Author Archive

Playing Catch-up? West-China Competition in the Global South

Via Geopolitical Monitor, a report on West-China competition in the Global South: How does the West stand in the ‘Cold War 2’ contest with China for allies in the Global South? The straightforward answer is: poorly. Why? China decided to instrumentalize its overseas reserves in 2013 by announcing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and putting […]

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The Horn Of Africa States: The Region Can Do Better

Via Eurasia Review, commentary on the Horn Of Africa States: The Horn of Africa States region commands the major waterway, which connects the Indian ocean to the Suez Canal including the chokepoint of Bab El Mandab Straits. It is a troubled region, which neighbors the economically rising West Asian states of the Saudi Arabia, Qatar, […]

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Why Barrick Gold Remains Interested in Pakistan’s Reko Diq Reserves

Courtesy of The Diplomat, a report on Barrick Gold’s interest in the rugged terrain, sandy expanses, and arid deserts of Chagai, under which lies one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold and copper reserves: During his meeting in March with a delegation from the Barrick Gold Corporation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the controversial Reko Diq project. In […]

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How Big Is CCP Inc.?

Courtesy of Foreign Policy, a look at China’s sovereign funds: One of the enduring mysteries of China’s economic rise is why the country’s extended engagement with Western capitalism and democracy didn’t diminish the role of the state and lead to greater political and economic liberalization. After all, dictatorships in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and other countries […]

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Mongolia’s Precarious Energy Security

Courtesy of The Diplomat, a report on Mongolia’s energy security, which needs to be viewed holistically, as a function of its economy, environment, and geopolitical situation: Mongolia sits in a unique position where its energy situation is deeply intertwined with both its economy, which is mostly driven by raw material exports, and its geographic location between […]

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Presidential Candidate Discloses Tehran’s Controversial Contract With China

Via Iran Wire, an article on a controversial Chinese contract with Iran: Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran and a presidential candidate, revealed details of a controversial municipal contract with China during the ongoing election debates This announcement comes despite his previous insistence on the confidentiality and security of the contract, to the extent that […]

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ABOUT
WILDCATS AND BLACK SHEEP
Wildcats & Black Sheep is a personal interest blog dedicated to the identification and evaluation of maverick investment opportunities arising in frontier - and, what some may consider to be, “rogue” or “black sheep” - markets around the world.

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.