Curation · Think Tanks · Sunday, June 28, 2026

The long-form, worth your time.

Dispatches from Council on Foreign Relations, Atlantic Council, CSIS, Chatham House, Carnegie, Brookings, ECFR, Stimson, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and the other serious research houses we track. Filtered for geopolitical relevance, ordered by recency.

577 dispatches indexed · 14 publications represented

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies11Council on Foreign Relations8Brookings6Chatham House5Atlantic Council5Carnegie Endowment for International Peace4Middle East Institute3The Heritage Foundation2Cato Institute1Stimson Center1New Lines Institute1Bruegel1Center for American Progress1Peterson Institute for International Economics1

BrookingsMay 10, 2026

Robert D. Williams analyzes U.S. securitization of technology policy toward China, examining concerns over Chinese tech companies like Huawei and TikTok across 5G and artificial intelligence sectors, proposing reforms including data privacy legislation and strengthened cybersecurity measures.

United States · China

Chatham HouseMay 10, 2026

China has expanded its strategic interests in MENA beyond energy supplies to include manufacturing markets and European trade routes, prompting Beijing to develop diversified diplomatic tools while navigating complex economic, security, and sovereignty challenges.

China

Chatham HouseMay 9, 2026

Since February 28, the US and Israel have conducted coordinated strikes on Iran, killing leadership including Ayatollah Khamenei and hundreds of civilians, destabilizing the Islamic Republic amid regional conflict escalation and uncertain political outcomes.

United States · Israel · Iran

BrookingsMay 9, 2026

Trump, Putin, and Xi threaten the seventy-year US-led global order through opposing free trade and alliances, overthrowing the system, and replacing American dominance respectively, though presidential advisors currently contain Trump's worst impulses.

United States · China · Russia

Cato InstituteMay 9, 2026

Israel’s Campaign to Remake the Mideast Hurts America

Israel · United States

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 8, 2026

President Trump's May 2026 Beijing visit aims to enhance US-China stability through trade deals, rare earth commitments, and Iran cooperation, while China seeks tariff predictability and validation of its global standing amid ongoing strategic competition.

United States · China · Iran

BrookingsMay 8, 2026

Russia and Iran have sustained Assad's regime in Syria since 2011, defeating ISIS and expanding regional influence, yet Syria remains destabilized with humanitarian crises; the U.S. must pragmatically engage Russia diplomatically to stabilize territories, limit Iranian proxies, and prevent IS resurgence.

United States · Russia · Iran

BrookingsMay 8, 2026

Governments in 104 countries implemented social protection measures against high energy prices following a 30% oil price surge, though uncertainty about crisis duration and inflation risks delayed responses in roughly half of worldwide nations.

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 8, 2026

Trump and Xi will meet in Beijing next week, with CFR analysts expecting commercial deals on agricultural products and aircraft rather than addressing structural issues like Taiwan, economic models, or South China Sea tensions, reflecting a low-expectation approach prioritizing stability.

United States · China · Iran

Stimson CenterMay 8, 2026

The United States and Taiwan formalized the Pax Silica Declaration in January 2026, deepening their semiconductor partnership to secure the AI supply chain, with Taiwan's advanced chip manufacturing capabilities proving essential to both nations' technological and economic security.

United States · Taiwan · United Kingdom

New Lines InstituteMay 8, 2026

Iran war disruptions and rising oil prices accelerate South America's renewable energy shift, positioning Chinese manufacturers as the region's primary clean technology suppliers while the U.S. risks losing regional influence without competitive financing alternatives.

Iran · China · United States

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 8, 2026

The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes amid ongoing negotiations, while the UAE faced Iranian attacks; Trump claimed the ceasefire held despite mutual truce violation accusations as diplomacy continued through Vatican discussions.

United States · Iran · UAE

BruegelMay 8, 2026

China plans to pressure Trump on Taiwan's status, potentially destabilizing a critical geopolitical flashpoint with significant implications for global trade, security, and U.S.-China relations during his administration.

China · United States · Taiwan

Chatham HouseMay 8, 2026

Russia faces mounting economic pressures and infrastructure vulnerabilities as Ukraine's drone campaign intensifies, prompting Putin to scale back military celebrations and govern increasingly from bunkers, potentially signaling weakened control over the prolonged conflict.

