China purges nine top commanders in People’s Liberation Army

In the coming days Egypt will become a crucial player in Gaza. Cairo will be vital in facilitating the flow of aid into the territory and Egyptian troops could potentially deploy as peacekeepers.

"What some powerful members of the Trump administration want is regime change, and they want it as cheaply as possible." Christopher Sabatini writes for the @nytimes.com on the Trump administration's mobilisation of the US military against Venezuela ⬇️

At this point any US military aid or support for Europe and Ukraine should be viewed as a bonus under this president. Trump doesn’t care about Europe and Europe should act and arm accordingly.

In the last six years, the Gulf Arab states have been attacked by both Israel and by Iran. In both instances, Washington did not protect them or respond militarily.

The consistency with which Donald Trump makes excuses for Vladimir Putin is truly beyond alarming at this point. The Russians have very likely concluded that their next act of aggression towards Europe will receive no meaningful US response…. and they would be right.

Enough is enough. After the drone incursion into Poland deterrence needs to be re-established with the Russians. The next time a flight of Russian jets enter NATO airspace, fire control radars should be locked onto them.

At an emergency summit in Doha, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi escalated his rhetoric on Israel - and may now seek to revive Cairo’s vision of an Arab military alliance.

You love to see it and a packed edition too as we head into the Autumn 🍂. Give @lycidas.bsky.social and the mighty @theworldtoday.org team a follow👇

A Russian naval base, the growing Iranian presence in Port Sudan and the risk posed by terrorist groups seeking a haven are all reasons why Western governments should give a higher priority to Sudan.

"Eight decades after the Second World War ended, China no longer views itself as a mere participant in history but as the architect of a new world order." A fascinating read by my @chathamhouse.org colleague Yu Jie on the key signals China is sending via the SCO summit and 'Victory Day' parade.

China is sending a clear message: it wants to reshape the world order. And it has the power to do it.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a significant escalation but not a shift in Russia’s strategic outlook – one rooted in resisting EU and NATO influence in the Black Sea.

“Trump gave Putin more space to manipulate, mislead and buy time. Alaska has emboldened Putin, who is likely to prolong, not end, the war.” Orysia Lutsevych on the Alaska summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump for @chathamhouse.org⤵️

“There are dangers still to watch for. Trump is now once again looking to Zelenskyy to take steps towards peace. Having failed to make any impression on Putin, Trump is turning to the softer target.” @keirgiles.bsky.social offers his analysis on the Alaska summit⤵️

"Ukraine and Europe risk being once again frozen out of the conversation about their future. In the case of Europe, that’s a damning indictment." Read @keirgiles.bsky.social latest on the upcoming summit in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, for @theipaper.com⤵️

A fascinating read by @chathamhouse.org’s Middle East team on the dynamics at play in Lebanon following the war in September-October last year and what it means for Israel, Hezbollah, the US and Lebanon. ⬇️

With Hezbollah badly mauled following its war with Israel and much of its leadership destroyed, the United States sees an opportunity to end a long-standing threat to Israel and Lebanon.

"Although Israel and the United States did considerable damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, Iran may be able to produce the fissile material required for about ten nuclear weapons within half a year." Stark analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

A fascinating new report by @galipdalay.bsky.social and Natalie Sabanadze for @chathamhouse.org. It covers the ambitions of Russia in the Black Sea region, 🇷🇺🇹🇷 ties, the invasion of Ukraine and China's regional interests also. A brilliant read on one of the world's most contested maritime domains⤵️

Today’s China–EU summit in Beijing is meant to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties, but China and Europe remain deeply divided over trade and the war in Ukraine. Read Yu Jie's (@chasiapacific.bsky.social) latest for @chathamhouse.org ⤵️

An important read by my @chathamhouse.org colleagues on how the UK should approach the Indo-Pacific region.

Podcast🎙️| Will Trump deliver for Ukraine? Jaroslava Barbieri, John Lough and Samir Puri join the podcast to discuss whether Donald Trump is shifting his views on Ukraine and Russia. Apple: apple.co/4m80Qs9 Spotify: bit.ly/458Fepz

Find it shocking that the story about the Afghan files is being turned into a story about immigration on R4 by Rajan and Healy. This is about public scrutiny, government decision-making, doing right by those who've supported the British armed forces and British operations overseas. Not immigration.

