Politics & Governments – think tanks monitor

Map showing the Acheson Line (dotted blue line) defining the US defense perimeter in the Pacific, labeled in Korean

The New Acheson Line: How Trump’s ‘America First’ Strategy Abandons Asia

December 10, 2025

The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) released by the Trump administration has shocked the Indo-Pacific, indicating a major shift in U.S. defense commitments. Framed as a “realist” recalibration, it is perceived by analysts in Tokyo and Seoul as a strategic retreat, echoing the Nixon Doctrine and repositioning a defensive perimeter along the First Island Chain, thereby conceding the Asian mainland to Chinese influence and prioritizing economic nationalism over alliance unity.

Children in Gaza holding handwritten cardboard signs appealing for food and help, with bags of aid in the background

Gaza Stabilization Plans Expose Deep Transatlantic Strategic Divide

December 9, 2025

Seven weeks into Gaza’s ceasefire, significant disagreements exist between Washington and European capitals regarding post-conflict plans. This divide could jeopardize not only Gaza’s humanitarian situation but also the credibility of Western coordination on global crises.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shaking hands on an airport tarmac in front of Air Force One

The Atlantic Fracture: Trump’s 2025 Strategy Aligns with Moscow, Alienates Europe

December 9, 2025

The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) has upset the longstanding transatlantic consensus, alarming nations like Germany and Poland while appealing to Russia. The 33-page document frames European integration as a threat to civilization and emphasizes “patriotic” nationalism, undermining NATO’s ideological foundations even as member countries reach record defense spending levels.

Donald Trump seated at a formal table, looking serious, with American flags visible in the background

Trump’s 2025 Strategy: The End of American Primacy and the Rise of Transactional Realism in Asia

December 9, 2025

The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy signifies a significant break from the post-World War II international order by rejecting the aim of “permanent American domination” and shifting towards a focus on reindustrialization and “America First” policies, moving the U.S. from upholding norms to aggressive commercial competition in the Indo-Pacific.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands in front of the flags of India and Russia

Washington’s Strategic Blunder: Coercing India Toward Moscow’s Embrace

December 9, 2025

American foreign policy towards India illustrates that punitive measures against key partners often result in the opposite of intended outcomes. During Putin’s ceremonial visit to India in December 2025, Washington faced the uncomfortable truth that its economic coercion was reinforcing the relationships it aims to weaken.

Close-up of Donald Trump's face partially obscured by the American flag's red stripes, focusing on his serious expression

America’s 2025 National Security Strategy: Hostile Doctrine Toward European Allies

December 8, 2025

The December 5, 2025 release of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy signifies a significant shift in transatlantic relations, explicitly showcasing American antagonism toward its historical democratic allies. The document goes beyond conventional policy disputes, exposing a deep-seated hostility toward European sovereignty, democratic governance, and territorial integrity.

Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa seated indoors, with Trump holding a document showing a couple's photo

The Crumbling Pillar: How Gaza and G20 Isolation Signal the End of Unipolarity

December 6, 2025

The decline of unipolar authority is now evident, particularly highlighted by the US’s absence from the G20 Summit in South Africa. For years, global diplomacy relied on American leadership to resolve crises. However, the situation in Gaza and the West’s isolation at major multilateral events in late 2025 indicate that this era of singular influence is over.

Sunset view of a busy port with cargo ships and ferries, including the "T&T Spirit," docked near an industrial area

The Americas Apart: Summit Postponement Signals Collapse of Regional Consensus

December 6, 2025

The indefinite postponement of the 10th Summit of the Americas by the Dominican Republic in late 2025 signifies a critical juncture in the decline of Pan-American diplomacy. Once intended as a platform for economic integration and democratic solidarity since the 1990s, the summit process has now stalled due to “profound divergences” as described by Santo Domingo.

Hands holding a maroon sign that reads "MAKE AMERICA FIRST AGAIN" and two small American flags at a rally

The “America First” Paradox: Military Expansion Under a Noninterventionist Banner

December 6, 2025

Washington’s foreign policy paradoxically reflects substantial military spending increases and the erosion of traditional alliances through economic coercion, showcasing a significant gap between campaign promises of restraint and current governance, highlighting tensions in American strategic thinking.

Indian diplomat in a vest walking with a delegation of Taliban officials wearing turbans and traditional Afghan attire

New Delhi’s Strategic Gambit: Navigating Afghanistan’s Taliban Governance Without Recognition

December 6, 2025

India’s diplomatic approach to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is influenced more by strategic calculations than ideological alignment. As Pakistan’s influence wanes and China’s presence increases, India seeks to maintain connectivity to Central Asia while refraining from legitimizing a government that opposes its democratic values.

Close-up of a map showing the region of Gaza, Israel, and surrounding towns like Rafah and Khan Yunus

Iraq 2.0: The Legal Architecture of the New American Occupation in Gaza

December 6, 2025

The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in late 2025 signifies a significant change in governance for the Gaza Strip, shifting from Israeli military control to an American-led administration. The resolution, while citing “stabilization” and “transitional administration,” reflects strategies analogous to those used during the 2003 Iraq invasion. By forming a “Board of Peace” and a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), the U.S. positions itself as the new de facto occupying power, leveraging international mandates to obscure violations of Palestinian sovereignty.

Artistic brushstroke depiction of the Brazilian flag with the national motto "Ordem e Progresso" (Order and Progress)

Brazil’s Quest for Global Recognition: Navigating Between Western Heritage and Global South Leadership

December 3, 2025

Brazil’s foreign policy is influenced by a unique historical context; unlike many Global South countries with colonial histories, Brazil’s frustrations arise from its exclusion from the leadership of the postwar order it helped create. This ongoing disappointment informs Brazilian diplomacy, fueling campaigns for institutional reform and recognition, reflecting both ambition and insecurity.

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Category: Politics & Governments

The New Acheson Line: How Trump’s ‘America First’ Strategy Abandons Asia

Gaza Stabilization Plans Expose Deep Transatlantic Strategic Divide

The Atlantic Fracture: Trump’s 2025 Strategy Aligns with Moscow, Alienates Europe

Trump’s 2025 Strategy: The End of American Primacy and the Rise of Transactional Realism in Asia

Washington’s Strategic Blunder: Coercing India Toward Moscow’s Embrace

America’s 2025 National Security Strategy: Hostile Doctrine Toward European Allies

The Crumbling Pillar: How Gaza and G20 Isolation Signal the End of Unipolarity

The Americas Apart: Summit Postponement Signals Collapse of Regional Consensus

The “America First” Paradox: Military Expansion Under a Noninterventionist Banner

New Delhi’s Strategic Gambit: Navigating Afghanistan’s Taliban Governance Without Recognition

Iraq 2.0: The Legal Architecture of the New American Occupation in Gaza

Brazil’s Quest for Global Recognition: Navigating Between Western Heritage and Global South Leadership

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