My name is Nathaniel Ellis and I am a Political Risk Analyst here at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, having joined the organisation in January 2025. I hold an MA in Politics and International Relations from Keele University, where I explored a broad spectrum of topics including European politics, maritime security, and post-conflict development.
My research interests are centered on the intersection of emerging technologies and global security, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, space, and satellite capabilities. Through my work, I aim to contribute to the organisation in a positive way, and analyse key issues at the forefront of the international agenda.
Israel, White Phosphorus, and Allegations of International Humanitarian Law Violations
Renewed allegations of prohibited military conduct by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have emerged. Central among these is the controversial use of airburst white phosphorus munitions in civilian-populated areas of…
The Death of ‘El Mencho’ and the Rising Political Risks Across Mexico
On 22 February 2026, Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), in a military operation…
Xi Jinping’s Military Purge: Centralisation of Power, Institutional Risk, and Strategic Implications
The People’s Republic of China has witnessed an extraordinary upheaval at the top of its military leadership: General Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) - the…
When Allies Clash: The Saudi–UAE Rift and the Rising Political Risk in the Gulf
For much of the past decade, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been portrayed as the twin pillars of a new Gulf order: assertive, interventionist, and closely…
Russia–Ukraine War and the Fragility of Diplomacy
The Russia–Ukraine war, since the full‑scale invasion in February 2022, remains one of the most consequential geopolitical crises of the early 21st century. As combat endures into late 2025, recent…
The New Energy Cold War
As the UK pursues its green industrial future, control over critical minerals, processing capacity, and global supply chains is emerging as its greatest strategic challenge, with implications for industrial competitiveness,…
Nepal’s Generation Z Uprising
This article sheds light on the causes, consequences, and uncertain pathways in the aftermath of the recent uprising in Nepal. Earlier this month, Nepal experienced one of the most sudden…
Militarisation at Home: Trump’s National Guard Deployment to Chicago and Its Political Reverberations
The Trump administration's militarisation of law and order seems to many a necessary response to social deterioration, but does it lead to the backsliding of American democratic values? Trump, Crime,…
Russia–Azerbaijan Tensions: How the Caucasus Power Balance is Changing
Russia and Azerbaijan's relationship has long been a cautious balancing act that has been rooted in shared imperial legacies as well as Soviet legacy, but increasingly defined by competing interests.…