Commentary

Against a backdrop of increasingly complex global security dynamics, intensifying strategic competition among major powers, and mounting pressures on multilateral arms control and disarmament mechanisms, the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled at the UN headquarters in New York from April 27 to May 22, carries particular significance.

Conflicts in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz have thrown the global aviation industry into a spiral of escalating fuel prices and declining travel demand, which is even predicted to continue after the conflict ends.

Over its history of more than 80 years, the United Nations has affirmed the enduring vitality of multilateralism, along with its role as a “beacon” guiding humanity towards peace and cooperation through turbulent times.

The US Senate has passed a budget bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol for the next three years. Clearing this significant legislative hurdle has brought relief to the US administration amid sustained pressure from the Democratic Party.

A silent but devastating humanitarian crisis is playing out along the world’s migration routes. According to the latest report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), around 8,000 people were killed or reported missing on global migration routes in 2025.

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar is moving swiftly to implement sweeping reforms, seeking to deliver on his pledge to usher in “a new era” for the Central European nation.

Recent developments in the Middle East, particularly those involving Iran, have raised concerns that the era of cheap oil may be drawing to a close. In response, the energy policies of many countries are shifting towards proactive adaptation to a new price and risk environment.

In the past, military exercises were often associated with images of formidable armed forces deployed alongside an array of advanced weaponry. Today, however, an increasing number of drills are conducted in front of computer screens. Locked Shields, the world’s largest cyber defence exercise, recently organised by NATO, is a case in point. The objective remains the protection of national security, but on a different battlefield—one without gunfire, yet no less intense.

Disarming the Islamist movement Hamas, bringing Israel’s military operations to an end, and securing a full withdrawal are considered key prerequisites for a peace plan in the Gaza Strip. However, the parties’ failure to adhere to the roadmap has left the daunting challenge of restoring peace to the narrow Mediterranean enclave unresolved.

After more than 80 years of formation and development, the United Nations has achieved remarkable accomplishments in its efforts to fulfil its mission of maintaining peace and security and building a more just and better world for all humanity.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will be fully implemented across Europe’s passport-free Schengen Area from April 10, marking a historic turning point in border management.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route, are causing a sharp decline in global oil flows. Major Gulf oil producers are considering diverting exports through alternative routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, while the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+) have agreed to increase production quotas to alleviate supply pressure on the oil market.

With strategic rivalry sharpening and global tensions running high, Russia-US relations have shown tentative signs of recalibration. Recent developments not only reveal a possible shift in the trajectory of ties but also raise the prospect of dialogue between the two powers in the period ahead.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is facing a range of challenges stemming from differing approaches among its members in dealing with several international “hotspots”. A recent statement by US President Donald Trump on the possibility of the US withdrawing from the alliance has further exposed internal rifts within the organisation.

The world is in a fragile state in which the breach of any “red line” in ongoing conflicts could ignite instability on a global scale. In such a context, diplomacy and dialogue are the only viable paths to creating necessary pauses that help ease tensions, keep situations under control, and seek sustainable solutions for peace and development.

The “bottleneck” in the Strait of Hormuz is shaking the global economy, with millions of barrels of oil disappearing from the market every day. Beyond energy prices, the shock is rapidly spreading to supply chains, inflation, and global growth, raising the risk of a crisis that could be worse than the COVID-19 pandemic.

After months of delay, the European Parliament (EP) has finally given the green light to a trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the US, albeit with a number of conditions attached.

Sixty-six members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have adopted an e-commerce agreement, establishing a legal framework to facilitate faster and more seamless online transactions.

The conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of easing. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, numerous oil and gas facilities in the region have suspended operations, and countries are scrambling to secure alternative supplies, tap into strategic reserves, and even resort to improvised measures to stabilise their domestic energy markets.

Escalating conflict in the Middle East has caused immeasurable human and material losses, leaving regional security hanging by a thread and triggering large-scale, unsafe irregular migration flows. As a result, Europe once again finds itself on edge.