The war in the Middle East is occurring at a decisive moment, when the European Union faces growing internal criticism of its climate policies. This is reflected in calls from national governments and industry leaders to increase pressure on Europe’s emissions trading system, or even to reduce carbon emission targets for new vehicles. Thus, the rise in oil and gas prices since the beginning of the war against Iran on February 28, 2026 represents a significant risk to the prog

The invitation extended by U.S. President Donald Trump to the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to attend the 2026 G20 carries a well-crafted geopolitical rationale. The rise of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on the international stage reflects a central aspiration for Central Asia to be more than merely a chess piece in the game of great powers—particularly as both countries present themselves as a “bridge” between Russia and the West, and as an energy and logistics hub lin