Mercenaries of Influence: How Russian PMCs Redefined Power Projection
October 21st, 2024
Via Geopolitical Monitor, a report on the influence of Russian private military companies in Africa: Russian use of hard power has been displayed on the global stage for nearly 20 years. Since the invasion of Georgia in 2008 and subsequent invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s apparent tool of choice in foreign policy has been military […]
Read more »This $2.4 Billion Lithium Mine Is Caught Between Russia and the West
September 30th, 2024
Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, an article on U.S. suspicion that Rio Tinto’s project in Serbia has been hit by a Russian disinformation campaign: This summer, tens of thousands of protesters in Serbia took to the streets to oppose a proposed lithium mine. Fueling the protests: suspected Russian disinformation. Russia is likely playing a […]
Read more »Russia Approves Construction of Fuel Pipeline in Republic of Congo
September 23rd, 2024
Via The Moscow Times, a report on a new planned fuel pipeline in Republic of Congo: Russia has approved the construction of a petroleum product pipeline in the oil-rich Republic of Congo, as Moscow continues efforts to strengthen its influence in Africa. The project will involve a joint venture between Russian pipeline builder ZNGS Prometey, which will […]
Read more »A New “Quartet of Chaos”
September 23rd, 2024
Via The Economist, an article on the growing relationships between the rulers of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia: Antony Blinken, America’s secretary of state, was unusually blunt on a recent visit to Europe: “One of the reasons that [Vladimir] Putin is able to continue this aggression is because of the provision of support from […]
Read more »Pakistan and Russia’s Pivot to the Global South
September 22nd, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report on the noticeably increased engagement between Islamabad and Moscow” During the Cold War, Pakistan and Russia experienced icy relations. Pakistan was apprehensive of Russia’s closeness with India, while Moscow was apprehensive of Islamabad’s alliance with the West since the establishment of Pakistan and the simultaneous start of the Cold War. […]
Read more »Russia Is Riding an Anti-Colonial Wave Across Africa
September 15th, 2024
Russia’s anti-colonialism crusade in African countries is meant to advance its geopolitical agenda and may also be a ploy to “secure access to Africa’s vast natural resources,” Benjamin R. Young writes in Foreign Policy: In May, pro-independence demonstrations spread across New Caledonia, a small Pacific island territory that has been ruled by France since 1853. […]
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.