By agreeing to disarm, Hamas is trying to call Israel’s bluff in Gaza

The move may lead to more pressure on Israel to implement Trump’s 20-point plan, but both sides are likely to keep dragging out the process while avoiding any real commitments.

Expert comment

Published 3 August 2026 4 minute read

Riyadh’s argument to Washington is that a close partnership should not be contingent on membership of the Abraham Accords, when it is playing a growing role in regional security.

A surge of tens of thousands of migrants into Spain’s North African enclave strains relations with Morocco and EU members like Italy. It could seriously undermine the prime minister’s position.

In this week’s episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reshuffle means for Ukraine’s war strategy.

The UK government should treat adaptation to the effects of climate change as a core organizing principle of both economic policy at home and foreign policy.

The movement has tapped into dissatisfaction with employment opportunities and the economy. But it does not threaten a Gen Z revolution of the kind India’s neighbours have undergone.

Rachel Reeves and David Lammy on stage with Bronwen Maddox at Chatham House

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Research examines Iran’s domestic politics, social change, and prospects for economic reform, alongside Iran’s role in regional conflicts.

US global influence remains strong but is seen as being in decline - especially economically - as China, India and Russia begin to exert more influence.

It is widely accepted that NATO is the premier security organization in Europe, but its overall purpose in a post-cold war world remains contested.

Analysing China’s foreign, domestic and economic policy, bilateral relations, and its role in global governance, trade and the international order.

Examining how Ukraine can be best supported to end the Russian invasion, and successfully rebuild its society, infrastructure, and economy.

Research includes work on the ongoing peace process, Palestine’s accession to the ICC, and the constantly evolving situation in Gaza.

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Guests explore how the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC exposes tensions between ad hoc international health responses and local healthcare systems.

Russia’s parliamentary election result will be what the Kremlin wishes it to be. But it is an opportunity for Europe to communicate with a population that is feeling the effects of Putin’s war.

Drone attacks strike at the bargain between Russia’s state and business. But Russia’s business elites seem more dependent on the Kremlin than ever.

Recent air defence pledges won’t deliver interceptors for years. Europe could help now by providing fighter cover, or by delivering more offensive weapons. Will it act?

The country’s purchase of Russian air defences has prevented it from acquiring US F-35 fighter jets. The UAE could face similar issues if it purchases the systems.

Pyongyang’s account of the Korean War remains a fabrication. But its rapidly growing strategic leverage is dangerously real.

Washington and Beijing spent the week arguing about whose models we should use. But the week’s most important news was about what a model did.

The risk is a prolonged crisis, followed by a breakdown in maritime security cooperation and a widening conflict. But Houthi actions could be addressed by strengthening existing multinational efforts.

In this week’s episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss Andy Burnham’s first week in office as prime minister of the United Kingdom and the challenges that await him

A whole-of-value-chain approach can support a transition to a sustainable and equitable textile sector in which water-efficient and non-polluting practices are embedded and upheld.

Renewables and electrification could help the new prime minister deliver on his promise to distribute economic benefits across the UK.

Ana Yang gave evidence to the UK Parliament’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on 8 July, discussing the UK’s role in international climate policy.

Netanyahu’s government has presided over unprecedented failure and polarization. Yet the opposition still struggles to articulate a genuine alternative.

China wants to become more self-sufficient in food. This could make it easier to fight climate change and improve nutrition worldwide, but there are also risks to global food markets.

The dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov – the man behind Ukraine’s successful drone campaign against Russia – has sparked protests across Ukraine and turned into a political crisis for Zelenskyy.

The new prime minister can achieve significant results in Africa if he sets clear ambitions, strengthens the UK’s partnerships and implements a more joined-up approach.

Manufacturing is thriving while household spending is suffering. This seems to reflect a deliberate strategy by Beijing to maximize its geopolitical leverage. Growth suffers as a result.

Iran has survived war with the US by adapting its doctrine. The US must also change its thinking.

Libyan anti-corruption investigations reveal the limitations of a US push to reunify the country without improving governance.

The railway from Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia is a global focal point of the race for critical minerals. But the digitization of mineral supply chains will be crucial to achieving genuine economic transformation in the region.

In this week’s episode of Independent Thinking, our experts discuss how the expansion of presidential power could reshape American democracy.

Experts discuss the future of the Middle East, including what Iran will do next and whether Israel will exert its dominance.

The panel explored the key issues shaping European defence today in the face of hybrid threats from Russia.

The dramatic rise in private credit and its links points to a need for regulators to get ahead of the curve on monitoring systemic risk and protecting retail investors.

International law does not permit any country to appoint itself ‘guardian’ of other states’ rights and demand payment. The only realistic solution to the situation in the Strait is a return to negotiations.

Just the day after the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, the first session of Chatham House’s 2026 London Conference addressed the future of alliance.

