After last week’s elections in the Netherlands, pundits’ first-blush conclusion was that voters sent a powerful message in support of centrist politics. Unfortunately, that is the flawed product of wishful thinking, @fridaghitis.bsky.social writes.

For Qatar, conflict mediation has become a way to project the image of a proactive state committed to promoting international peace and security. As Sansom Milton writes, though, its mediation is also self-preserving.

Even as the Moroccan government seems to have made hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup its key priority, many Moroccans are worried about other issues, Francisco Serrano writes.

The consequences of Europe’s far-right shift could be just as deep as in the United States. In Europe, though, it’s happening by stealth.

Though Geert Wilders saw his support drop, the idea that voters in the Netherlands disavowed the far right is wishful thinking, @fridaghitis.bsky.social writes.

Over the past two decades, Qatar has emerged as a leading conflict mediator. As Sansom Milton writes, the shift isn’t just about reputation—it’s also about self-preservation.

Morocco’s persistent economic problems became more glaring in contrast with spending on co-hosting the FIFA World Cup, Francisco Serrano writes.

The consequences of Europe’s far-right shift could be just as deep as in the United States. In Europe, though, it’s happening by stealth, @nathalietocci.bsky.social writes.

The Trump administration has defended its strikes on boats as “self-defense” against an “armed attack.” That argument is only complicating its legal strategy.

With so many recent actions in the Western Hemisphere, there is an inevitable desire to argue the Trump administration has a coherent underlying strategy at work. That’s a fool’s errand, @dandrezner.bsky.social writes.

Morocco has long struggled with persistent unemployment and underfunded education and health services, difficulties that have become even more glaring in contrast as huge investments are channeled toward co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The far right’s attack on liberal democracy in Europe is not as stark as in the U.S., but its effects could be just as deep, @nathalietocci.bsky.social writes.

The Trump administration’s defenders are incentivized to explain Trump’s actions in the Western Hemisphere as exercises in five-dimensional chess, even if it looks like he’s just eating the pieces, columnist @dandrezner.bsky.social writes.

“The region should fear the moment when the less examined reality of El Salvador’s security situation becomes a more visible feature of its politics,” James Bosworth (@bloggingsbyboz.bsky.social) writes.

Following years in which the U.S. and France gradually withdrew engagement with the Sahel states of West Africa, Turkey now features as a prominent partner in the region’s cooperation with outside powers.

Trump’s rhetoric about recent U.S. strikes on boats has painted the administration into a corner. Now, it has to either provide evidence that an armed conflict is occurring, or else acknowledge it has simply committed murder.

The Trump administration has defended its strikes on boats as “self-defense” against an “armed attack.” As @charlicarpenter.bsky.social writes, though, that argument is only complicating its legal strategy.

With so many recent actions in the Western Hemisphere, there is an inevitable desire to argue that the Trump administration has a coherent underlying strategy at work. It doesn’t, @dandrezner.bsky.social writes.

There is a hidden explanation for why El Salvador’s security situation has improved so much in recent years. The region should fear the moment that it becomes a visible feature of the country’s politics.

As France and the U.S. have gradually withdrawn engagement with the Sahel states in West Africa, other actors have filled the vacuum. Lately, one of the most prominent actors has been Turkey, Emil Avdaliani writes.

As with Nicaragua a decade ago, there is a hidden explanation for El Salvador’s improved security situation under Bukele, James Bosworth (@bloggingsbyboz.bsky.social) writes.

Following a series of coups in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, Turkey has stepped up its engagement in the Sahel region of West Africa, Emil Avdaliani writes.

“The paradox at the heart of Africa’s Gen Z uprisings is that most young Africans remain committed to the idea of democracy as a form of government while being profoundly frustrated with its results,” @lesleyannewarner.bsky.social writes.

Phase 1 of Trump’s Gaza peace plan has mostly been implemented but is proving difficult to maintain. And even if it does ultimately hold, the subsequent phases are far less likely to succeed.

