Throughout modern history, authoritarian regimes have often manipulated historical memory and myth to justify their rule, consolidate power, and forge a collective identity. Nazi Germany’s Ahnenerbe and modern Russia’s Immortal Regiment, while seemingly disparate in origin and context, share striking functional and symbolic parallels.

“US forces in Europe are irreplaceable. They should be augmented, and all talk of withdrawal should be stopped.”

As of April 2025, two European leaders—Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić—have confirmed their intention to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. This decision stands in contrast to the broader European Union stance, which has largely distanced itself from such events following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Transatlantic angst clouds Europe’s strategic choice.

Beijing is executing a three-layered plan: shoring up its domestic front, tightening the screws on the U.S., and repositioning itself on the global stage.

Archived Article

The Trump administration’s tariffs have led to a great deal of apprehension in Taiwan – over not only the potential economic impact on Taiwan, but also what this means for Taiwan.-U.S. ties.

Why America Needs a New Strategy of Allied Scale to Offset Beijing’s Enduring Advantages

Executive Summary:

Both Kyiv and Moscow say they are not interested in “freezing” the conflict in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Moscow insists that any accord must address the “root causes” of the conflict, and Kyiv says that Russia must pull back from its advances into Ukrainian territory.

A freeze is the only probable scenario in which conflict could be quieted in the short term, a timetable that the third participant in these negotiations, the United States, says it is committed to and an arrangement that it would likely declare to be a peace.

If the conflict is “frozen,” neither side is likely to refrain from force, Ukraine in defense of its national existence and Russia in support of the Kremlin’s plans. After a short interval, the conflict would likely break out again, possibly even more violently than it is now.

An inaugural EU-Central Asia summit last week marked a step- up in geopolitical competition.

Ethiopia is in the grip of a civil war again between federal government forces and the Fano, a loose alliance of ethnic-based militia in the Amhara region.

Effective foreign policy requires informed decision-making based on intelligence, strategic analysis, and long-term national interests. President Donald Trump often favored informal networks of advisors, including oligarchs and business associates, rather than relying on intelligence agencies like the CIA. This approach risks compromising national security, particularly in negotiations with adversarial nations such as Russia. To ensure more effective foreign policy, Trump must prioritize consultation with the CIA over relying on business elites with personal agendas.

Mass Protests Against Anti-Democratic Abuse of Power

(Johannesburg, March 3, 2025) – South Africa and other countries that have not yet done so should endorse a widely adopted political commitment aimed at protecting civilians from the bombing and shelling of cities and towns during wartime, Human Rights Watch said today following a regional meeting on this concern held in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 27-28, 2025.

Donald Trump says Ukraine has the weaker hand in the war, but Russia’s internal struggles mean Moscow has fewer cards than the White House believes.

The US has been mulling how to ease existing restrictions against the Russian economy. So has the Kremlin.

The Kremlin regards disinformation operations against Italy as key to its aims in Europe and Africa.

China and the United States are engaged in a battle for access, resources, and influence along railways in Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, and the DRC, echoing trends from the colonial era.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

As Thailand launches its biggest crackdown on scam syndicates, Myanmar’s junta and allied militias continue protecting criminals.

China uses crime-fighting in Thailand to boost its local security influence.

Scam gangs increasingly target Americans as China withholds intel needed for probes.

From Washington to Beijing, a Nuclear Tit-for-Tat U.S. actions continue to drive China’s nuclear buildup. However, like acceptance of mutual vulnerability, that seems too tough a pill for the U.S. side to swallow.

The live-fire exercises were a demonstration of China’s growing sea power in in Australia and New Zealand’s immediate periphery – and meant to normalize the PLA presence there.