Russia · Ukraine · Iran

Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceMay 8, 2026

India and the EU concluded a landmark free trade agreement, driven by U.S. tariffs, China concerns, and India's loss of preferential trade status, though it notably excludes government procurement and enforceable sustainability provisions.

India

Middle East InstituteMay 8, 2026

Egypt implemented successful macroeconomic reforms reducing inflation to 13.4% and boosting tourism to $24 billion, but the US-Israeli Iran conflict disrupted energy supplies, forcing fuel price hikes of 15-22% in March and threatening tourism recovery amid regional instability.

Egypt · Iran · United States

Atlantic CouncilMay 7, 2026

The Atlantic Council assessed the UAE's emerging AI leadership using a five-pillar framework, finding that strategic planning and sovereign investment enabled rapid deployment and ecosystem development, though challenges remain in talent retention, regulatory coherence, and infrastructure sustainability.

UAE · United States · China

Middle East InstituteMay 7, 2026

Trump Planned for Pressure on Iran, but Not the Global and Domestic Blowback

United States · Iran

Peterson Institute for International EconomicsMay 7, 2026

Economists Blanchard and Ubide propose issuing Eurobonds equivalent to 25 percent of EU GDP to strengthen European financial autonomy amid geopolitical tensions, addressing growing global demand for safe European assets while reducing member states' borrowing costs through centralized debt management backed by revenue transfers.

United States · Greenland

Chatham HouseMay 7, 2026

The world faces increased pandemic risk due to persistent inequality and disease outbreaks, requiring a new approach to prevention and preparedness.

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 7, 2026

A CSIS-Korea Foundation conference convened leading experts to reassess South Korea's strategic relationship with China amid U.S.-China competition, evaluating China's value, Korea's potential Taiwan role, and Beijing's effectiveness on North Korea restraint.

China · South Korea · United States

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 7, 2026

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya was indicted by the US Department of Justice for aiding the Sinaloa Cartel.

United States · Mexico · Canada

The Heritage FoundationMay 6, 2026

China imports 70% of its oil by sea, creating a critical vulnerability that U.S. military strategy should target through economic interdiction rather than focusing solely on Taiwan, potentially achieving strategic victory by disrupting the PLA's fuel supply.

China · United States

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 6, 2026

Diplomats gathered in New York to review the global nonproliferation treaty while the U.S. and Iran pursue ceasefire talks, with the conflict revealing that military strikes alone cannot effectively counter nuclear proliferation, risking future transparency in international nuclear security frameworks.

United States · Iran

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 6, 2026

Syria's Assad regime fell in December 2024, creating opportunities like suspended U.S. sanctions, yet the nation faces persistent threats from ISIS, foreign intervention, economic collapse, and Kurdish integration challenges requiring comprehensive governance and counterterrorism reforms.

Syria · Iran · Israel

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 10, 2026

President Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing May 14-15, with China holding strategic advantage through rare earth mineral dominance and U.S. global instability from Iran tensions, positioning Beijing to negotiate favorable trade and Taiwan policy outcomes.

United States · China

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 9, 2026

China views AI safety dialogues as opportunities to access advanced technology rather than address genuine security concerns, so Trump should couple narrowly focused talks with strict export controls to maintain U.S. technological advantage.

United States · China

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 9, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi eliminated Japan's postwar restrictions on defense exports to security partners in April, marking a historic policy shift that positions Japan's defense industry for potential global growth, though actual industry participation remains uncertain pending government follow-up support.

Japan · United States · China

Atlantic CouncilMay 9, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government faces survival questions after one year, with 86 percent public disapproval stemming from economic struggles and weak leadership, despite foreign policy gains and defense reforms.

Germany · United States · Iran

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 9, 2026

Trump’s Iran Policy Proves the Primacy of U.S. Power—but to What End?

United States · Iran

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 8, 2026

Iran War shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz caused fuel and fertilizer price shocks that worsened humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa, already facing conflict, displacement, and climate challenges.

Iran

BrookingsMay 8, 2026

China's 2013 Belt and Road Initiative finances African infrastructure projects through loans, boosting economic growth while raising Western concerns about debt sustainability, transparency, and governance standards across heterogeneous African outcomes.

China · United States

Middle East InstituteMay 8, 2026

The UAE ended its nearly 60-year OPEC membership in May 2024, citing production quota constraints that left it underutilizing capacity compared to peers, requiring OPEC+ to recalibrate strategy through membership expansion or increased production from existing members.

