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Ethnic Alliances and Foreign Influence: The Power Struggle in Abkhazia’s Elections
This report aims to analyse the key outcomes of the election, the potential shifts in Abkhazia’s foreign and domestic policies, and the broader implications for regional stability. The results were as follows: Gunba 46.38%, Ardzinba 36.92%, Bartstits 4.04%, Arshba 7.53%, and Khurkhumal 0.91%. As no candidate obtained more than 50% of the vote, a second…
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Security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Pakistani Counterterrorism Operations Result in Casualties
Recent security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, have resulted in significant casualties. Separate clashes in Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan killed four Pakistani soldiers and 15 militants.
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Beyond Sanctions: Iran’s Complex Quest for Economic Stabilisation
This report examines Iran’s ongoing efforts to stabilise its economy in the face of severe currency fluctuations, inflation, and external economic pressures
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Trump Administration and the U.S. – China Competition in Central Asia
In the last years, and especially now during Trump Administration, both the United States and the People’s Republic of China have competed in Central Asia because of the region’s strategic role in the Eurasian geopolitical chessboard.
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From Abkhazia to Nagorno-Karabakh: Turkey’s Anti-Armenian Agenda in the Caucasus
This report examines Turkey’s increasing influence in Abkhazia, especially in the context of the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for February 2025. The analysis explores Ankara’s broader geopolitical ambitions in the South Caucasus, where its growing presence challenges Russia’s traditional dominance and exhibits a significant anti-Armenian stance.
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Security and Terrorism in the North Caucasus: Interview with Mark Youngman
SpecialEurasia met with Mark Youngman to discuss his recent report “Terrorism and counterterrorism in the North Caucasus: 2024 trends” considering his vast experience as an open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst and independent researcher.
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Renewed Maximum Pressure: The US Returns to Confrontation with Iran
Persian Files ISSN 2975-0598 Volume 30 Issue 2 Author: Silvia Boltuc Executive Summary On February 4th, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) restoring maximum pressure on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Impact of Turkey-Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Trilateral Cooperation on the Post-Soviet Space
This report examines the outcomes of the second trilateral meeting Turkey-Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan held in Ankara on January 29th, 2025. The meeting focused on advancing cooperation in trade, investment, and transport, with particular attention to the development of the Middle Corridor as a vital trade route between Asia and Europe.
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Will USAID Shutdown Impact U.S. Soft Power in the Middle East and the Post-Soviet Space?
Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) significantly affects the U.S. foreign policy, with immediate consequences for the Middle East and the post-Soviet space where local countries have relied on U.S. aid for stability and development.
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Syria: Turkey’s Growing Influence and Military Cooperation with Transitional Government
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Turkey has solidified its strategic position in Syria through a series of agreements with the new transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
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Tajikistan: Prison Riot and the Rising Islamic State Threats
Tajik security forces suppressed an attempted prison break in Vahdat’s Colony No. 3/2, where Islamic State supporters staged a coordinated attack on guards. Official reports indicate that security forces killed three insurgents and detained the rest, though images suggest a higher casualty count.
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Crypto Under Control: The Geopolitical Drivers of Iran’s New Regulation
This report assesses the key developments in Iran’s cryptocurrency policies, their implications for domestic and international actors, and the potential risks associated with these changes.
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Russian Military and Strategic Expansion in Libya Through the Maaten al-Sarra Airbase
Russia is expanding its military footprint in Libya, focusing on the Maaten Al Sarra airbase near the Chadian and Sudanese borders. This action shows a strategic reorientation by Moscow toward the Sahel, resulting from challenges encountered in Syria.
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Artificial Intelligence: Strategic and Geopolitical Consequences After the Rise of DeepSeek
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global power dynamics, triggering a digital arms race among leading nations. The United States, European Union, and China’s regulatory frameworks differ significantly, reflecting unique strategic objectives and underlying ideologies.
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Water, Security, and Cooperation: Iran and Afghanistan Address the Helmand River Dispute
This report examines the geopolitical dynamics between Iran and Afghanistan, focusing on shared challenges and opportunities in the areas of water management, security, and migration. The ongoing dispute over the Helmand River’s water allocation represents a critical element of their relationship.