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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University

@interpolaber.bsky.social
501 followers 64 following 507 posts

Highlighting the research, teaching and community activities of staff and students at the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University, on the west coast of Wales.

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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
New publication - our colleague @hannahhughes.bsky.social is a co-author on this paper, which quantifies the extent of engagement by different governments in the #IPCC approval process ⬇️
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
📣 Join us for the 2026 EH Carr Memorial Lecture on 8 October to hear @terezacapelos.bsky.social from @unisouthampton.bsky.social on the dangers to democracy from the politics of grievance. This is a public lecture that is free and open to all, and one that is not to be missed. ⬇️
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The examiners praised Assala's thesis for demonstrating exceptional knowledge and considerable command of a complex and fascinating subject. The thesis was supervised by Jan Ruzicka and @jgmaber.bsky.social. Now Assala is off to start a Post Doctoral Fellowship at Oxford.
A smiling man and woman stand against a white wall, next to a colourful print. In the foreground a champagne bottle and glasses sit on a wooden table.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Congratulations to Assala Khettache, who passed her PhD viva yesterday. Her thesis, “When the Mercenary Plays the Liberator: Wagner Group and the Weaponisation of Collective Moral Injury in Africa”, was examined by Sarah Jenkins (University of Galway) and Professor Berit Bliesemann de Guevara.
Three smiling women stand against a white wall between two colourful prints.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Other events included a panel of third year students offering advice to freshers, and receptions for new undergraduate and postgraduate students. The week ended with a panel of academic staff commenting on a topical and thought-provoking question, in conversation with our students.
Four university students sit on a stage in front of a big screen with a question displayed on it about the benefit of summer placementsA poster advertises a roundtable on the question of "A More Equal World? Inequality in International Politics"Four academic staff sit in a row behind a table on a stage, listening to one of them speaking to the audience (not visible in the photo)A wide angle shot of a large room in an academic building, with students sitting in rows of chairs and a group of academic staff sitting in a row behind a table on the stage
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Last week was welcome week - the first week of the new academic year, and it was filled with welcome and welcome back events and meetings. These included prize givings for returning second and third year students for excellent work carried out last academic year.
A smiling woman stands on a stage next to a large screen where a poster advertising a roundtable discussion is displayed.A smiling man stands next to a young woman, also smiling, who is holding a prize certificateA smiling man stands next to two young men, also smiling, who are holding prize certificatesA smiling man stands next to a serious looking young man who is holding a prize certificate
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Emeritus Professor Colin McInnes spoke to the Rotary Club in London on the International Day of Peace (21 September) on the topic of ‘Reasons to be Cheerful: The Prospects for Peace’.
A man wearing glasses and a suit stands at a lectern, speaking into a microphone in an elegant historic building
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🎉 Congratulations to Visiting Fellow Dr Ahmad Umar on the publication of his article, "Beyond 'Middle Power': Postcolonial Liminality and the Social Construction of Indonesia's Foreign Policy" in International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis" journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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Aberystwyth University @aberuni.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In a new article, Dr Jenny Mathers argues that Russia's parliamentary election campaign revealed ambivalence about the war in Ukraine, despite the result never being in doubt. 🖱️ tinyurl.com/5cdmevtw @jgmaber.bsky.social @interpolaber.bsky.social
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ritu Vij at the University of Aberdeen, describes Andrew's book as: ‘A path-breaking work that transforms our understanding of the modern world-system by demonstrating the logical connection between capital and the international’. For more details: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/capital-and-...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
Capital and the International
Capital and the International - On the Dialectic of Value and Sovereignty; An ambitious, cross-disciplinary exploration of global capital and the international state-system, which provides a bold new ...
