Foreign Policy Research Institute
@fpri.bsky.social
Nonpartisan foreign policy think tank. Join the conversation: https://fpriinsights.substack.com/
There are two major differences between the recent Russia-Belarus military exercises and the one in the summer of 2024: the location and the loadout of the Su-25 attack aircraft. www.fpri.org/article/2026...
Lida Shuffle: Su-25 “Nuclear” Exercises in Belarus - Foreign Policy Research Institute
At the end of May, Russia and Belarus conducted a set of what they claimed were nuclear exercises. Some nine or so systems were tested, including the Su-25
fpri.org
🆕 Can the US Cooperate With Europe in Africa? by Charles Ray www.fpri.org/article/2026...
Can the US and Europe Cooperate in Africa? - Foreign Policy Research Institute
Africa’s global role is constantly evolving. Demographically, Africa is poised to occupy a dominant position in the world over the coming decades. By 2050,
fpri.org
Sign up for the virtual event, The Security Situation in Cameroon, on September 16, 2026, at 10:30 Eastern. buff.ly/UMcmIh6
The Security Situation in Cameroon - FPRI Events
Conflict between the Anglophone and Francophone communities in Cameroon began in September 2017. English-speaking separatists in the Northwest and Southwest
fpri.org
In this episode of #ShiftingGround, podcast hosts Nick Gvosdev and Larry Rubin sit down with The Hon. John Tien. Listen to their episode and subscribe for updates. buff.ly/JKwc0KR
Episode 8 | The Architecture of Leadership
Shifting Ground · Episode
open.spotify.com
Check out our recent book talk discussing "Moscow's Mercenaries." The authors discuss the #WagnerGroup, how it served as a useful but unofficial extension of the Russian military, where Wagner was most successful and where it failed, and more. buff.ly/I6X4Lbh
🆕 Lida Shuffle: Su-25 “Nuclear” Exercises in Belarus by Michael Duitsman www.fpri.org/article/2026...
Lida Shuffle: Su-25 “Nuclear” Exercises in Belarus - Foreign Policy Research Institute
At the end of May, Russia and Belarus conducted a set of what they claimed were nuclear exercises. Some nine or so systems were tested, including the Su-25
fpri.org
"Russia has refocused to a defensive, preparatory posture in the Barents Sea, indicating that it has recognized the vulnerability to its submarine bastions and is looking to secure its SSBN force regardless of the state of the Arctic ice. In doing so, Russia revealed a soft spot."
A Crown Jewel in Peril: Russia’s Arctic Aggression Masks Nuclear Vulnerability - Foreign Policy Research Institute
Russia sees opportunity in the Arctic. For centuries, ever-present sea ice has made the region hostile to trade or military exploitation. But as the ice
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"What is also striking is that regional trust in Japan has continued to increase steadily despite—or perhaps because of—the country’s plans to increase its own defense spending. Growing geopolitical risks are bringing Japan and Indo-Pacific states closer together" (p. 56). buff.ly/dyw0FUw
Building Geoeconomic Toolkits: Asia-Pacific Middle Powers in an Era of Strategic Competition | The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
Asia-Pacific middle powers have emerged as important players in shaping the geoeconomic order. Their exposure to Chinese economic leverage, dependence on U.S.-led security arrangements, and role in…
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The Trump administration’s inconsistency has undermined the efficacy of sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Read more in the latest piece for Foreign Policy by @maxhess.bsky.social.
Trump Has Weakened America’s Sanctions Weapon
The administration’s inconsistency has undermined a key tool of U.S. foreign policy.
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Catch up on last month's happenings in the July #BalticRoundup.
Baltic Roundup | July 2026
A look back at July in the Baltic States.
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Catch up on the latest edition of the #BearMarketBrief
Wildberry blast
Ukraine continues to strike Wildberries warehouses
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Despite the United States imposing new 12.5 percent tariffs on its Indo-Pacific partners, there is no expectation of economic retaliation. Allies in the Indo-Pacific plan on remaining committed to their US partnerships.
Indo-Pacific Recalibration, Not Retaliation, Against US Tariffs - Foreign Policy Research Institute
The latest round of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration was hardly unexpected, but that does not make them any less unsettling for some of America’s
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Check out recent commentary pieces in the #OrbisJournal for an inside look at managing the nuclear world order in a time where technological innovation defines conflict and, consequently, escalation. buff.ly/4bsajsU
Russian nuclear-armed submarines have long operated under the protection of thick Arctic sea ice, but as it melts away, Carl Parkin breaks down the challenges they face.
A Crown Jewel in Peril: Russia’s Arctic Aggression Masks Nuclear Vulnerability - Foreign Policy Research Institute
Russia sees opportunity in the Arctic. For centuries, ever-present sea ice has made the region hostile to trade or military exploitation. But as the ice
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Revisit our book talk on "Moscow's Mercenaries: The Rise and Fall of the Wagner Group." The authors discuss Wagner Group's utility for the Kremlin, in which countries Wagner was successful or failed, how tensions grew between Russia's official military and the Group, and more.
Moscow’s Mercenaries: The Rise and Fall of the Wagner Group
FPRI’s Eurasia Program Director Dr. Emily Holland hosted a book talk marking the release of Moscow’s Mercenaries: The Rise and Fall of the Wagner Group with authors Christopher M. Faulkner, Raphael…
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Revisit Emily Holland and Aaron Stein's analysis to understand the context surrounding an F-35 fighter jet sale to Turkey, the conditions Turkey must meet to receive them, and why the affinity between President Trump and Turkish President Erdoğan could be of concern for NATO.