The US–Mexico–Canada agreement now faces a decade of annual reviews. But the fact that the treaty will remain in place during negotiations is the most important outcome.

The recent London Climate Action Week revealed that while formal climate multilateralism remains under strain, climate diplomacy is becoming more diffused, implementation oriented and focused on delivering security.

The new presidents are part of a swing to the right in Latin American politics – but can they govern such divided societies?

Britain’s next prime minister faces major policy decisions on tech and AI. They should aim to strengthen the UK’s tech sovereignty by building the national strengths – and the alliances – that give a middle power leverage in a shifting order.

Upcoming events

Join us for the launch of the Chatham House Book Club with Francis Fukuyama, one of the most influential political thinkers of the twenty-first century.

Join this event to learn about the implications of a ceasefire for Ukraine, Europe, Russia - and global security.

All Chatham House members are invited to attend the Institute’s Annual General Meeting. A drinks reception will follow.

Join us for a drinks reception to mark the launch of Chatham House’s new Latin America Programme.

The third session in the US at 250 mini-series explores how checks and balances continue to shape American democracy.

To what extent do America’s values shape its foreign policy? Join this expert discussion, and final in the US at 250 mini-series, about the principles that should underpin US global leadership - and how they are perceived around the world. A drinks reception will follow.

Join policymakers, regulators, business leaders and academic experts to explore how competition policy frameworks are responding to changes in the geopolitical order.

Securing Europe’s strategic autonomy in a volatile world

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Understand how summit commitments on defence spending, innovation and industrial capacity can strengthen NATO’s future security posture.

Join us at Chatham House for the second in the US at 250 mini-series. This discussion assesses America’s struggle to balance independence, openness, and strategic competition in the global economy.

As the campaign enters its final stage, hear from analysts about what voters, investors and democratic groups should watch out for.

Discover how Ukraine plans to deliver elections and ensure an inclusive, democratic transition after the war with Russia.

Learn how the war with the US and Israel has affected Iran’s diplomacy, security outlook, and internal politics.

In an increasingly contested world order and with global threats to LGBTIQ+ rights, experts discuss a path forward for LGBTIQ+ rights and the rule of law in UK foreign policy. This panel discussion will be followed by a reception and networking.

Hear from mayors, governors and regional leaders driving climate action and resilience from the ground up.

As the debate continues in Brussels over how to defend infrastructure and strengthen energy independence, hear from experts on how Europe is facing up to this ongoing risk.

Leaders of the world’s foremost climate conference - COP - set out how environmental diplomacy can still deliver.

Join a fascinating discussion with the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator to assess a decade of change and the future of EU-UK relations.

How to bring credible elections, rule of law and economic recovery to Venezuela.

This panel discussion, held in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, assesses the potential impact of the African Credit Rating Agency on reducing borrowing costs and lowering barriers to financing for African countries.

As governments and multilateral institutions retreat, a new generation of advocates is reshaping the debate and proposing reform.

Experts clarify international humanitarian law and promote compliance by identifying practical measures for its effective implementation.

Learn what LinkedIn data reveals about AI, growth and workforce change.

Experts examine the tensions facing Armenian democracy, the election’s importance for the peace process with Azerbaijan, and the role of external actors, including Russia and the West.

Join us as HE John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, reflects on how Ghana is navigating an increasingly multipolar world while promoting African agency and regional stability.

This session explores the competing ideas shaping American foreign policy and how it will evolve in the years ahead. A reception will follow this event.

Fatih Birol assesses how Middle East tensions are reshaping global energy markets and economic stability.

Half day conference on the war-time recovery of Ukraine and necessary policies to support its long-term prosperity building on the experience and analysis of both Chatham House and the EBRD.

What can the African Union and regional bodies do to deliver durable peace in the Great Lakes?

Chatham House welcomes Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia, to draw on his experience managing the full arc of Australia’s complex foreign relations.

Join us for an expert panel exploring how the EU, the UK, the US, and Turkey can navigate great power competition in Central Asia and harness the region’s growing strategic and economic potential.

Premier Danielle Smith discusses Alberta’s vision for Canada’s role in the world at a moment of acute external pressure and internal debate.

Following the launch of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, the Register of Damage and the Claims Commission in The Hague, experts explore how a comprehensive transitional justice policy can bolster survivor support and global solidarity with Ukraine.

Join us at Chatham House to hear from UK and European parliamentarians and defence experts about how to improve defence cooperation between Britain and Europe.

The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee chaired by Lord Robertson joins us at Chatham House from 12:00 to 13:00 BST. The session will explore the future of UK-US relations, amid long‑term US policy shifts and recent political upheavals. The room is full, but you can watch online.

Experts assess how conflict in the Middle East is reshaping energy markets, driving Russia’s gains, and undermining the impact of Western sanctions.

Experts discuss who controls AI, and on whose terms.

In conversation with Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the most pressing humanitarian and conflict issues facing the United Nations today, and what role the UK can play.

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