Ilan Berman

The Kremlin is giving every sign that it is settling in for a protracted war of attrition against its western neighbor.

The country is in the throes of a serious economic crisis.

Between mid-March and mid-April, Israel's northern frontier experienced its worst spasm of instability in over a decade-and-a-half.

Independent journalists and outlets generally work collaboratively to tell the real story about what is happening in Ukraine and the very real impact of Russian government's excesses on ordinary people living in Russia's regions. Nevertheless, the journalists' status remains precarious.

For years, Israeli policymakers have preferred to take a backseat to U.S. policymakers in dealing with the threat posed by a nearly nuclear Islamic Republic. Recently, however, at least two factors have suggested that Jerusalem may not be willing to sit on the sidelines for much longer.

Speaking in Moscow earlier this month, a prominent Russian political figure provided a timely reminder of the Kremlin's enduring belief in the importance of shaping global opinion. "[I]nformation work today in the conditions in which we live and fight for our country is like a weapon of war," Alina Kabaeva opined at a televised gala before an audience of media professionals. "It is as important as the Kalashnikov rifle. Let's work."

While the persuasive power of Russian propaganda may be declining in the West, there are other parts of the world where it is still far from a spent force.

For more than three months now, ordinary Iranians from all walks of life have taken to the streets to vent their rage.

For decades, European officials have been the most ardent proponents of engagement with the Islamic Republic.

In his efforts to solve one problem—boosting morale and manpower for his Ukraine campaign—Vladimir Putin has managed to create another.

Throughout what is collectively known as the "Global South," China is now more popular than the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's war of choice—and the West's response to it—has ravaged the country.

One issue Biden didn't appear to discuss with Israeli officials was China.

The trajectory of the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth month, can be characterized by one word: patience.

The push for some sort of new deal with Iran has proven to be remarkably resilient, despite significant opposition at home.

At some point, Washington will indeed need to stand up a serious, transparent and bipartisan effort to counter the phenomenon. It's already clear, though, that the Biden administration's new board isn't it.

Russia's extensive propaganda machine, which has been so effective at fostering political tensions in the West in recent years, has at long last become the subject of sustained attention.

The role of domestic public opinion should not be underestimated, even in Russia.

In Washington, bad ideas never really go away.

The Syria "file" has dwindled in urgency for Team Biden.

Since it took office some seven months ago, the Biden administration has upended practically every aspect of its predecessor's approach to the region, with the 76 year U.S.-Saudi relationship one of the principal casualties.

Next week, President Joe Biden will meet with Vladimir Putin in Geneva for his first head-of-state summit with the Russian leader.

A third of a year into its tenure, the new White House appears to be pulling out all the stops in its efforts to reengage with Tehran, and to demolish the "maximum pressure" policy of its predecessor in the process.

Back in December, the Kingdom of Morocco became the fourth Arab nation to join the Abraham Accords when it agreed to begin normalizing relations with Israel.

Iran's domestic opposition is mobilizing.

Just weeks into its tenure, the Biden administration is already executing a profound pivot in the Middle East.

Iran exploited the benefits of the nuclear deal to improve its regional position and strategic capabilities.

Morocco's tolerant, inclusive interpretation of Islam has long stood in contrast to more extreme strains of the religion found elsewhere in the region.

Israel is putting Iran's nuclear scientists on notice that their chosen vocation could turn out to be downright hazardous to their health.

Biden and his top advisers have already signaled that they plan to take a substantially more accommodating tack toward Tehran.