Global Insights

Spies, Satellites & Startups: Intel in the Digital Age

Visit us at Network2020.org. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, commercial satellite imagery, open-source intelligence, and data analytics are transforming the t

The State of Diplomacy at America 250

Visit us at Network2020.org. The world has changed dramatically in the 250 years since Benjamin Franklin’s mission to France in 1776. It is changing again now, with new

The New North: The Eight States Shaping a New European Security

Visit us at Network2020.org. A major shift is underway in the defense posture of Northern Europe. Finland and Sweden joined NATO, ending long periods of non-alignment. T

Abu Dhabi’s Ascent: The UAE’s Global Strategy

Visit us at Network2020.org. The United Arab Emirates’ recent decision to leave OPEC after nearly six decades is about far more than oil—it is the latest sign of a growi

The Philippines and the Contest for the South China Sea

Visit us at Network2020.org. The Philippines sits at the center of an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, caught between its traditional ally in Washington, and rising

NATO: Europe without America, with Jeremy Shapiro (Rewind Edition)

Visit us at Network2020.org. For nearly eighty years, Europe's security has rested on a single assumption: that the Americans would be there. In early March, days i

Chokepoints: The Hidden Infrastructure of Global Power

Visit us at Network2020.org. From the Strait of Hormuz to the international monetary system to the semi-conductor supply chain, the world is becoming increasingly aware

The End of the Predictable World: Forecasting a World in Turmoil

Visit us at Network2020.org. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The COVID-19 Pandemic. On-and-off-and-on-again tariffs. Over the past few

The Kurdish Crossroads: Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Recent hostilities with Iran have once again highlighted the role of the Kurds as a key player in regional conflicts. While seen as a threa

Rising Proliferation: Nuclear Risks in a Post-Treaty World

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The recent expiration of the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia marks a structural shift in the global nuclear order, removing th

Cuba’s Future and U.S. Interests

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Cuba is at a strategic crossroads as the near collapse of its national energy system reshapes the island’s political landscape. Intense U.S

Beyond Tariffs: The New Multipolar Trade Web

Visit us at Network2020.org.  It has been just over a year since President Trump’s “Liberation Day” global tariff announcement. Since then, the global trade landscape ha

How Russia Weaponized a Thousand Ships

Visit us at Network2020.org.  In response to the unprecedented economic sanctions put on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow spent over $10 billion on

Recap: What's Next for the Global Order?

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Three weeks into 2026, the United States removed a foreign head of state by force, threatened to take territory from a NATO ally, and backe

Global Insights Goes Biweekly (For Now)

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Over the past several months, Global Insights has covered some of the biggest stories shaping the world, from the war in Iran to U.S. actio

U.S. Strategy in the Western Hemisphere

Visit us at Network2020.org.  With the 2025 National Security Strategy placing renewed emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, Washington appears poised to engage more activ

Transatlantic Relations Under Trump: Challenges and Options

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The alarm bells have been ringing in Europe over the past few years, signaling that Europe’s traditional reliance on the American security

Recap: Iran After Khamenei, a Conversation with Dr. Arash Azizi

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The killing of Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes has thrust Iran into uncharted territory. With its supreme leader gone, dozens of

Crude Power: The U.S. Pivot to Oil and the Future Energy Mix

Visit us at Network2020.org.  The year 2026 kicked off with a massive shake-up in U.S. foreign and energy policy. Through bold action, the Trump administration is signal

Peace in Ukraine: Deal or Deadlock?

Visit us at Network2020.org.  Four years after Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine and its ensuing war, new attempts are being made to end the conflict. This past Januar