On the new @crisisgroup.org War & Peace podcast, @lisamusiol.bsky.social and I talk through what Washington's European friends and allies are doing about & learning from the US/Israel war against Iran. With the US lately giving new meaning to "entangling alliances" it's a timely conversation 1/2

NEW EPISODE | War & Peace This week, @olyaoliker.bsky.social speaks with @lisamusiol.bsky.social about how the EU and European NATO members have responded to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and what it reveals about EU foreign policy and its constraints. www.crisisgroup.org/pod/europe/e...

Haiti’s plight is not solely due to its poverty and the ascent of hyper-violent gangs and their livestreaming bosses. The country’s dysfunctional politics have systematically impeded efforts to check the waves of violence. ✍️ @diegodarin.bsky.social & @renatasegura.bsky.social

🚨 New from @hrw.org: #Hungary’s New Government Needs to Restore Rule of Law Suspend Sovereignty Protection Office; End Rule by Decree; Restore Assembly Rights

📅 14 April 2026, 17:00 – 18:00 Is Europe about to make a strategic mistake on climate? In this launch webinar, Jan Dusík, Mats Engström, and Alberto Rizzi will discuss the new ECFR policy brief “The electric endgame: Europe’s clean path out of vassalage". More here: https://bit.ly/4mhFPwl

As @crisisgroup.org predicted, control of the Strait of Hormuz was a key sticking point in this weekend's U.S.-Iran talks. Read our take on the clashing proposals for the Strait's future 👇 www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

From Haiti to Gaza to Iran, the Trump administration has driven its agenda through the U.N. Security Council with striking ease. As Richard Gowan writes, member states fear the alternative may be that Trump walks away from the institution altogether.

As @crisisgroup.org predicted, control of the Strait of Hormuz was a key sticking point in this weekend's U.S.-Iran talks. Read our take on the clashing proposals for the Strait's future 👇 www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

“The dirty secret about imposter syndrome is that the only people who don’t have it are the people who should have it.”

The future of the Strait of Hormuz looks like one of the biggest sticking points in diplomacy between the US and Iran. The implications for the global economy are huge. @crisisgroup.org explains what's at stake and competing proposals for opening the Strait. www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

NEW Q&A | With a Fragile Ceasefire under Threat, What Future for the Strait of Hormuz? The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran prompted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As a ceasefire takes hold, we explain what could come next. www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

The future of the Strait of Hormuz looks like one of the biggest sticking points in diplomacy between the US and Iran. The implications for the global economy are huge. @crisisgroup.org explains what's at stake and competing proposals for opening the Strait. www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

After six weeks of war, the U.S. and Iran have announced a ceasefire. An important question remains. What will happen now in the Strait of Hormuz after its closure sparked economic crises in countries near and far? We explain in our new Q&A. www.crisisgroup.org/qna/global/i...

The world must not lose sight of other hotspots even as they focus on war in the Middle East. Myanmar is one of them. @crisisgroup.org looks at why Rakhine state could prove pivotal in shaping the civil war. crisisgroup.org/visual-expla...

"It is very clear that a lot of governments around the world no longer believe that they can put their faith in international law and international institutions. What we’re seeing at the moment is a scramble for security worldwide..." I talk to @ibanews.bsky.social. www.ibanet.org/The-UN-the-i...

🗓 21 April 2026 | ⏰ 17:00–18:00 (CEST) 💻 Online The global order is shifting—fast. But what comes next? What does that mean for Europe? Join our webinar with Anthony Dworkin, Julia Leininger & Richard Gowan, chaired by Jana Puglierin. More info and registration here: https://bit.ly/4tB0z4x

I talk about why the UNSC veto mechanism may be a necessary evil - but lack of UNSC reform may ultimately doom the UN. fpif.org/the-gaza-str...

I talk about why the UNSC veto mechanism may be a necessary evil - but lack of UNSC reform may ultimately doom the UN. fpif.org/the-gaza-str...

QUNO in Geneva is #NowHiring Programme Assistants for the 2026-2027 term! This opportunity introduces emerging professionals to work within the UN system and the guidance of Quaker values. Apply by 8 May: https://quno.org/newsroom/applications-are-now-open-for-2026-programme-assistants-in-geneva/

"I think the administration has not really convinced most other UN members that it has a plan to make the UN deliver on conflict prevention and diplomacy again." www.ipsnews.net/2026/04/us-a...

