Author: Vittoria Giudice
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Rojava at a Crossroads
What is at stake for Kurdish autonomy and the institutionalised project of women’s resistance in northern Syria as the Syrian government reasserts control?The Syrian Transitional Government’s push to regain authority threatens the Kurdish-led administration, particularly its gender-equal governance model and the YPJ, both central to the Rojava project. Without sustained international support, the feminist achievements…
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From Proxy War to Nuclear Brinkmanship
Between June 12 and 14, intense hostilities unfolded between Israel and Iran, with strikes severely weakening but not fully eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Proxy warfare dynamics shifted, with Iran-aligned groups remaining inactive or restrained due to strategic and operational hesitation. Power dynamics in the regions sharpened, specifically between Israel and Sunni Arab states, while Syria’s…
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The impact of the Houthis’ FTO designation
• On January 22, President Trump re-designated Houthi as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). ● It’s marking a specific U.S. approach to foreign policy. ● Yemen’s economy and humanitarian aid efforts face severe disruption under the Houthis’ FTO designation ● While Houthi leadership may not be directly affected, the Yemeni population and humanitarian organisations will…
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From Reactive to Proactive Cyber State
1. How has the United States’ approach to offensive cyber operations evolved after Trump’s first administration? 2. The U.S. moved from deterrence to persistent engagement, under the “Defend Forward” strategy introduced by Trump and institutionalised under Biden 3. Expanding offensive cyber operations could improve security, but it also carries the risk of escalation and instability.
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Sudan’s Civil War
1. What drives the UAE’s engagement in Sudan? 2. The UAE is prioritizing its own strategic and economic interests 3. There is a need for a strategic and coordinated European response.