In early 2025, Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) facilitated their first kidnappings of foreign nationals in nearly seven years. Neo Tsotetsi analyses the incidents and discusses the underlying shifts in the Sahelian security environment enabling it.
The release of Marc Fogel from Russian detention in February came as the new US administration ramped up efforts to secure the return of detained Americans held abroad and recalibrate its approach to Russia. Richard Gardiner examines how these policy shifts under President Donald Trump could shape the future of wrongful detentions of US nationals in…
A recent high-profile kidnapping in Thailand has shone a renewed spotlight on ‘scam compounds’ flourishing in South Asia’s organised crime industry, with repercussions for Thailand’s reputation as a safe destination for foreign – and particularly Chinese – visitors, writes Tamsin Hunt.
In tackling the country’s persistently high levels of violent crime, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has intensified security operations led by the military. This marks a publicised departure from the ‘hugs not bullets’ approach of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), although its success is not guaranteed, writes Shannon Lorimer.…
As geopolitical sands shift amid the new US administration’s realignment of its domestic and foreign policy agenda, the global travel sector faces some uncertainty over the direct and potentially slower-to-emerge implications for travel safety. Saif Islam and Erin Drake consider what these implications may look like over the coming year.
US President Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ policies and threats to withdraw from NATO have highlighted the urgency for European countries to decrease their reliance on US military support. However, significant challenges remain in realising security independence, write Neo Tsotetsi and Shannon Lorimer.
Saif Islam explores the macroeconomic and political implications of Sri Lanka’s latest budget and the potential for a resurgence of anti-government protests.
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for the group to disarm presents a historic opportunity for peace with Turkey. Tamsin Hunt and Saif Islam explore the promises and obstacles on the path toward a lasting resolution.
US President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing foreign aid has highlighted the global reliance on US funding as the new administration moves to streamline government spending. While concerns over the effectiveness of international aid and calls for reform are not new, Richard Gardiner examines how the sudden US policy shift will impact regions…
The collapse of a longstanding truce in January between factions of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia dissident group and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional prompted a surge in violence in Catatumbo Region. The fighting has exposed certain shortcomings in President Gustavo Petro’s approach to conflict resolution and will likely prompt…
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has coincided with US President Donald Trump introducing a plan for “owning” Gaza, which would entail the displacement of Palestinians to neighbouring countries. Such an event would have far-reaching political, social, and security repercussions for the region, but particularly for Egypt and Jordan, writes Tamsin Hunt.…
With Islamist militant groups and extremists carrying out attacks across multiple regions last year, Richard Gardiner examines some of the main actors involved and explores what may lie ahead in 2025.