"This will lead to a reimagination of Turkish citizenship, the idea of the Turkish nation and Turkey's geopolitical identity." @galipdalay.bsky.social (@chmenap.bsky.social) on the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and what it means for 🇹🇷, via @aljazeera.com

The Entente Cordiale has never looked better and neither has the Mall. Truly stunning weather in London today for Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK 🇫🇷🇬🇧.

“China’s economy has been growing at roughly the same pace as the world economy since 2020, meaning that China’s share of global GDP – the best measure of relative national power – is now flatlining. By this indicator, China is no longer a rising country.”

A really interesting podcast with @gideonrachman.bsky.social and @valinasr.bsky.social on the Iran-Israel war. The key takeaway: Israel has not fully destroyed Iran’s nuclear program. We don’t know enough (yet) about the damage at Natanz, Esfahan and Fordow.

"China already has the world's largest navy, and its battle force is expected to grow to 435 ships by 2030." In a pre-summit address Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke at @chathamhouse.org about 🇨🇳's rising naval power in the Indo-Pacific. Watch our event ➡️ bit.ly/3HO5sED

Higher education in the UK is in a truly parlous state. At a minimum the University of Nottingham (my old employer) is expecting around 400 redundancies. Former colleagues are worried or voting with their feet and leaving. The same concerns from colleagues at London based universities too.

Post-strike images of the Fordow fuel enrichment facility in Iran from Maxar dated 22 June. Large craters caused by the US strikes can be seen on the ridge above the underground complex. A layer of grey-blue ash covers the area around the site.

Brand new imagery from Maxar featuring high-res satellite images show damage to Iran’s heavy water reactor complex in Arak following Israeli strikes. Comparison of images dated 18 and 19 June confirm the Arak reactor has sustained heavy damage.

Oh boy.

"Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years. Five years." Speaking at @chathamhouse.org NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warns about the dangers facing Europe's security. Watch the event: bit.ly/3HO5sED

South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung has made controversial foreign policy statements and could move Seoul closer to Beijing, at a time when North Korea poses a growing threat.

A thread by my colleague and friend @armida.bsky.social on the political crisis in the Netherlands.

“Ukraine has demonstrated that the battlefield is no longer just kinetic – it’s cognitive, autonomous, and contested in milliseconds." Grace Cassy, a member of the Defence Review Team for the UK's 2025 Strategic Defence Review, provides her insights for @chathamhouse.org 🔽.

If a lasting Kurdish peace is achieved, it has the power to transform Turkey’s domestic politics and international future.

For the UK’s friends in Europe, the language used by the British right about Europe is rightfully dismaying. But they don’t speak for all of us. Their project failed. The polling is clear. Voters want a closer relationship with the EU. Brexit is over and the fight for what comes after has started.

🌳☀️🍃 📍 Hampstead Heath

Reporting by @sangernyt.bsky.social and others in the @nytimes.com reveals what drove the Trump administration to push for a ceasefire: India striking Pakistani air bases. Strikes that could have been interpreted by Pakistan’s military as climbing the nuclear escalation ladder.

An excellent @chathamhouse.org podcast this week on the current crisis between India and Pakistan 🇮🇳 🇵🇰.

Whether India's military strike remains ‘non-escalatory’ will depend on Pakistan’s response. The situation remains precarious amid the risk of accidental escalation.

My Chatham House colleague @chietigj.bsky.social on India’s military action against Pakistan and the risk of escalation in South Asia.

Reuters is reporting intense shelling is now underway between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.

India strikes nine sites in Pakistan weeks after Kashmir militant attack – live

India has launched air strikes against Pakistan.

"The wave of dismissals may mean that Xi cannot fully trust what his military advisers tell him about China’s readiness for war. General He Weidong’s case, in particular, raises doubts regarding Taiwan."

"Although the civilian government in Islamabad has denied involvement, there is precedent for attacks on India taking place during periods when the Pakistani military feels it is being marginalized."

The rhetoric from both India and Pakistan has skyrocketed today in response to the attacks in Kashmir. It’s not inevitable but it’s difficult to see how there isn’t an Indian military response now. In 2019, this saw India launching air strikes against groups inside Pakistan.