Archive
Global Briefing Archive
64 editions
August 2026
7 editions- 24 Aug Great Powers Export Constraints to AlliesUS, Russia, and others shift costs of war and sanctions onto allies. Canada resists, Ukraine pays, and new pacts emerge.
- 21 Aug 87 evPower Now Means Keeping Damaged Systems MovingUS keeps oil flowing through Hormuz, Ukraine resists Russian strikes, and Treasury buys bonds—power is measured by managing damage, not victory.
- 17 Aug 139 evAllies Hedge as US Security Commitments ShortenUS allies hedge against shorter American security guarantees: South Korea drills, Mecca pact, E3 talks, Ukraine missiles. Strategic shift in planning.
- 14 Aug 69 evFront Line Moves Into Systems Behind ItUkraine retakes territory but faces missile shortages; Iran controls Hormuz; Europe enforces sanctions; Romania's nuclear plant halts; Ebola spreads in Congo.
- 10 Aug 143 evGlobal Bottlenecks: How Trade Chokepoints Became WeaponsIran, Russia, drought, and disease are weaponizing trade chokepoints like Hormuz and the Black Sea, reshaping global security and supply chains.
- 7 Aug 135 evMecca Agreement: Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan Mutual Defense PactSaudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Agreement on August 7, treating an attack on one as an attack on all. The pact responds to threats to oil, nuclear, and energy infrastructure.
- 3 Aug 150 evEndurance Becomes the Scarce Weapon in Global CrisesFrom Trump's Iran pause to Ukraine's drone war and Europe's fires, endurance proved the decisive weapon. Explore how interceptor stocks, drought, and yen intervention shaped the week.
July 2026
8 editions- 31 Jul 142 evCrises Spill Across Borders: Russia, Iran, EuropeRussia's missile enters Poland, US-Iran war spreads, Europe's fires and drought hit industry. Governments struggle to contain crises.
- 27 Jul 153 evGreat Powers Face Replenishment LimitsUS pauses Iran strikes, France battles wildfires, Russia seeks troops, Germany faces security gaps—replenishment defines power.
- 24 Jul 111 evWashington's Reach vs Control: Iran, Ukraine, Tariffs, AIUS strikes Iran but can't close Hormuz; Ukraine drones force Russian fuel rationing; Trump rebuilds tariffs; AI models evade bans. Reach exceeds control.
- 20 Jul 128 evTen-Day Iran Truce: A Maintenance Window, Not PeaceA ten-day truce in the American-Iranian war offers a pause for negotiations, but oil prices rise and governments prepare to route around conflict rather than end it.
- 17 Jul 52 evTrump's Hormuz Toll Collapses, War Lacks FundingDonald Trump's 24-hour Hormuz toll failed after Gulf states refused to pay. The Iran war now has no funding source as Senate blocks defense bill.
- 13 Jul 165 evUS Imposes 20% Toll on Strait of Hormuz ShippingWashington condemned Iran's Hormuz toll in June, then imposed its own 20% levy in July. The policy empties the strait as shipping halts and oil prices rise.
- 10 Jul 278 evWest Wins Wars but Can't Make Ceasefires HoldNATO pledges 140 billion euros for Ukraine as Iran ceasefire collapses. The West can win wars but struggles to turn victories into lasting peace agreements.
- 6 Jul 267 evNATO Summit in Ankara as Russia Pummels KyivRussia struck Kyiv with 68 missiles and 351 drones days before NATO's Ankara summit, killing at least 12. The alliance unveils 'NATO 3.0' doctrine amid US troop reductions and Baltic concerns.
June 2026
15 editions- 30 Jun 99 evWars Won, Peacemaking Moves to AnkaraThe US and NATO have won the wars in Iran and Ukraine, but fighting continues on the edges. Peacemaking shifts to Turkey as Erdogan hosts the NATO summit.
- 26 Jun 333 evBoth Wars Nearly Won, But No Path to PeaceUkraine isolates Crimea while Iran truce frays. Winning both wars, but unable to convert victories into peace settlements.
- 22 Jun 214 evWest Winning Wars, Turning on Itself Over How to End ThemThe West is winning both the Iran and Ukraine wars, but fractures emerge over peace terms, with EU leaders split on Russia talks and Poland feuding with Ukraine.
- 18 Jun 284 evAmerica Wins Wars by Walking Out, Leaving Europe the BillTrump ends Iran war, pushes NATO 3.0, and leaves Europe with a $300 billion reconstruction bill and a nuclear gap it cannot yet fill.
- 15 Jun 218 evTrump Signs Iran Deal, Netanyahu Complicates It With Beirut StrikeTrump and Iran signed a 14-point MOU on June 14, ending the Hormuz blockade. Netanyahu's Beirut strike hours later threatened the deal, which leaves Iran's missiles and nuclear program unresolved.
- 11 Jun 97 evEurope and Trump Win Peace Talks They Cannot EnforceEurope leads Ukraine peace plan without enforcement power; Trump seeks Iran deal blocked by Netanyahu. Inflation and fuel shortages shape war outcomes.
- 9 Jun 118 evIran War Halt Reshapes US Alliances, Europe Security ReckoningIran halts military operations against Israel on June 9, straining US-Israel ties as Trump warns Netanyahu. Europe accelerates defense plans, Germany sees record political crime, and France proposes child protection reforms.
- 8 Jun 112 evEurope Leads Ukraine Diplomacy as Wars Grind to StalemateEurope's E3 endorses Zelenskyy's ceasefire call with Putin; Ukraine offers to freeze front line. Fighting continues as Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia and Chernobyl site.
- 7 Jun 92 evTwo Wars Resist Diplomacy as Costs Hit US Wallets, Ukraine ReactorsUkraine and Middle East wars resisted diplomacy on June 7, with Putin rejecting Zelenskyy's meeting offer, US household costs rising $750, and a nuclear storage site struck near Chernobyl.
- 6 Jun 100 evUkraine Strikes Kronstadt; Iran Fires Missiles at Kuwait, BahrainUkraine hit Russia's Kronstadt naval base with drones. Iran fired ballistic missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain. Economic shockwaves from the US-Iran conflict reach Western economies.
- 5 Jun 139 evEurope Steps In as Zelensky Proposes Putin Talks, Iran Strikes KuwaitZelensky proposes direct ceasefire talks with Putin as Europe launches E3 summit. Iran strikes Kuwait airport, killing one, amid tentative US-Iran ceasefire deal.
- 4 Jun 140 evLebanon Ceasefire Stalls as NATO Shows Ukraine SupportHezbollah rejects US-brokered ceasefire framework; all 32 NATO ambassadors visit Kyiv in show of solidarity. IAEA warns on Zaporizhzhia nuclear safety.
- 3 Jun 118 evNATO Plants in Kyiv as Gulf War Reignites — Split-Screen DayNATO ambassadors arrive in Kyiv after Russian barrage kills 22; US-Iran conflict escalates with strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain. Europe's Russia file thickens as Germany loses UN Security Council vote.
- 2 Jun 113 evUkraine War Attrition Widens as Europe Rethinks DefenceRussia builds 70 ballistic missiles monthly vs 56 US interceptors; Europe expands NATO nuclear sharing and boosts air defence as energy prices climb 24%.
- 1 Jun 118 evIran War Reignites as Europe Hardens Russia LineIran suspends US talks, Europe seizes Russian shadow tanker, and Ukraine marks drone raid anniversary as war in Ukraine and Middle East escalate.