International Affairs and Global Strategy
International Affairs and Global Strategy is a peer reviewed journal published by IISTE. The journal publishes original papers at the forefront of international affairs, conflicts, trade, intenrational economics and development issues. The journal is published in both printed and online versions. The online version is free access and download. IISTE is a member of CrossRef. The DOI of the journal is: https://doi.org/10.7176/IAGS
The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE)
Logistics under Fire: Russia’s Supply Chain Response to Western Sanctions
Russia’s response to sweeping Western sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine illustrates how logistical constraints can be transformed into instruments of geopolitical power. Sanctions have reshaped the corridors, hubs, and alternative networks mobilized by Moscow to maintain the continuity of strategic flows despite increasing isolation. Routes through Central Asia, expanding hubs in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Arctic Northern Sea Route, operate as vectors of State resilience, enabling the circumvention of external pressure while reinforcing territorial and political ambitions. In parallel, gray markets, informal intermediaries, and an expanding “shadow fleet” sustain energy exports and industrial activity, yet generate structural vulnerabilities linked to opacity, safety risks, and dependence on opportunistic actors. This dynamic raises a core research question: how do Western sanctions reconfigure Russia’s logistics architecture, and to what extent do adaptive mechanisms—across formal, informal, and illicit channels—produce both resilience and systemic fragility within global supply chains? The article contends that Russia’s adjustments do not merely mitigate the effects of sanctions but actively reshape global trade patterns. By combining established corridors with shadow networks, Moscow secures short-term autonomy while accumulating long-term risks, demonstrating that logistics has become a central arena of contemporary geopolitical competition. Keywords: Geopolitics, gray markets, logistics, resilience, Russia, sanctions, shadow fleet, supply chains DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-01 Publication date: January 31st 2026
Implications of Russia-Ukraine War to Food Security in Africa: A Case Study of Djibouti and Tanzania
This qualitative research investigated the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on food security in Africa, focusing on Djibouti and Tanzania through interviews and document analysis. The objective was to assess the disruptions in essential imports from the conflicting nations and the adaptive capacities of these countries. Employing a qualitative methodology, data were collected from fifteen participants selected through purposive sampling. Key informant interviews and documentary analysis were utilized to gather information. Through qualitative content and thematic analysis, the study identified trends related to import dependency, policy responses, challenges to resilience, and the overall impact on food security. The findings revealed that both Djibouti and Tanzania are significantly dependent on imports for their cereal requirements, particularly wheat and maize sourced from Russia and Ukraine. The conflict led to disruptions in Black Sea exports, resulting in increased prices and potential shortages. Although initial panic subsided as governments implemented measures such as releasing reserves and reducing tariffs, structural limitations hindered long-term solutions. Djibouti's arable land is less than 1%, which restricts its ability to substitute imports. In contrast, Tanzania possesses greater agricultural potential; however, underdeveloped irrigation systems and low crop yields impede its resilience. International collaboration facilitated humanitarian and financial assistance, yet geopolitical complexities arising from the broader conflict delayed the establishment of coordinated strategies, thereby reducing effectiveness. The study concluded that the mixed short-term effectiveness of resource constraints was intensified by geopolitical instability, highlighting the need for regional contingency planning. Additionally, it was determined that vulnerabilities arising from agricultural deficits exacerbated the impacts, necessitating multi-level cooperation to address existing gaps. Keywords: Russia-Ukraine war, dependency, international trade, diplomacy, humanitarian aid. DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-02 Publication date: January 31st 2026
Uninvited Guests: Dissecting Treaty Shopping in Commercial Diplomacy
Commercial diplomacy plays a critical role in safeguarding a country’s national interest in the face of competing interests of other nations. In an interplay between the home State and the host State of commercial activities, the former need maximum protection for their investors, while the latter prefers to accord less protection to the foreign investors that could not lead them to cumbersome obligations. International investment agreements (IIAs) in general and bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in particular are the primary ways via which both home and host countries need to fairly position their competing interests in commercial diplomacy. It may, however, sometimes happen that foreign investors resort to treaty shopping, by which they require host countries to perform unintended obligations. Treaty shopping allows foreign investors to find some connecting factors with the third country BIT concluded with the host country, by disregarding the BIT their home country concluded with that specific host country to find more protection for their investments. is a very serious problem for the host countries. Against this backdrop, this article critically analyzes the approaches of dissecting treaty shopping in commercial diplomacy. Investment agreements are used as primary source of data while literatures and reports are relied upon as secondary source of data. The article identifies the magnitude of challenges faced especially by host countries in concluding and implementing investment agreements. It recommends States to be curious and properly utilize the art of negotiation in their commercial diplomacy. Keywords: bilateral investment treaties, commercial diplomacy, international investment agreements, treaty shopping DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-03 Publication date: January 31st 2026
