China’s BRI Adding Afghanistan?
May 16th, 2023
Via Al Arabiya, a report that China may extend BRI funding to Afghanistan for infrastructure projects: The Taliban agreed with China and Pakistan to extend the Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan, potentially drawing in billions of dollars to fund infrastructure projects in the sanctions-hit country. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Pakistani counterpart […]
Read more »Finally, Rich Countries Recognize Africa’s Right to Use Gas
May 15th, 2023
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, commentary on how Western-led blanket bans on gas finance stifle development, hurt climate goals, and reek of hypocrisy: In 2010, Mozambique discovered massive offshore natural gas reserves that promised to transform the country’s economy. Mozambique’s current GDP is around $15 billion; the government expects sales from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to […]
Read more »Mexican Gangs: Criminal Conglomerates
May 15th, 2023
Via The Economist, an article on the growing influence and scale of Mexican gangs: On May 3rd Mexico introduced a law applying strict controls on the import of chemicals used by Mexico’s gangs to make synthetic drugs. The law is backed by harsh criminal penalties. This is a striking move by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, […]
Read more »Sudan Conflict Delivers Fresh Blow To China’s African Lending Strategy
May 15th, 2023
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an article on how Beijing’s loans to Sudan are at risk just as Chinese lenders are hit by series of defaults across the continent: The conflict in Sudan has dealt a fresh blow to China’s strategy of financial engagement with Africa, putting at further risk loans from Beijing worth at […]
Read more »Turkmenistan Seeks to Become Gateway to the World for Landlocked States in Central Asia
May 15th, 2023
Via Window on Eurasia, a report on Turkmenistan’s desire to become a gateway for landlocked countries in Central Asia: During his visit to Dushanbe last week, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov said that his country, with its port on the Caspian Sea, should do everything in its power to serve as a gateway to the world […]
Read more »Washington Should Reconsider Its Economic Gameplan in Africa
May 15th, 2023
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, commentary on how China, India, and the Gulf countries have pursued a combination of trade and aid the United States can learn from: Under the Biden administration, the United States seems keen to reengage with Africa. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ethiopia and Niger in March. Later that […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.