A number of political, social and economic factors tend to put the brakes on the urge to widen a war or escalate a conflict. So far, the world has been lucky with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the provocative assassination of a Hamas leader. The dog didn’t bark in the night — at least not yet.

The political turmoil in Bangladesh offers governance lessons for the Global South and serves as a cautionary tale for developing nations pursuing reforms. And as key partners like India, China, and the U.S. re-engage with Dhaka, they should consider broadening their relationships beyond the ruling party.

The Philippines latest round of talks with the U.S. seems to give the impression of a strong shift toward alignment with American interests, but closer examination reveals a pragmatic approach by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to playing the U.S. against overtures from neighboring China.

Ukraine’s advance into Russian territory may pose new risks, including escalation of the war and further complication of the peace process. The aim may be to create a “land-for-land” negotiation in the future, but this may not work. Peace cannot be achieved as long as one side believes it can win. It only happens when one of the warring parties is exhausted.

The emerging defense pact with the United States, will be a decisive moment for Saudi Arabia and for broader Middle Eastern politics. Until it is ratified, the kingdom will likely strive to maintain defense partnerships with both the U.S. and China.

Tokyo has questioned the reliability of U.S. nuclear protection and has put the issue high on the agenda. Lasting peace in East Asia, however, cannot be achieved simply through nuclear power. The way forward is to focus on common security efforts and include all parties in the discussion.

The resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a major inflection point. Whether or not this change will bring stability or worsen the situation depends on how the new government under Muhammad Yunus performs and fulfills public expectations.

A provocative inauguration speech by Taiwan’s leader produced no new crisis, and risks in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have been decreasing. However, there are still many differences and deficiencies as China-U.S. relations move forward.

Many people in the West tend to view the expansion of China’s influence in the Middle East through the lens of great power rivalry. China rejects this concept, and its diplomatic efforts have helped to prevent the escalation of regional crises.

The organization has become an instrument of U.S. hegemony that creates confrontation. The NATO Declaration’s statements about China are loaded with bias, stigma and provocation at a time when the world really needs a force for peace and stability.