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Congratulations to our colleague Dr Andrew Davenport, whose book, Capital and the International: On the Dialectic of Value and Sovereignty, is published today by Bristol University Press! 🎉🎉🎉
Cover of a book titled Capital and the International by Andrew Davenport
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The exhibition & conference explore cutting edge textile research through the overarching theme of ‘Material Intelligence’: the various ways textile knowledge critically manifests itself in relation to textile technology, textile thinking & textile practices www.textile-intersections.com/exhibition/
textile-intersections.com
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Last weekend a macrame model made by Professor Berit Bliesemann de Guevara was part of an exhibition in London. The model, which reflects on the research process of the (Un-)Stitching Gazes project in Colombia) was included in the Textile Intersections exhibition at Imperial College London.
A colourful piece of macrame hangs in a doorway
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Aberystwyth University @aberuni.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Dr Jenny Mathers from our Department of International Politics was interviewed by BBC World Service Newshour last night about Russia's parliamentary elections. 🎧 Listen from 34:30 - lnkd.in/efkwa2yH @jgmaber.bsky.social @interpolaber.bsky.social
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Llŷr's thesis was examined by Angharad Closs Stephens (Swansea University) and our own Anwen Elias. His thesis and the defence were thorough, thoughtful, well-argued, rigorous, engaging and original. Wonderful news for a wet Friday afternoon!
Three smiling people sit side by side. The one with the biggest smile has just passed his PhD viva. The other two are his examiners
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Many congratulations to Dr Llŷr ab Einion, the latest Interpol PhD student to pass his viva! His thesis, titled Grym a Chredoau mewn Cysylltiadau Rhynglywodraethol (Power and Beliefs in Intergovernmental Relations) was supervised by Elin Royles and Huw Lewis.
Three smiling people sit side by side. The one with the biggest smile has just passed his PhD viva. The other two are his supervisors
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Last week our Head of Department Dr Alistair Shepherd attended the annual conference of @uaces.bsky.social at Charles University in Prague, where he presented a paper titled "Twin Threats: European Strategic Autonomy and Strategic Culture in the Face of Trump and Putin" and chaired two panels.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Hannah argues that participation is the foundation for producing a shared knowledge base that in turn can facilitate collective action. Starting with participation reveals the importance of diverse stakeholders, diverse knowledges and perspectives and support to enable participation. 👏👏👏
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Congratulations to our colleague @hannahhughes.bsky.social on the publication of her policy brief for a United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) special forum on science-policy interfaces. In it, she examines the importance of participation. unu.edu/publication/...
unu.edu
Participation is the Fundamental Building Block in Science-Policy Interface Design
Meaningful participation is the foundation for building science-policy interfaces that produce shared knowledge and enable collective action.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Dr. Umar also presented his postdoctoral research on transregionalism in world politics. Dr. Hannah Hughes and Dr. Lewis Birley acted as discussants, and around 36 participants attended the forum online.
Four people sit at a table, two of whom have laptops in front of them. The screen behind the is showing the face of a woman who is joining online, and a column on the screen shows the interactions with online participants.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
On 9 September our colleague Dr. Ahmad Umar organised a hybrid seminar about Indo-Pacific Research, with a focus on European transregional engagement. The speakers included Professor Poppy S. Winanti from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, who presented her paper on EU-Indonesia trade relations.
Three people sit at a table. Two of them have laptops open in front of them and there is a large screen on the wall behind that, that shows a column of comments from online participants
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Our colleague Dr Anwen Elias was at the International Creative Research Methods Community Conference recently and enjoyed the novelty of finding arts and crafts materials on the tables as she and the other participants explored how creativity and play add value to research.
Craft materials are clustered on a black table, alongside a coffee cup and bottles of water
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Tomorrow! ⬇️
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James Vaughan @equusonthebuses.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Filling in a few gaps :) (from a lecture on CIA front operations on my propaganda module @interpolaber.bsky.social in semester 2 this coming academic year...)
