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 […]
Read more »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, […]
Read more »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 […]
Read more »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 […]
Read more »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 […]
Read more »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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