In the years following the Cold War, the global security landscape was relatively stable, largely defined by the dominance of Western powers and multilateral institutions that facilitated international cooperation. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the expansion of the European Union, and the rise of China as a global economic power seemed to confirm the idea that a liberal international order, underpinned by democratic values, free trade, and collective security, was the way forward. Yet, as we enter the third decade of the 21st century, the world finds itself facing a period of profound geopolitical upheaval, one that challenges the assumptions of the post-Cold War era and raises critical questions…