What Actually Mattered This Week: Iran Launches Hundreds of Missiles at Israel

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WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERED THIS WEEK

Iran gambles with Israel attack after humiliating blows to allies

Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel this week to avenge the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC Quds Force operations commander Brig-Gen Abbas Nilforoushan.

Most missiles were struck down in a sound defeated by the United States, Israel, and allies. But that doesn’t mean Israel won’t respond accordingly.

The last month has been a repeated demonstration of Israeli military dominance in the region: offense and defense, intelligence, and technology.

Israel—and specifically Prime Minister Netanyahu—is in a stronger geopolitical position today than has been in months and will be interested in seizing the moment to reduce Iranian threats.

The Biden administration’s hope for restraint remains the same, with little ability to influence the outcome.

Muted mics and politeness - takeaways from the VP debate

Republican VP hopeful JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz took the stage for the last debate of the election cycle.

The most shocking part of the debate was the civility shown between the two candidates.

As to be expected, polls show viewers mostly saw the “winner” as the candidate they were already rooting for.

Not that this debate matters very much, but I think Vance came out ahead.

New NATO chief Rutte reaffirms support for Ukraine on Kyiv trip

NATO has a new sheriff in town. Mark Rutte has taken the reigns as secretary general.

Rutte visited Kyiv on his first official trip, saying “Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before and it will continue along this path until it secures NATO membership.”

Reality check: That’s not the view of all NATO countries. Not yet, at least.

Claudia Sheinbaum sworn in as Mexico's first female president in historic inauguration

Flying under the news radar this week: the former mayor of Mexico City becoming the first female and the first person of Jewish heritage elected to the country’s highest office.

Mexico is ready for a female head of state, but is the United States?

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TRUTHS, DAMNED TRUTHS, AND STATISTICS

A reminder of where Israel is fighting in its multi-front war:

-BBC

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THE GZERO WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN

THE GRAPHIC TRUTH

YOUR GZERO WORLD

Technology in Ukraine is transforming the battlefield in real-time. How will it change the US national security strategy? And could what's happening in Ukraine shift China’s President Xi Jinping’s future plans in Taiwan?? Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral?James Stravridis?joins me on “GZERO World” to talk about how technology is creating a “new triad” of warfare, i.e., unmanned systems, cyber and artificial intelligence, and special forces.

Modern conflict no longer requires huge standing armies to fight effectively; just look at Ukraine’s success in the Black Sea. Smaller militaries are increasingly using drones, satellites, and unmanned systems against larger armies. Stavridis says Taiwan is a “resistance fighter’s dream” because of its geography and resources. Plus, it manufactures about half of the world’s computer chips, which China relies on for its technology infrastructure. But Stavridis also warns the same technology is empowering malefactors and terrorist groups, creating dangerous asymmetrical warfare.

“The US will continue to be the preeminent nation at projecting power. China will make a play to do it. Russia, the lights are going to go out,” the Admiral says, “But it’s acts of terrorism and the ability to use weapons of mass disruption, that’s what you need to worry about.”

For a longer, wider-ranging version of my interview check out the GZERO World podcast.

WORLD IN 60

Will?there be political fallout in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene?

What were the big takeaways from President Xi's speech celebrating the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China?

As Japan's new Prime Minister assembles his government, how will he set himself apart from former PM, Kishida?

Find out in this week’s World in 60 Seconds!

DIG DEEPER: GZERO DAILY BY IAN BREMMER

Hezbollah’s downfall exposes Iran’s weakness and reshapes the Middle East

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah didn’t just deal a crushing blow to the once-fearsome Lebanese militia, it also marked a pivotal shift in the region’s balance of power.

Israel is now pressing its advantage with a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon. Let me break it down for you.

Do you like what you’ve seen??Sign up for GZERO Daily by Ian Bremmer

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BECAUSE THE INTERNET

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WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK

A Capital Calamity by Fred Kaplan

Watch the classic film "Dr. Strangelove"?today, and you’ll likely feel nostalgia rather than the satirical chill Stanley Kubrick intended. For an updated formula of that cocktail of biting humor and existential dread, get a copy of Fred Kaplan’s new novel A Capital Calamity.?

DEEP THOUGHTS

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford

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Thanks for reading!?Please subscribe to GZERO Daily for coverage of global politics. And make sure to read my latest book?The Power of Crisis?for a roadmap of this decade's great crises and how they might help us build a better world.

I am president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and foreign affairs columnist at TIME. I currently teach at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and previously was a professor at New York University. You can follow me on?X, Threads,?Facebook, and?Instagram.