Discourse,
‍with Direction.

This brief examines the governance implications of Keri Starmer’s resignation as UK Prime Minister, focusing less on the sequence of events than on their structural significance. It analyzes how Labour’s internal succession process, rather than a general election, will determine the next PM, and what this means for democratic accountability. The brief also assesses the practical risks an extended caretaker period poses to policy continuity in security, economics, and foreign affairs, alongside the deeper political forces, chiefly Reform UK’s rise, driving the UK’s broader pattern of leadership instability. It concludes by considering what the succession outcome signals for Labour’s direction ahead of the next general election.

This brief focuses on the critical role that NATO plays within foreign policy, laying out the organization’s history, structure, and beliefs and analyzing potential solutions to the current challenges it faces today.

In February 2026, U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran triggered a conflict in which Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz (a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil exports) using naval threats, drone swarms, and sea mines. This brief examines the standoff between U.S. demands for open, toll-free navigation under maritime law and Iran's claim to control the Strait and levy transit fees. It traces the conflict's roots to the 1979 Revolution, defines the core policy problem, and evaluates options ranging from military confrontation to diplomacy and a return to the status quo.