Women, Peace, and Security in Practice: Integrating Gender into UN Peacekeeping Intelligence for Effective Civilian Protection
The protection of civilians (PoC) has become a central mandate of contemporary United Nations peacekeeping operations, supported by evolving doctrine, institutional reforms, and the growing institutionalization of peacekeeping intelligence (PKI) to enhance early warning, situational awareness, and preventive action. Despite these developments, UN missions continue to struggle to anticipate and prevent patterns of civilian harm, particularly sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other gendered forms of insecurity at the community level. Existing explanations often focus on political constraints, resource limitations, or technical deficiencies. This article argues that these factors alone cannot account for persistent protection gaps. Instead, failures in anticipatory action reflect gendered intelligence blind spots deeply embedded institutional norms and practices that shape how threats are defined, what information is collected, and which risks are considered actionable within intelligence cycles. Drawing on feminist security studies and critical intelligence scholarship, especially the work of J. Ann Tickner and Laura J. Shepherd, the article examines how gendered harms are systematically deprioritized within PKI processes. Using qualitative institutional document analysis of UN policy, doctrinal guidance, and mission evaluations, including the Department of Peace Operations guidelines on gender and intelligence, the study focuses on three multidimensional missions: United Nations Mission in South Sudan, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. The findings show persistent gaps between formal gender commitments and operational practice across the intelligence cycle. The article concludes that gender-responsive intelligence is not a peripheral component of the Women, Peace and Security agenda but a core operational capability essential for anticipatory protection, mission legitimacy, and effective civilian protection. Strengthening gender integration within PKI can enhance early warning, improve decision-making, and contribute to more proactive peacekeeping. Keywords: Peacekeeping Intelligence, Protection of Civilians, Gendered Blind Spots, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), UN Peacekeeping Operations DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-04 Publication date: April 30th 2026
The Role of Transboundary Community Social-Cultural Orientation on Terrorism Management Along the Southern Kenya-Somalia Border
The social-cultural orientation of the community along the southern Kenya-Somalia border and international terrorism have a very complex and multifaceted relationship. Terrorist recruitment and operations may be facilitated or hindered by social and cultural factors. This study sought to understand the role of transboundary community social-cultural orientation on terrorism management along the southern Kenya Somalia border. The study was conducted along the southern Kenya Somalia border because of high incidences of cross border terror attacks. Constructivism theory was adopted. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods was used. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews were used. A sample of 400 respondents was drawn from a population of 942,128 residing along the study area using Cluster, purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially while qualitative data were analyzed thematically in which concepts were identified and emerging themes generated and presented in narrative form. All ethical issues were observed. The study recommends that counterterrorism strategies should actively incorporate socio-cultural considerations. Engaging local leaders and utilizing cultural norms to foster trust can enhance cooperation between border communities and law enforcement, leading to improved information sharing and reduced terrorist attacks. Key Words: International Terrorism, border security, constructivism theory, Social-cultural orientation DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-05 Publication date: May 31st 2026
Strategic Escalation: Analysing the Iran Versus US-Israel Conflict, It’s Causes and Post-2026 Projections
The ever present “proxy-war” between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, routinely backed by the United States through sanctions and intelligence sharing, transited into a very direct, intense and lethal war in early 2026. Following the collapse of nuclear talks and a succession of regional skirmishes, a combined US-Israeli attack, “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted both the top leadership of Iran and the regime’s nuclear infrastructure. This paper takes a look at the probable causes of this shift. It also examines the current status of the operational environment and presents well thought out projections on the regional security arrangements. It argues that eventhough Iran’s central command has been significantly downgraded, it is highly likely that the conflict will evolve into a long drawn, devastating struggle with far reaching global economic consequences. The findings suggest that while the Iranian state possesses unique mechanisms for survival, rooted in historical tenacity, the decapitation of its spiritual and logistical centers create a structural vulnerability that threatens to fragment the Shia geopolitical axis. This paper concludes that the interplay between ancient identity and modern clerical authority remains the decisive factor in whether the nation consolidates or fractures in the face of systemic shocks. Keywords: Conflict, Nuclear, Escalation, Resilience, Geopolitical, Asymmetric, Strait of Hormuz, Blockade, Regime, Axis of Resistance DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/103-06 Publication date: May 31st 2026