News

Why is Turkey Blocking NATO's Enlargement?
By David L. Phillips
Thursday, May 19, 2022

The application of Sweden and Finland to join NATO is historic. Their membership will broaden the circle of NATO members with a democratic government and send a strong message to Vladimir Putin about Russia’s autocracy and aggression against Ukraine. Turkey is, however, threatening to block NATO enlargement. 

NO PLACE TO HIDE: “UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION” CAN HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE
By David L. Phillips
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
“Operation Olive Branch” was a cross-border operation launched by the Turkish armed forces and their jihadi mercenaries in January 2018. The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) committed obscene war crimes and crimes against humanity, targeting Kurds and Christian communities. It beheaded Kurds, raped and mutilated the bodies of Kurdish women, cutting off their breasts and posing for selfies with their body parts. 
Federalism in Iran
By David L. Phillips
Thursday, April 14, 2022

Iranian Kurds support a federal, democratic republic for Iran, to advance reforms and catalyze Iran’s integration into the international community. However, US officials refuse to even meet with Iranian Kurdish leaders. They fear that their support for minorities would provoke the regime and undermine efforts to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Obama-era nuclear accord that released frozen assets in exchange for a verifiable suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities.

Russia's Actions in Ukraine: Genocide or War Crimes?
By David L. Phillips
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deplored “genocide” while visiting Bucha, whose streets were littered with dead civilians. While Joe Biden refers to Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal”, he does not describe Russia’s killing of civilians as “genocide.” No matter the label, Putin has targeted civilians and violated the Geneva Conventions. Russia’s actions require a stronger accountability mechanism, punishing the perpetrator and deterring comparable crimes in the future. 
RUSSIA’S FOOTPRINT IN SUDAN
By Nada A. Fadul & David L. Phillips
Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Competition during the Cold War gave countries a stark choice. Join reform movements or align with authoritarian kleptocratic governments. Today, Sudan is a new frontline for Great Power competition. Russia backed the military coup of October 25, 2021, that killed scores of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators. Alternatively, the US supports the forces of freedom and change. Other African countries are gauging events in Sudan to determine whether they will align with US-backed reforms or the Russian-inspired military dictatorship.

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