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John Calabrese

John Calabrese

The National Interest

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Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?

Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?

Iraq has pursued friendly relations with many countries who are themselves at odds. The strategy has lots of upside for war-torn Iraq – but holds...

21.07.2026 5

The Conversation

John Calabrese

The ‘navalization’ of economic warfare sees trade routes become zones of force rather than rules

With the declining power of financial sanctions, many countries are now physically boarding ships to enforce scattershot rules of trade, conflict and...

06.07.2026 10

The Conversation

John Calabrese

Beyond the Malacca Dilemma: China’s Emerging Corridor-Hedging Logic

China’s approach to external connectivity recognizes that different trade routes perform different functions under different political and...

16.06.2026 10

The Diplomat

John Calabrese

The Hormuz Crisis and China’s Energy Security Dilemma

While Beijing has sought to diversify suppliers, expand storage capacity, and build alternative transport corridors, its energy security ultimately...

12.05.2026 20

The Diplomat

John Calabrese

How China Is Positioning Itself Ahead of the Trump–Xi Summit

Beijing is working subtly to shape the regional environment ahead of the meeting – and take advantage of Washington’s focus on the Iran war.

16.04.2026 20

The Diplomat

John Calabrese

Shockwaves Across Asia: The Iran War’s Strategic Fallout

From energy disruptions to alliance tensions, a geographically distant conflict is having immediate consequences across the Indo-Pacific.

13.03.2026 30

The Diplomat

John Calabrese

Arming a Kurdish insurgency would be a risky endeavor – for both the US and Iran’s minority Kurds

Washington has long worked with Kurdish groups in the Middle East. But without sufficient support, encouraging Iranian Kurds into an uprising now...

07.03.2026 20

The Conversation

John Calabrese

China’s muted response over war in Iran reflects Beijing’s delicate calculus as a concerned onlooker

Beijing has denounced US-Israeli action in Iran, but has not rushed to come to the aid of its regional ally.

06.03.2026 20

The Conversation

John Calabrese

India-US Rift Boosts the Gulf’s Oil Leverage

The spat over India’s imports of Russian oil will echo in global markets – and Gulf producers are looking to benefit.

10.09.2025 30

The Diplomat

John Calabrese

The Gulf States’ Middle Power Ascent

02.08.2025 30

The National Interest

John Calabrese