China’s growing ties with Serbia point to new ‘Silk Curtain’ in Europe
August 20th, 2025
Via Nikkei Asia, a look at Beijing’s expanded Balkan presence, with Washington focused on Ukraine: Southeast of the “Iron Curtain” famously described by Winston Churchill in 1946, a new group of China-friendly nations is forming a north-south line that runs through the heart of Eurasia. While this “Silk Curtain” — which runs from Hungary in […]
Read more »Orbán Turns To China To Boost Recession-Hit Hungary
November 23rd, 2024
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an article on Hungary, which has captured more than a quarter of Chinese capital flowing into Europe since 2022: Viktor Orbán has turned Hungary into the main home for Chinese capital in Europe, capturing more than a quarter of all Chinese investment coming into the continent over the past two […]
Read more »What Does Hungary’s Viktor Orban Want in Africa?
September 24th, 2024
Via Foreign Policy, an article on Hungary’s leader’s argument that sending troops to Chad will slow migration, but he seems to be seeking security partnerships in exchange for lucrative minerals: Hungary is set to deploy about 200 troops to Chad, ostensibly in an effort to fight terrorism and curb illegal migration to Europe. Hungary, a member […]
Read more »Near-Shoring Is Turning Eastern Europe Into The New China
September 20th, 2024
Via The Economist, a report on how near-shoring is turning eastern Europe into the new China: The european union has tried hard lately to restrict Chinese imports. Yet this summer China made it easier to import one European product: Polish poultry. The gesture was economically insignificant. But it is part of a broader push by China […]
Read more »The Winners From U.S.-China Decoupling
July 15th, 2024
Via Foreign Policy, a report on how – from Malaysia to Mexico – some countries are gearing up to benefit from economic fragmentation: A full decoupling of the Chinese and Western economies could be a costly proposition. The International Monetary Fund estimates that it could shave around 7 percent off global GDP in the longer term, […]
Read more »China’s Billions Help Xi Make Useful Friends in Eastern Europe
May 8th, 2024
Courtesy of Bloomberg, a report on China’s growing business relationships with Serbia and Hungary: It’s 10 a.m. and the high-speed train leaves Belgrade’s new, glass-and-steel station right on time. Thirty-six minutes later it pulls into Serbia’s northern city of Novi Sad, the first completed section of a 350 kilometer-long (217 mile) upgrade going up to […]
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.