The report argues that public procurement is a useful, yet bounded, governance instrument for middle powers dependent on foreign frontier AI. By embedding contractual guarantees—such as model access for evaluation and termination clauses—into state contracts, governments can mitigate risks like vendor lock-in and data sovereignty vulnerabilities. However, the analysis finds that individual state demand provides limited leverage; therefore, the key strategic recommendation is that middle powers must coordinate their procurement efforts. This collective action is necessary to aggregate demand, share evaluation capabilities, and strengthen their collective bargaining position against dominant AI providers.
Iran’s Second Front
English Summary
The Houthis have launched a major military offensive in Yemen, capturing critical strategic ports like Mokha and Perim Island, marking a significant shift in regional power. This escalation, which is viewed as an extension of Iranian influence, aims to establish Houthi control over the Bab el Mandeb Strait, thereby threatening global energy transit and opening a 'second front' in the broader Iran conflict. Because the anti-Houthi coalition remains militarily fragmented and lacks decisive external support, a purely military solution is unlikely. Consequently, external powers must prioritize containing the Houthi threat while the local partners urgently address their internal political divisions to prevent wider regional upheaval.
中文摘要
胡塞武装在也門發動了大規模的軍事攻勢，佔領了莫卡和佩里姆島等關鍵戰略港口，標誌著區域權力格局的重大轉變。此次升級被視為伊朗影響力的延伸，旨在建立胡塞對曼德海峽的控制，從而威脅全球能源運輸，並在更廣泛的伊朗衝突中開啟「第二戰線」。由於反胡塞聯盟在軍事上仍處於碎片化狀態，且缺乏決定性的外部支持，純粹的軍事解決方案可能性甚低。因此，外部大國必須將遏制胡塞威脅置於首位，同時本地合作夥伴也必須緊急處理其內部政治分歧，以防止局勢擴大為更廣泛的區域動盪。
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