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Join our Marie Sklodowska Curie postdoctoral fellow Dr Ahmad Umar for a seminar on Europe in Indo-Pacific: The Politics of Transregionalism on Wednesday, 9 September from 11:30am UK time. It's free, hybrid and open to the public - just scan the QR code below to register.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
And finally, a thought-provoking combination of climate change, conservation and prehistoric art. Enjoy the weekend! 5/5 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Artworks - Above and Below: The Battle to Save Britain's Prehistoric Art - BBC Sounds
Eleanor Barraclough explores the threat from climate change to our ancient creative past.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
This @secretsandspies.bsky.social podcast episode reveals the Cold War origins of GPS 4/5 www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfsM...
youtube.com
Little Blue Dot: GPS, National Security and the Cold War | Katherine Dunn
YouTube video by Secrets & Spies: Espionage | Global Issues
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
As the Andy Burnham settles into office, this @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast considers how prime ministers who take up the role mid term make that transition 3/5 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Mid-term prime ministers – Episode 3: Adjusting to the role | Institute for Government
In the final episode of our series, we explore lessons former mid-term transitions hold for Andy Burnham’s premiership – or future mid-term PMs.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Next, with the US mid term elections coming up in November, this podcast from Monocle Radio hosted by @andrewmueller.bsky.social considers splits within the Democratic Party and its prospects for victory in the autumn 2/5 monocle.com/radio/shows/...
monocle.com
The Democrats’ warring factions: Each have won battles but who will win the war?
The Democrats’ centrist and progressive wings have each claimed victories in the primary cycle. Is the Democratic Party on the...
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
It's Friday and time for a short 🧵with links to interesting things to read and listen to, to take you into the weekend. First, a piece about protests in India that focuses on women's political activism 1/5 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
theguardian.com
‘We are impatient’: meet the women protesting for change in India
From student organisers to a model-turned-activist, these women are risking their reputations – and sometimes their lives – to fight against injustice. Plus, actor Imran Khan recommends a classic film
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Aberystwyth University @aberuni.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
In a new article, Dr Jenny Mathers explains how declining public support for both the war and Vladimir Putin appears to have left the Russian leader increasingly unsettled. 🖱️ tinyurl.com/mr2anumt @jgmaber.bsky.social @interpolaber.bsky.social
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Jenny Mathers @jgmaber.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
My latest for @uk.theconversation.com is out, considering the signs that Russian officials are concerned about the potential for political disruption in the elections coming up in September theconversation.com/banning-the-...
theconversation.com
Banning the opposition, going on a listening tour: Putin’s worried about the coming election
Falling approval ratings for the war and for Putin himself seem to have rattled the Russian leader.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
We finish this week's thread with a link to the BBC Radio 4 programme The Briefing Room - the first of a two part programme on the UK government and immigration. Have a good weekend, everyone. 5/5 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, Part 1: How's the government doing on immigration?
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss small boats, asylum seekers and illegal migration.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Watch this in-depth discussion on @deutschewellerss.newsmast.social.ap.brid.gy of the economic, political and strategic significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to territory that is claimed by both Russia and Japan. 4/5 www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDbR...
youtube.com
Why did Putin just visit territory embroiled in decades-long Japan-Russia dispute? | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
For a thoughtful discussion on the wider political implications of the war in Iran, this podcast from New Lines Magazine 3/5 newlinesmag.com/podcast/the-...
newlinesmag.com
The Wars We’ve Learned To Live With
Journalist and humanitarian Arwa Damon joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the war in Iran, the collapse of the rules-based order and why we no longer feel affected by atrocity.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Next, an example of a European country that has pulled back from the far right - considering Hungary's political journey and the role that the country's new president looks likely to play in that process 2/5 www.thebulwark.com/p/what-does-...
thebulwark.com
What Does Hungary’s New President Mean for Its Post-Orbán Future?
Poetic justice: A judge once purged by Viktor Orbán will be the new head of state as the country works to dismantle the authoritarian system Orbán left behind.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
It's Friday and time for a short 🧵 of interesting things to read and listen to, to take you into the weekend. First, this piece in @uk.theconversation.com about culture as the basis of the appeal of the far right for well-educated youth in Europe 1/5 theconversation.com/culture-is-t...
theconversation.com
Culture is the far right’s secret weapon – and it’s winning over some of Europe’s most educated youth
Free movement does not automatically create a sense of belonging.
