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NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST


Constructing Neutrality: Pakistan's Response to the Strait of Hormuz Crisis
On May 6th, 2026, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X in response to the US President's announcement of a “pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz” – the US-led operation to protect commercial shipping in the strait. Sharif praised Trump’s "courageous leadership” and thanked him for his “timely announcement,” framing Trump’s decision as an important step toward “regional peace, stability, and reconciliation.” As Pakistan positions itself as a mediato

Esha Zaveri
Jun 67 min read


From the Margins Back to the Core: Jetten's Discursive Repositioning of The Netherlands within EU Foreign and Security Policy
On February 23, 2026, Rob Jetten was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, ending a turbulent period during which Dutch credibility within the European Union had taken a serious hit. His predecessor, Dick Schoof, led a coalition dominated by Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid or Party of Freedom), a party whose leader publicly called the EU a 'monster' and whose presence in government, as one diplomat bluntly put it, contributed to a perception tha

Joshua Zaunick
May 2311 min read


Between Neutrality and NATO: Moldova's Strategic Hedging in Practice
On February 13th, 2026, Moldova President Maia Sandu posted on X: “Good meeting with @SecGenNATO. We discussed strengthening Moldova’s resilience against hybrid threats and advancing cooperation to keep our citizens safe. Our long-standing partnership with @NATO helps protect democracy and contributes to regional security.” The deepening of security and defense ties with the European Union has become central to Moldova's EU accession ambitions, alongside expanded engagement w

Molly Prichard
May 16 min read
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