“It’s very important for a lot of countries, even in this sort of very turbulent time, to at least have the sort of shield of UN authority for engaging in the use of force,” said Richard Gowan, an expert on the UN at the International Crisis Group. financialpost.com/pmn/business...

As Easter beckons we now have the Tortoise Jesus.

Major new briefing from @crisisgroup.org today.

This happens quite a lot to me too (also seeing more AI-generated quotes from "me" in news stories). In a few cases the AI-generated article titles are so good, I feel I should just write an article to make them real.

"In the Gulf States, there is shock that a strategy is absent in the U.S. In the words of a Saudi royal family member: 'We are surprised, Trump is surprised.' Iran said it was going to do this." Yasmine Farouk, Project Director, Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, on the ongoing war in the Middle East.

As someone who gives a lot of quotes, this is objectively a good quote (viewed solely on its merits as a quote - not my policy area!). A quote people will requote.

That the veto mechanism is the essential foundation of the UN Security Council (a lot of experts/practitioners would hotly deny this, but deep down they know it is true).

NEW ANALYST NOTEBOOK | Chad Joins the New Force Taking up the Fight against Haiti’s Gangs Crisis Group experts Fulbert Ngodji and @diegodarin.bsky.social assess the reasons behind N’Djamena’s move and the prospects of success for the new mission. www.crisisgroup.org/anb/africa/c...

Old: Sending money to the Board of Peace GOLD: Sending money to @crisisgroup.org, which does much the same thing, and actually knows what it talking about. www.crisisgroup.org/donate

Hit the ➕ button, and subscribe to my latest analysis: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/...

I'll join @ForeignPolicy's @RaviReports on Mon to discuss the one-month record of the Iran War and the path ahead. foreignpolicy.com/live/ali-vae...

Now you tell us.

My latest in @justsecurity.org

Trump May Not Need a ‘Board of Peace.’ He Has the UN Under His Thumb Me @wpr.bsky.social. www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trump-board-...

The bulk of U.N. member states are so nervous about Trump walking away from the global body that they give Washington near-free rein, Richard Gowan writes.

Most U.N. member states are so keen to stay on Washington’s good side that they give Trump an easy ride in New York, @richardgowan1.bsky.social writes.

This is bleak from @richardgowan1.bsky.social. All the more reason to avoid the SC and go to the GA. Altho I do wish the SC would do a bit more to weigh up the harm of the SC becoming Trump's rubber stamp over that of Trump walking away www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trump-board-...

Trump May Not Need a ‘Board of Peace.’ He Has the UN Under His Thumb Me @wpr.bsky.social. www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trump-board-...

How have Latin American countries responded to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran? Do not miss my colleague @richardgowan1.bsky.social's commentary tracking global reactions to the new war in the Middle East 👇 www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

President Trump is asking the rest of the world to help out in the Strait of Hormuz. But what does the rest of the world think about the war with Iran? @crisisgroup.org takes stock 👇 www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

President Trump is asking the rest of the world to help out in the Strait of Hormuz. But what does the rest of the world think about the war with Iran? @crisisgroup.org takes stock 👇 www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

From International Crisis Group, "Conflict and Consequences: The Global Impact of the New Middle East War". https://www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-east-north-africa/iran-israelpalestine-united-states-global/conflict-and-consequences-global-impact-new-middle-east-war

“🇺🇸has not thought this through. It’s not aware of the long tail of events, about how short-term victories, even if they are achievable — & at this point in the conflict, I’m not even sure of that — sometimes come back to haunt you down the road.” @alivaez.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/o...

In short: everyone is hedging like a mofo.

Over the last two weeks, @crisisgroup.org has been assessing global responses to the Iran war. Here is our survey of what the world thinks about the war. www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

I was just disinvited from the Air War College where I’d been asked to lecture on my book, which is a history of U.S. civil-military relations.

NEW COMMENTARY | The Global Impact of the New Middle East War The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is approaching its second week with no end yet in sight. Our experts offer a 360-degree view of its impact around the world. www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

Over the last two weeks, @crisisgroup.org has been assessing global responses to the Iran war. Here is our survey of what the world thinks about the war. www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

Spread the word in your networks, #AcademicSky. This is a great opportunity for an early career foreign/defence policy researcher to work at a top UK think tank and publish pieces under their own name.

I tell @bostonglobe.com that "it looks like the Trump administration deliberately uses diplomacy as a distraction and as a tool to keep people dangling while preparing for war." www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/06/o...