Israel’s strikes might accelerate Iran’s race towards nuclear weapons

Many in Tehran will urge a redoubled effort to develop nuclear weapons, after Israel’s attacks once again exposed the weakness of Iran’s conventional deterrence.

Venezuela’s oil exports held steady in May, despite re-imposed US sanctions. Chatham House research suggests that’s unlikely to change.

During an event at Chatham House, the Chief Adviser of the interim government discussed the difficulties in supporting Rohingya refugees following USAID withdrawal. He also outlined the challenges in holding new elections.

The EU’s embrace of both a central bank digital currency and private cryptocurrencies could be a more promising strategy than either China’s or the US’s exclusive focus on one or the other.

The crucial conference in France comes after Trump ordered the US to pursue deep-sea mining with potentially damaging consequences. A moratorium is needed.

Rewarding Moscow with Crimea would become a template for future violations of sovereignty and a precedent for states with similar aims – notably China.

The event explored how to ensure positive, secure resource governance in Africa. 

The outgoing director of Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme reflects on Russia’s anti-democratic history, paying attention to its neighbours and his 25 years of service.

From the US to Hungary, from Iraq to Ghana, new erosions of minority rights are a warning of democratic backsliding. To fight back this Pride month, new alliances must be formed, says Ari Shaw.

Allies are less certain of the US’s ‘extended deterrence’ and some are pondering their own options. Ankit Panda explains the escalating dangers of a ‘third nuclear age’ – and how they might be avoided.

Residents of Estonia’s border city have strong but complicated ties to their Russian neighbours. Photojournalist Mario Heller meets some of them to discuss identity, language and Russian expansion.

Almost a million of Russia’s brightest have fled home since 2022. Ekaterina Sachkova spoke to some of them about the dilemmas and distrust they face – and why the West might be missing an opportunity.

With press freedom in peril and disinformation on the rise, now is the moment to secure funding for the BBC World Service, writes its director Jonathan Munro.

In his Chatham House speech the Secretary General said he expects NATO states to commit to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence, arguing ‘America has carried too much of the burden for too long’.

Hosting world leaders in Alberta will be the first big test for Canada’s new prime minister. But will he confront the US president or play peacemaker, asks Iona Allan.

Interview: The EU’s first Commissioner for Defence discusses the urgency of learning from Ukraine’s military innovations and the ‘challenge’ of working with Europe’s defence industry.

Among the many stories in the summer issue of ‘The World Today’, we explore NATO’s moment of reckoning at the Hague summit and ask if Europe can step up defence spending amid America’s continued global retreat.

By integrating the technology into early warning systems, artificial intelligence could help prevent nuclear escalation – but only if the risks are better understood, warns Marion Messmer.

After a devastating war with Israel, Hezbollah is weakened and under pressure to disarm. Hugo Bachega visits communities in Lebanon’s south to ask what comes next for the embattled group.

In calling for fewer imports, more exports and less consumption, the US president sounds like Xi Jinping. But are Americans willing to make the necessary sacrifices, wonders David Lubin.

As Nice welcomes delegates from across the world to the UN Ocean Conference, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Ambassador Peter Thomson, discusses what needs to be done to save the world’s seas.

Eighty years after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we republish part of The World Today’s response to the first – and so far, only – use of nuclear weaponry in warfare.

Ahead of Chatham House’s London Conference, director Bronwen Maddox writes that a major theme will be how countries are adapting to the shifting global roles of the United States and China.

America’s ambivalence and Russia’s aggression are testing the alliance as never before. We asked diplomats, defence experts and senior military figures what might be done to secure NATO at its crucial Hague summit – and beyond.

Washington and its allies want to deepen ties with New Delhi, but first they must realize how much India depends on and shares with China, writes Chietigj Bajpaee.

Fiona Bowler tells of the health problems faced by her grandfather and other servicemen who were exposed to radiation on Christmas Island, and their struggle for compensation.

Britain’s nuclear capability depends on the US and France reserves its for national defence. How might they cooperate to bolster NATO’s ultimate ability to defend itself?

A tougher, more joined-up approach to foreign aid is needed so that left-behind communities in donor countries also feel its benefit, argues Justine Greening.

The system that prevailed before the recent shocks is gone forever. A new vision for world trade is possible, but it will require fresh thinking and collective leadership from the European Union and others, says Creon Butler.

Interview: Ahmed Soliman tells Sara Seth how the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers are benefitting from Sudan’s illicit, cross-border gold trade and how that might be stopped.