For a generation of African youth, the concept of democracy has become an empty promise. Over the past 18 months, they have taken to the streets carrying a message that their patience has run out.

The first phase of Trump’s Gaza peace plan is proving difficult to maintain, and even if it does ultimately hold, there is a fundamental problem that could undermine the later phases, @profpaulpoast.bsky.social writes.

Amid political paralysis at home, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has turned the country’s attention to foreign policy to counter his domestic troubles.

Australia and Papua New Guinea’s new defense agreement is a remarkable achievement for both countries. But given the two sides’ significantly different geostrategic objectives, implementation will be tricky.

WPR Editor-in-Chief Elliot Waldman recently spoke to Sweden’s Sveriges Radio about the global wave of Gen-Z protests. Hear his analysis here, beginning at the 14 minute mark:

Most young Africans remain committed to the idea of democracy, but they are profoundly frustrated with its results, @lesleyannewarner.bsky.social writes.

Phase 1 of Trump’s Gaza peace plan has mostly been implemented, but as @profpaulpoast.bsky.social writes, the subsequent phases are far less likely to succeed.

Spain’s prime minister is emphasizing his party’s positions on issues like NATO and Gaza to shore up his political standing.

Given the two sides’ significantly different geostrategic objectives, implementation of Australia and Papua New Guinea’s new defense agreement will be tricky, calling into question its sustainability.

As Europe enters a new era of strategic competition, the private sector is not doing enough to adapt to a dangerous new reality.

The dream of “global AI governance” is dead. Instead, fragmentation has emerged as the new normal.

After a rough year, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has found an unlikely strategy for countering his domestic troubles: turning the country’s attention to foreign policy. Read more in @fridaghitis.bsky.social’s latest column:

Australia and Papua New Guinea’s new defense agreement is a remarkable achievement for both countries. And yet, as @derekjgrossman.bsky.social writes, the two sides also have significantly different geostrategic goals.

Pakistan’s defense minister is threatening to “obliterate” the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan after peace talks collapsed. Read more in the latest Daily Review:

Governments and their militaries aren’t the only ones who need to adapt to Europe’s new era of strategic competition, @rikefranke.bsky.social writes. Private sector businesses must also meet the challenges of this new reality.

In the future, 2025 will be remembered as the year that shifted the AI debate away from the ideal of transnational coherence and toward the reality of regulatory fragmentation, Kat Duffy writes.

The recent ascension of Jose Jeri to be interim president marks a new low in Peru’s ongoing democratic decline. Simeon Tegel reports from Lima:

Despite the real power they exercise, there are some striking similarities in the brittleness of Xi’s and Trump’s domestic political control, Mary Gallagher writes.

As Europe enters a new era of strategic competition, the private sector is not doing enough to adapt to a dangerous new reality, @rikefranke.bsky.social writes.

The AI governance discourse, long defined by abstract policy questions, is adapting to the harsh realities of a divided world, Kat Duffy writes.

Serious voices in Peru now regard the country’s democratic collapse as worse than under the 1990s strongman Alberto Fujimori. The biggest difference now, though, is that there is no single figure leading the assault on democracy.

As Trump and Xi prepare to meet this week, they each appear in firm control of their respective polities. Yet despite the real power they exercise, there are some striking similarities in the brittleness of each leader’s domestic political control.

Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia’s president-elect, will face a dire economic crisis and a fragmented political system.

Argentine President Javier Milei’s party beat expectations in crucial midterm elections. He’s still walking a political tightrope as he tries to revive Argentina’s economy.

The recent ascension of Jose Jeri to be interim president marks a new low in Peru’s ongoing democratic decline, Simeon Tegel writes.

Tomorrow’s meeting between Trump and Xi may mark the end of round one in the U.S.-China trade war, but it will not resolve the longer-term tensions in the bilateral relationship, Mary Gallagher writes.