Peacekeeping and intervention

Gulf Arab states increasingly view Israel as the main obstacle to progress on the peace plan – and may hope for an opening after Israel’s October elections.

When the fighting ends, America’s predominance in the region is likely to be eroded as Iran reasserts itself, the Arab monarchies reconsider their security – and China sees an opportunity. By Mohsen Milani.

Eight candidates are vying to succeed António Guterres, but if the next United Nations’ chief can’t reassert its role in major conflicts, the organization risks becoming a ‘cumbersome appendage’, diplomats tell Stéphanie Fillion.

Sustaining the force is essential. But so too are funding commitments to restore the health and education services Haitians desperately need.

The move may lead to more pressure on Israel to implement Trump’s 20-point plan, but both sides are likely to keep dragging out the process while avoiding any real commitments.

Libyan anti-corruption investigations reveal the limitations of a US push to reunify the country without improving governance.

Clearing the busy international waterway of mines is a complex challenge that will take time and international coordination. But it could help to build trust between the US and Iran during negotiations.

The grassroots movement received the 2025 Chatham House Prize for its humanitarian assistance to millions of Sudanese in the civil war. NGOs and international funders need to adapt to its innovative approach, writes ERR volunteer Alsanosi Adam.

Diplomacy that does not disrupt the flow of foreign weapons, finance, and logistics into Sudan is underwriting, rather than ending the war.

With the world distracted by the Iran war, the situation is worsening in Gaza, where neither Israel nor Hamas are under pressure to make progress on the ceasefire plan.

The devastating war in Sudan shows no signs of abating. Diplomatic efforts must prioritize a Sudanese-led political process.

Iran will be reluctant to give up the leverage it has gained in the Strait. But options exist to try and change its perspective.

Christian-Géraud Neema and Joshua Walker discuss how the short and long-term implications of the DRC’s pivot to the US are affecting its strategic autonomy, mining sovereignty, and what it means for President Tshisekedi’s political options.

Following a panel event on West African security with foreign ministers of Ghana and Nigeria at Chatham House, Paul Ejime and Paul Melly join the podcast to discuss the ministers’ call for local security solutions in the region.

The new director of Chatham House’s International Security Programme on how AI is transforming the battlefield and why women in her field must work harder to be heard.

During an event at Chatham House, HE Yusuf Tuggar and HE Samuel Ablakwa also discussed ECOWAS, West Africa-France relations, and allegations of attacks on Christian communities in the region.

With the world distracted by war in the Middle East, de-escalation will need to come from Kabul and Islamabad directly.

The upcoming African Union summit is an opportunity for African leaders to reset the union’s role on Sudan and take decisive action to end the war.

Professor Marc Weller, Director of the International Law Programme, gave evidence to the Committee on 4 February.

Beyond restoring security, a push to rebuild Haiti’s society and create jobs is vital to any lasting solution. But who will fund such an effort, as the cycle of violence continues?

The core premise of a local technocratic committee supported by international and regional stakeholders is not unorthodox. But the undefined responsibilities don’t bode well.

Clashes between the Syrian government and the SDF and deadlocked talks with Israel threaten to drag Syria into renewed conflict. The EU should step in with a longer-term approach.

The Gulf states should embrace transparent communications, publish national security strategies and use bilateral forums to minimize the risk of future intra-Gulf disputes.

Yemen’s neighbour has learned the painful lesson that neutrality in the conflict next door offers no immunity, only the hope of containment.

Experts discuss what makes African peace processes stick.

Institute Director and Chief Executive Bronwen Maddox reviews Chatham House’s response to an extraordinary year of turbulence in international affairs.

The Gang Suppression Force will be more than 5,500 strong. But as another power vacuum looms in February, the international community is ignoring Haiti’s deeper problems, writes Jacqueline Charles.

Are you an envoy worried about how to adapt as the international system buckles? Then Nicholas Westcott’s guide to diplomatic survival in the new era of hard power is the place to start.

