February 2, 2026
Opinion
Caucasus Eurasia Iran Opinion Russia South Caucasus

Russo-Iranian Coordination in the Caspian is Growing

by Turan Rzayev Starting from July 21, Iran and Russia are set to conduct a joint maritime search and rescue drill (CASAREX 2025) in the Caspian Sea under the slogan “Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea.” The exercise will involve the Iranian Army and IRGC Naval Forces, the Iranian Police Command, the Russian […]

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Caucasus Eurasia Iran Israel MENA News Middle East Opinion South Caucasus

Iran’s Strategic Anxiety: Why Azerbaijan’s Expanding Role Worries Tehran

by Rustam Taghizade As the geopolitical tectonics of the Middle East shift, a new diplomatic player is quietly emerging: Azerbaijan. In recent weeks, Baku has hosted a surprising series of diplomatic moves — from signing an energy cooperation memorandum with Syria’s transitional government, to reportedly facilitating behind-the-scenes talks between Syrian and Israeli officials. These developments […]

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Business Caucasus Eurasia Israel MENA News Middle East Opinion South Caucasus

Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s Visit to Baku: What’s Behind It?

by Turan Rzayev The working visit of the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad al-Shara, to the Republic of Azerbaijan has taken place. This visit was noteworthy from multiple perspectives. First and foremost, it should be noted that during his visit, President Ahmad al-Shara held both expanded-format and one-on-one meetings with the President […]

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Eurasia Europe MENA News Middle East Opinion

The Disarmament of the PKK: Transformation or Tactical Manoeuvre?

by Turan Rzayev After 41 years of armed conflict, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) has begun laying down its arms. The first phase of the process took place in the Dukan district of Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, where a group of 30 PKK militants surrendered their weapons. The second phase is expected to commence in the coming […]

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Europe Israel Opinion

Italy needs to do more to combat anti-Semitism, a lot more

by Giovanni Giacalone On Sunday, July 6, the president of Milan’s Jewish community, Walker Meghnagi, released a statement to the Italian press agencies regarding the wave of anti-Semitism that has been ongoing in Italy from October 7, 2023 onwards, which is becoming increasingly stronger. As reported by the Italian newspaper Il Giorno, Meghnagi said: “The […]

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Europe Iran Israel MENA News Middle East North America Opinion Politics Russia Ukraine

Trump’s obsession with “deal-making” and the Peace Prize is causing more turmoil.

by Giovanni Giacalone US President Donald Trump’s obsession with winning the Nobel Peace Prize has become a paradox, as his efforts to achieve it are creating more turmoil, thereby putting at risk the path to peace in both Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump appears so desperate for the Nobel Prize that he attempts to […]

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Caucasus Eurasia Iran MENA News Middle East Opinion Politics Russia South Caucasus

The Yekaterinburg Incident and New Tensions in Russian-Azerbaijani Relations: Shifting the Geopolitical Balance of Power

By Rustam Taghizade The recent tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan are not only a diplomatic crisis between the two countries, but also an important turning point that could lead to a shift in the broader geopolitical balance in the region. The violence and casualties recorded during the special operation against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg are perceived […]

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Art & Culture Asia Opinion Politics

A Conservative Reflection

by Talgat Kabdygali As a Kazakh, raised amidst the vast steppes where family, elders, and tradition shape life, I seek ideas that resonate with my culture’s deep-rooted values. In a world of division and cultural flux, I found inspiration in Russell Kirk, the American philosopher who shaped modern conservatism, and Edmund Burke, the 18th-century thinker […]

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Europe Middle East Opinion

Palestinian pro-Hamas leader in Italy, on US sanction list, still collecting money and spreading propaganda. Where does Italy stand on this?

by Giovanni Giacalone The “leader” of the Palestinian Association of Italy, as well as president of the Charitable Association Solidarity with the Palestinian People (ABSPP), Mohammad Hannoun, is still trying to call the shots, this time by strongly criticizing the left wing for a June 7 demonstration in Rome which appears to be too “moderate” […]

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Africa Caucasus Eurasia Opinion South Caucasus

COP 17: The Armenian Government’s Actions Cast Doubt on the Key Biodiversity Conference

by Dani Avriel Since the adoption of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992, more than a dozen international conferences have been held—marked by bold statements and ambitious goals. Yet, tangible progress remains elusive: ecosystems continue to degrade, species keep disappearing. The main reason is the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. There are no […]

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