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Jenny Mathers @jgmaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
🎙️ Earlier today Professor Alessio Patalano (King's College London) and I spoke to Monocle Radio's The Briefing about the significance and implications of Putin's visit to islands claimed by both Russia and Japan. The segment starts 1 minute 30 seconds into the recording monocle.com/player/?uuid...
monocle.com
Monocle radio - listen now
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Proposals are invited and the deadline for submission is 13 September. More information is about the workshop is below, and here is the link to the conference website: www.ippapublicpolicy.org/conference/i... 2/2
ippapublicpolicy.org
IPPA - List of Panels
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
📣 Call for proposals Our colleague Berit Bliesemann de Guevara, together with Xymena Kurowska 7& Erzsebet Strausz (Central European University) are organising a workshop on Revitalising Interpretive International Relations for the Interpretive Policy Analysis conference in Budapest in January. 1/2
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
A Level Results day today - good luck, everyone! 🍀
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Listen to the interview with our colleague @jgmaber
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James Vaughan @equusonthebuses.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A life well-lived. Intrigued by the Cold War analyst role at the Foreign Office .. www.thejc.com/news/obituar...
thejc.com
Bletchley Park codebreaker Miriam Rodrigues-Pereira dies aged 104 - The Jewish Chronicle
She went on to become a Cold War analyst and a stalwart member of the Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community
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Jenny Mathers @jgmaber.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
🎙️ Yesterday I spoke to BBC Radio Scotland's lunchtime news programme about the latest in #Russia's war against #Ukraine. The interview starts 46 minutes into the recording www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Lunchtime Live - 11/08/2026 - BBC Sounds
News updates from Scotland and beyond, plus all your lunchtime sport, travel and weather.
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Good luck to everyone receiving their #ALevel results tomorrow - if you are looking for a place in Clearing, the @aberuni.bsky.social clearing hotline will be open all day 📞 0800 121 4080 and there are places available on many degree programmes, including in International Politics 🌎
A group of smiling students sit talking in a room with dark red walls
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
A classic Aber sunset courtesy of @guttmannaviva.bsky.social - have a great weekend, everyone!
The sun sets over Cardigan Bay, with the Aberystwyth war memorial silhouetted in the foreground
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
And finally, this @theguardian.com podcast episode focuses on the impact of this summer's heatwaves and asks why politicians in the UK have been slow to offer effective responses. Have a great weekend! 5/5 www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...
theguardian.com
Heatwave Britain: why are politicians so slow to act? – podcast
Jessica Elgot and Alexandra Topping examine why politicians seem to be so slow to respond to UK heatwaves
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This @newlinesmag.bsky.social podcast explores the role of mafias and crime in shaping politics and economics around the world 4/5 newlinesmag.com/podcast/how-...
newlinesmag.com
How Crime Built the Modern World
The historian Ryan Gingeras discusses the making of mafias from Sicily to Shanghai, what criminal networks reveal about hidden power, and his new book, “Mafia: A Global History.”
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This interview on Monocle Radio with the executive director of the Nobel Foundation sheds light on the operations of this famous organisation that highlights excellence in so many fields 3/5 monocle.com/radio/shows/...
monocle.com
Hanna Stjärne, The Nobel Foundation
The Nobel Foundation’s executive director tells us about its 125th anniversary, what it’s like to organise a peace prize in...
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Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University @interpolaber.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
From one war to another - this piece by @aljazeera.com explains why Republicans are increasingly critical of Pete Hegseth's handling of the US war against Iran 2/5 www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/...
aljazeera.com
Why are US Republicans losing faith in War Secretary Pete Hegseth?
The reasons for dissent are not unanimous, ranging from the war in Iran to an overhaul of military leadership.
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