EDITORIAL

Bouzemouri Achraf
(RIEAS Senior Analyst based in Morocco)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 March 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Re-search Institute for European and American Studies

When Donald Trump revived the language of a “war on drugs,” he did more than repackage an old American policy framework. He reframed narcotrafficking as an external invasion, one that justified border fortification, economic pressure, and even the rhetorical possibility of designat-ing cartels as terrorist organizations, the term narcoterrorism. While Washington speaks of in-vasion, the geography of the drug trade tells a different story. ... Read more

Riaan Eksteen, Ph.D.
(Research Associate, Department of Political Studies and Governance, Faculty: The Humanities, University of the Free State, South Africa)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 March 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

BRICS members pose critical geopolitical and geo-economic challenges to the dominance of Western institutions. BRICS is essential in the Global South's endeavor to reform the Western-centric global order. The notion of multipolarity is more prevalent, especially as the BRICS states spearhead the creation of a more varied and inclusive global framework that enhances economic prospects and diminishes dependence on Western countries and institutions. ... Read more

Demetrios Tsailas (ret Admiral)
(He has taught for many years, operational planning, strategy, and security, to senior officers at the Supreme Joint War College. He is a member and researcher of the Institute for National and International Security)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 23 February 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Turkey has transformed its engagement with Africa from marginal diplomacy into a structured, multi-domain strategy of geopolitical projection. This article argues that Ankara’s African policy constitutes a deliberate middle-power expansion model integrating statecraft, economic penetration, religious diplomacy, defense exports, and security partnerships.... Read more

Shaul Shay
(Senior research fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya and former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 23 February 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo on February 4, 2026 was a turning point in bilateral relations. During the visit, President Erdogan and President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi witnessed the signing of 18 agreements in the fields of defense, tourism, health, and agriculture.[ Doaa El Bey, Reinforcing Egyptian-Turkish relations, Ahram online, February 11, 2026.] Foremost among the agreements was a Military Framework Agreement signed by Egypt’s Minister of Defense, General Abdel Megeed Saqr, and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.[ Egypt, Turkey enter new era of military cooperation with joint production of ‘Hamza’ drones, Egypt independent, February 6, 2026.].., Read more

Efi Gana
(Analyst at the Epoch Times in Greece)

Copyright: @ 2026 theepochtimes.gr - RIEAS posted the English version (www.rieas.gr)- Publication date: 14 February 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

The court ruling against CK Hutchison exposes the U.S.–China strategic confrontation and the limits of Chinese influence
Panama’s Supreme Court has annulled the concession contracts for two pivotal ports of the Panama Canal—Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristóbal on the Atlantic—both of which were under the control of Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of the Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison group.

The court ruled that the laws under which the port concessions had been granted were unconstitutional, effectively ending decades of Chinese-linked involvement at the gateways of the world’s most strategic maritime route.... Read more

Demetrios Tsailas (ret Admiral)
(He has taught for many years, operational planning, strategy, and security, to senior officers at the Supreme Joint War College. He is a member and researcher of the Institute for National and International Security)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 7 February 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Introduction

The fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has profoundly reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Levant. Among the regional actors, Turkey is frequently described as the principal beneficiary of this transformation. While Ankara has indeed gained strategic depth in Syria, this perception of Turkey as the “great winner” risks oversimplifying a far more complex reality. Turkey’s influence is real but constrained, and its post-Assad role must be assessed through the prism of regional instability, economic fragility, and evolving great-power competition.... Read more