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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Oct 22 , 2025

Policy Brief

Opportunity for Lasting Peace? Renewed Violence Tests Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations

Introduction In October 2025, cross-border conflict surged between Afghanistan and Pakistan over allegations of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan and drone strikes carried out by Pakistan, reaching the deadliest levels since the Taliban seized power of Afghanistan in August 2021. After several days of fighting, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to

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Democracy & Human Rights, Europe & Central Asia

Sep 10 , 2025

Op-Ed

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

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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

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Mar 27 , 2025

Policy Brief

The Importance of Controlling Bagram Air Base to US Interests in Afghanistan and Surrounding Areas

Recently, the U.S. has expressed the importance of who controls the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. In President Trump’s first cabinet meeting since returning to office, he and Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, discussed the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent loss of Bagram Air Base. In the meeting,

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Europe & Central Asia

Mar 21 , 2025

Policy Brief

Iran’s Foreign Affairs in the Caucasus

Iran has different foreign policy goals for various parts of its geographical periphery. The Caucasus is a matter of national security, internal stability, and international trade. Iran is not the only country with strategic interests in the Caucasus: Turkey and Russia seek to have an established presence in the region.

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Terrorism & Extremism

Oct 14 , 2024

Op-Ed

Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front: Progression and Success

This author interviewed Ali Maisam Nazary, head of the National Resistance Front’s Foreign Relations and Hamad Saifi, member of the NRF and former Afghanistan Army Commanding Officer, 5th Brigade of the 203rd Thunder Corps. In the three years since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF) has

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Terrorism & Extremism

Aug 12 , 2024

Policy Brief

Cities Need to Better Protect Themselves from Attacks Like the One That Disrupted the Paris Olympics

Last week, the Paris railroad system was disrupted by planned, coordinated arson attacks. This was not unique, but it signals that major cities must be even better prepared for this “softer,” less violent, but still disruptive form of terrorism. The attacks on Paris’ railroad system occurred just hours before the

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Crime & Justice

Jul 25 , 2024

Podcast

Jenny Schell & Linda Geven: The European Registry of Exonerations (EUREX)

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In this episode of Orion Talks, our podcast host, Suat Cubukcu, is joined by Dr. Jenny Schell and Dr. Linda Geven. With their multinational research team, including Dr. Teresa Schneider (who could not join the conversation), they have been documenting wrongful convictions and exoneration cases across Europe. Drs. Schell and

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May 25 , 2024

Podcast

Min Ye: Xi Jinping’s European Visit and Implications for EU-China Relations

In this episode of Orion Talks, Marta Furlan is joined by Prof Min Ye to discuss President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to France, Serbia, and Hungary – his first visit to Europe in five years. Prof. Ye sheds light on the overall objective of this trip and explains how this

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Defense & Security

May 22 , 2024

Webinar

NATO at Crossroads: New Threat Landscape and Challenges

In February of 2022, Russian forces invaded Eastern Ukraine, sparking the most intense conventional conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Three months later, historically neutral Finland and Sweden submitted letters of application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Two years into the conflict, it's time to

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May 14 , 2024

Op-Ed

Fortifying Europe: The Launch of EDIS and the Future of EU Defense Autonomy

(Photo Source: NATO) The ongoing war in Ukraine has not only shattered decades of peace in Europe but has also challenged the assumption that defense budgets can continually be reduced. With the potential re-election of Donald Trump, known for his skepticism towards NATO and his isolationist foreign policy, concerns about

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Apr 13 , 2024

Op-Ed

AKP Election Defeat Signals Shifting Political Landscape in Turkey

Turkey’s local elections on March 31st resulted in the biggest electoral defeat for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). For the first time in decades, the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), won the majority votes in several key metropolitan areas, including Istanbul,

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Terrorism & Extremism

Apr 5 , 2024

Policy Brief

The Moscow Terror Attack: ISIS’ Global Ambitions and the Challenge of Counterterrorism

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The terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow killed more than 130 people and wounded around 150. Islamic State in the Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack, which proves that the group has the operational capability to engage in such a large-scale onslaught. It also

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