If peace talks fail, approximately 120,000 Russian soldiers are mobilized near Ukraine, with tens of thousands more ready to deploy into combat. But a Russian attempt to seize and hold territory will not necessarily be easy and will likely be impacted by challenges from weather, urban combat, command and control, logistics, and the morale of Russian troops and the Ukrainian population.

SOURCE: "Russia’s Possible Invasion of Ukraine" by Philip G. Wasielewski and CSIS's Seth G. Jones.

The transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources will depend on critical minerals, and by value this market could top $400 billion by 2050, exceeding the value of all the coal extracted in 2020. Helping this system emerge, and safeguarding it, is a major objective for the United States.

SOURCE: "Safeguarding Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition" by CSIS's Nikos Tsafos.

As the wealthiest and most powerful countries advance boosters and the vaccination of children, low- and middle-income countries face a 3 billion dose vaccine gap in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

SOURCE: "2022 Is the Year of Decision" by J. Stephen Morrison.

Estimates suggest as many as 20 to 40 Chinese private security companies (PSCs) are operating abroad in some 40 countries, In the context of increasing threats to Chinese infrastructure and Chinese nationals overseas and the Chinese government’s unwillingness to deploy the People’s Liberation Army abroad, PSCs are a well-positioned tool for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to project power abroad.

SOURCE: A Stealth Industry: The Quiet Expansion of Chinese Private Security Companies by CSIS's Adjunct Fellow Max Markusen.