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Dr Patrick Mendis is a presidential advisor on national security education at the US Department of Defense—an appointment by the Biden White House with Congressional endorsement. He is a distinguished visiting professor of transatlantic relations at the University of Warsaw. The authors have recently returned from a study and lecture tour in Latin America and Antarctica. The opinions expressed in this article are their own and do not represent those of their governments or affiliated institutions.

Ancuța (Anna) Hansen is the director of Perseveras Consulting, based in Australia, and an international expert in democracy, foreign affairs, and international development. For over two decades, she has led programs that strengthen political and electoral processes, peacebuilding, and civic engagement in Africa, Central America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, and has authored and edited numerous articles and research reports.

Abolfazl Hosseini Nik holds an M.A. in Political Science from Kharazmi University, with a focus on geopolitics, geoeconomics, economic corridors, sustainable security, and sustainable development. His research and professional experience are centred on the Middle East region.

Tommaso Franco is a geopolitical analyst from Rome and a member of the IISS and Chatham House. A regular contributor to Limes, The European Sting, and Notiziegeopolitiche.net, he holds an MA in International Relations (European Studies) from Luiss University. Specialising in Asian friction points and human rights, Tommaso combines strategic intelligence with a deep commitment to underreported social realities.

Baffour Agyeman Prempeh Boakye is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. His research interests span democracy, US-Africa relations, and the politics of critical minerals. He can be reached at baffour@udel.edu 

Daria Blinova is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. Her research interests include broad topics related to authoritarianism, Russia, and environmental politics. She can be reached at blinovad@udel.edu

Mustafa Cem Koyuncu is Co-Founder of Bridge Turkey.

Tushar Joshi is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, focusing on the domestic drivers of Indian foreign policy toward China (2014–2024). His research examines how leadership perceptions, strategic culture, state-society relations, and domestic institutions shape India’s policy choices.  He is also a Research and Policy Officer at the Australia India Institute, and writes and speaks regularly on Indian foreign policy, particularly issues related to China and the Indo-Pacific.   His analysis has appeared in leading platforms, including The Hindu, The Australian Financial Review, Observer Research Foundation, The Strategist (ASPI), The Interpreter (Lowy Institute), and The Diplomat. Tushar has held research fellowships at the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi - India’s premier think tank - and at the Department of Political Science, Lund University (Sweden).

Kim Heriot-Darragh is a strategic and defence analyst. He joins AII following a 14-year career in government. While posted to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi (2019-23), he became the first Australian civilian to graduate India’s year-long National Defence College course. He previously served with the Australian government in Washington DC, and deployed as a civilian on military operations in Timor-Leste and Afghanistan. A former Indonesian linguist, he holds a Master of International Law.

Zahra Niazi is a Research Associate at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad.