli-Iranian Tensions on Iraqi Policy

READ MORE

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