A potted selection of reviews from our sister journal ‘International Affairs’, by its book reviews editor Mariana Vieira.

A military takeover in Guinea-Bissau and an attempted coup in Benin are the latest tests for ECOWAS. But it is the ever-spreading Sahel security crisis that remains the greater challenge for regional leadership.

A new survey of 1,332 Haitians reveals aspirations for better education and healthcare in addition to improvements in security, as well as opposition to amnesty for gang members, a desire for early elections, and suspicion of any potential political bargain that could enable gang leaders to enter government.

Gang violence and state weakness continue to undermine security in Haiti, and the expiry of the transitional government’s mandate in February 2026 could bring further instability. This paper proposes a programme of reforms that could start to restore security and public services.

While the Black Sea plays a pivotal role in Russia’s strategic thinking, the region also presents a critical opportunity for the West to contain Moscow’s global ambitions.

Geopolitical fragmentation is making conflict harder to resolve. Policy interventions must adapt to a world in which the political allegiances of conflict actors are seldom absolute.

How effective are the most common interventions, and are they fit for future conflicts?

This paper provides a detailed analysis of how and when states can respond to violations of international law through the use of countermeasures, with a particular focus on the cyber context.

Tanzania’s rising economic influence and its ambitions for major cross-border infrastructure projects demand a more proactive approach to foreign policy. The policy review currently under way is a chance for the country to reach its potential as a regional leader and reliable global partner.

This paper explores how the remote border district of Sinjar in Iraq became a transnational conflict hub that threatens wider security in the Middle East.

As diverse forms of cooperation between states, international organizations and non-state groups increasingly shape armed conflicts, the need for legal clarity on who qualifies as a party to conflict has never been greater.

International humanitarian efforts are disconnected from the people affected by armed conflict contexts. This paper looks at how the international humanitarian system should respond to rejections of humanitarian principles and improve systems of accountability.

Protracted and increasingly complex armed conflicts are impacting the ability of assistance organizations to work in accordance with humanitarian principles. Coherent and shared approaches to the principles and greater local participation are central to improving civilian outcomes.

Given the continuing existence of rival political institutions and a competitive and divided security sector in Libya, discussion of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration is often viewed as premature. But while there is no blueprint for DDR across Libya as a whole, there is already scope for planning according to local contexts.

Political settlements in Iraq, Lebanon and Libya have long relied on deals between elites to ensure ‘stability’, but the resulting power-sharing systems fuel corruption and have led to disastrous governance failings. To improve the daily lives of citizens under these settlements, international policymakers must focus on increasing the accountability of elites.

This paper explores the regional dimensions of the two-year civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the potential for successful implementation of the November 2022 peace agreement.

More cohesive international engagement is needed to support stability in Ethiopia and Sudan and resolve damaging cross-border disputes that jeopardize security and development across the Horn of Africa.

Specialist international engagement roles within the British armed forces may prove crucial to achieving the objectives of the UK’s Integrated Review.

This paper examines the rise of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and whether it still has a role in Libya’s future.

Strengthening the social contract, tackling governance failures, and replacing a counterterrorism imperative with a focus on human security are long overdue in the Western Sahel.

Future reform efforts in Iraq must be guided by strategies that better understand the nature of PMF networks and their links to state power structures.

This paper summarizes the US mission in Somalia, analyses how it is being implemented, and assesses whether US policy in Somalia is working. It also outlines three scenarios for future US engagement.

In the context of recent developments, this paper reviews US President Donald Trump’s Iran strategy and explores possible pathways to a new nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic.

This paper focuses on Russia’s military posture in the Russian Arctic, demystifying Moscow’s military build-up, and explaining why the intentions are defensive.

This paper provides a systemic analysis of Yemen’s ‘chaos state’, aimed at giving policymakers and political leaders the context and tools required to rethink their approach to Yemen.