War on the Rocks

What could the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz mean for trade and safety in the region?

Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains at levels before the Iran-US agreement, says the Kpler maritime tracking platform, but there are signs of recovery ahead of Friday's official reopening. Eight ships carrying raw materials transited the strait on Monday, and six on Tuesday, according to Kpler data updated Wednesday. The agreement was reached overnight Sunday. This rate is comparable to the previous week, which saw an average of eight transits per day

What are the different views on the impact of the US naval blockade on Iran's economy and security?

What does Donald Trump’s naval blockade of Iranian ports look like and can it achieve what the US president wants?

How should countries protect important water resources during conflicts?

Gulf nations are highly reliant on desalination for fresh water, and damage to the region’s hundreds of plants could render its major cities unlivable

What are the possible outcomes for the future of the war in Iran, and how might they affect the people there?

The New Food Powers: How China and Russia Are Filling America’s Retreat

In January 2025, when the Trump administration froze nearly all foreign aid, more than 1,000 emergency communal kitchens in Sudan shut down within weeks. Half a million displaced people lost access to clean water. Famine conditions that had been held at bay collapsed into crisis. Within months, Russian grain ships arrived in African ports and Chinese agricultural delegations expanded across the continent. Decisions made in Washington marked the end of seven decades of American dominance in hu...