UAE · Saudi Arabia · Russia

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 8, 2026

CSIS held a May 2026 press briefing previewing the Trump-Xi summit, with analysts discussing a five-point U.S. agenda and China's three priorities including Taiwan and tariffs, while noting China enters negotiations from a stronger position.

United States · China

Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceMay 8, 2026

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has reduced economic dependence on oil but risks enriching elites while neglecting most citizens; ambitious megaprojects are stalling amid geopolitical tensions and resource constraints.

Saudi Arabia · Iran · United States

Chatham HouseMay 8, 2026

Trump's administration imposed "maximum pressure" sanctions on five countries during his terms, escalating to military action against Venezuela and Iran when sanctions failed to achieve regime change, demonstrating how economy-wide sanctions without negotiation off-ramps create dangerous escalatory momentum.

United States · Cuba · Iran

Atlantic CouncilMay 8, 2026

Syria's Foreign Minister meets EU officials in Brussels for first high-level dialogue since Assad's fall, seeking to deepen cooperation through trade, investment, and positioning Syria as a strategic energy and transport hub connecting the Gulf to Europe amid regional restructuring.

Syria · Iran

Center for American ProgressMay 8, 2026

Trump's family received a $500 million cryptocurrency investment from a UAE security official in January 2025, followed weeks later by the administration loosening AI chip export controls to the Emirates, raising constitutional concerns about foreign influence over U.S. national security interests.

United States · UAE

BrookingsMay 8, 2026

Brookings experts examine the triangular strategic dynamics among China, Iran, and the United States, exploring Beijing's cautious approach to regional conflict, Tehran's expectations from its Chinese partnership, and Washington's positioning amid escalating Middle East tensions.

United States · China · Iran

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 8, 2026

Spain's Prime Minister Sánchez visited China to deepen economic ties and signal geopolitical alignment, securing trade protocols and investment agreements while hoping inbound Chinese investment addresses Spain's $35 billion trade deficit-though concrete results remain uncertain.

Spain · China

The Heritage FoundationMay 8, 2026

The UAE withdrew from OPEC this week, signaling the cartel's declining control over global oil supplies amid surging American shale production, potentially lowering gasoline prices for U.S. consumers over time.

UAE · Iran · Iraq

Atlantic CouncilMay 7, 2026

Trump and Xi meet next week amid escalating US-China trade tensions, with new tariffs planned despite ongoing disputes over Iranian oil sanctions and Middle East conflicts complicating negotiations.

United States · China · Iran

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 7, 2026

Israel struck Beirut for the first time since announcing a ceasefire last month, killing a Hezbollah commander in the suburbs. The attack, justified as defensive operations, demonstrates how ongoing Lebanese fighting could undermine broader regional peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Israel · Lebanon · Iran

Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceMay 7, 2026

European leaders spent 2025 placating Donald Trump through humiliating concessions, but this strategy failed, prompting analysts to debate whether Europe should build independent defense capabilities or maintain strategic restraint while reducing U.S. dependence.

United States

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 7, 2026

Spectrum policy is crucial for AI advancement, underpinning 6G technology and low-latency connectivity demands.

United States · China

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 7, 2026

Iran's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz through minimal force demonstrates how nations with ballistic missile technology could similarly threaten low-Earth orbit satellites, potentially destabilizing global space commerce valued at approaching one trillion dollars by 2034.

Iran · Oman · United States

Atlantic CouncilMay 7, 2026

How the Iran war is affecting Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic outlook

Iran

Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceMay 6, 2026

Carnegie Europe analysts Rosa Balfour, Anu Bradford, and Noah Barkin debated whether Europe risks dependency on the U.S. or China amid AI competition, examining if Europe's regulatory approach can sustain competitiveness against market-driven and state-led rivals.

United States · China

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International StudiesMay 6, 2026

CSIS analyzes global energy market trends amid rising AI adoption and economic protectionism, examining how these forces reshape supply chains and demand forecasts across short and long-term outlooks.

United States · Israel · India

Council on Foreign RelationsMay 6, 2026

Despite decades of U.S. biotech dominance, the nation faces critical strain from funding instability and global competition, threatening its scientific leadership position as other countries strategically invest in cutting-edge research and manufacturing capacity.

United States

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