From Greenland to Spain: Trump Threatens Allies While Embracing Turkey at NATO Summit - Foreign Policy Research Institute
At last week’s NATO Summit in Ankara, President Trump was hosted warmly by Turkish President Recep Erdogan. Trump, who generally attends NATO summits with a
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"It is not Trump’s willingness to lift sanctions that creates this risk but rather his uneven application of them." Read Maximilian Hess' full piece in Foreign Policy detailing how Trump's sanctions application has weakened a powerful economic tool and benefits our competitors.
Trump Has Weakened America’s Sanctions Weapon
The administration’s inconsistency has undermined a key tool of U.S. foreign policy.
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"To view China’s Sahel engagement as merely continental overlooks its most consequential dimension: Beijing’s geo-economic strategy. Strategically located, landlocked, resource-rich states in the Sahel are cartographic means in order to gain strategic access to the Atlantic coast."
How France’s Fall Signals China’s Rise in the Sahel - Foreign Policy Research Institute
The second factor has a wider geopolitical significance. As the Sahel in general, and Burkina Faso in particular, have become the laboratory of Africa’s
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There has been extensive coverage on China's enmeshment across numerous African countries, but China does not implement this strategy exclusively in one region. Revisit this report highlighting how amidst Russia's diminishing role in Central Asia, China is filling in the gaps.
Reordering Central Asia: China’s Emerging Economic Hierarchy - Foreign Policy Research Institute
For much of the post–Cold War period, Central Asia was framed as a space of Sino-Russian coordination, institutionalized through the Shanghai Cooperation
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Check out July's Monthly Highlights to see what FPRI worked on! buff.ly/FzRVqOG
Monthly Highlights | July 2026
Russia's nuclear threats, Arctic security, US policy in Taiwan, and more
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"Other factors may improve submarine survivability in the Arctic. Changing water temperatures are affecting how sound propagates. The Arctic soundscape is changing as a whole, with ice breakup and commercial activity creating ambient noise, masking the sounds of nuclear submarines."
A Crown Jewel in Peril: Russia’s Arctic Aggression Masks Nuclear Vulnerability - Foreign Policy Research Institute
Russia sees opportunity in the Arctic. For centuries, ever-present sea ice has made the region hostile to trade or military exploitation. But as the ice
buff.ly
In a roundtable for the National Bureau of Asia Research, Shihoko Goto contributed an essay explaining why Japan pledged billions of investment dollars to the United States, how Japan serves as an environment for sustainable AI development, and its increasing role in Southeast Asia.
Building Geoeconomic Toolkits: Asia-Pacific Middle Powers in an Era of Strategic Competition | The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
Asia-Pacific middle powers have emerged as important players in shaping the geoeconomic order. Their exposure to Chinese economic leverage, dependence on U.S.-led security arrangements, and role in…
buff.ly
Subscribe to the #BearMarketBrief for weekly updates on Russia's politics, economy, and more by Sara Ashbaugh and András Tóth-Czifra.
Bear Market Brief | FPRI Eurasia Program | Substack
Bear Market Brief brings you news about Russia’s economy, politics, business climate, and political risk environment. Click to read Bear Market Brief, a Substack publication.
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Raghvendra Kumar explains that the push for de-Westernization across African countries differs from previous ones, in that they are pursuing decoupling with tangible political and economic goals in mind. Click here to learn what greater autonomy has already granted some countries: buff.ly/vrX0Obb.
How France’s Fall Signals China’s Rise in the Sahel - Foreign Policy Research Institute
The second factor has a wider geopolitical significance. As the Sahel in general, and Burkina Faso in particular, have become the laboratory of Africa’s
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South Korea's Democratic Party and the People's Power Party agreed to extend the recount of the June local elections. Revisit Taehwa Hong's expert commentary on what the initial election results meant—and could still mean—for the country's foreign and domestic policies. buff.ly/kUDDdg7
The Foreign Policy Implications of South Korea’s Local Elections - Foreign Policy Research Institute
Image credit: Election officials count the ballots for local elections in Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
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In The New Region, Mohammed Salih lays out the possibilities for Iraqi militias to lay down arms and become legitimate political actors. He explains that three Iraqi factions organized weapons handover ceremonies for show while keeping drones and ballistic missiles in their arsenals.
Iraq’s disarming of Iran-backed militias: Deepening state capture or restoring sovereignty
As the end-of-September deadline for militia disarmament announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi draws near, questions linger regarding how his government will handle recalcitrant Iran-backed…
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In "The Steel Triangle," Peter Dombrowski, Luke Collin, and Jonathan Caverley discussed the new naval ecosystem among the United States, Japan, and South Korea; the nature of each country's shipbuilding industry; American strength in producing sophisticated ship systems; and more.
The Steel Triangle: The Future of a Shipbuilding Alliance
Shipbuilding has emerged as one of the most consequential frontiers of economic security and military deterrence. Both Japan and South Korea have emerged as indispensable industrial partners for the…
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Happy National Intern Day!🎉 Thank you to all of our summer and 2026 interns for supporting our fellows and staff. Read more about the internship program on our website. buff.ly/eFf8GoJ
🆕 How France's Fall Signals China's Rise in the Sahel by Raghvendra Kumar.
How France’s Fall Signals China’s Rise in the Sahel - Foreign Policy Research Institute
The second factor has a wider geopolitical significance. As the Sahel in general, and Burkina Faso in particular, have become the laboratory of Africa’s
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It is partially true that the Russian fuel market is stabilizing: experts note efficient internal logistics in select regions, though Siberian and Far Eastern regions are struggling. The government likely wants to diminish the fuel issue ahead of the Duma elections. #BearMarketBrief
Fruitful attacks
Ukraine targets Wildberries warehouses with a new wave of drone strikes
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