The escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran has made the breakdown of the Iran nuclear deal seem to be a foregone conclusion. Even at this late stage, however, the accord can still be saved if the EU is willing to abandon its policy of passivity.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement is all but dead. In order to minimize the risk of a new arms race, the EU should strengthen its efforts to include China in the dialogue on arms control.
The international community and local warring parties have made important progress towards achieving peace in Yemen in the last few months. The US should actively support this positive momentum by investing its resources in local peacebuilding efforts.
Hypersonic technology, largely viewed as a threat to national security, could balance the capabilities of nuclear weapons states and restore deterrence to a pre-missile defense proliferation state. In light of the recent US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, states should pursue multilateral regulation of hypersonic technology. Improved detection systems are needed for functioning deterrence.
The rise of great and regional powers is changing the power structure of the international system. In order to best maintain peace and stability in this new multipolar era, a multilateral approach through the United Nations that promotes cooperation and collective solutions to geopolitical challenges should be embraced.
To counter Russian actions of destabilization and deter future incursion into Eastern Europe, NATO should enhance its eastern flank military capabilities and increase the presence of conventional troops in the Baltics. The EU should simultaneously expand and extend its sanctions on Russia for illegal actions in Ukraine in 2014.