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 »The East-West Battle for Serbia
October 11th, 2024
Via Real Clear Defense, commentary on the global interest in Serbia: Serbia, like Yugoslavia, before it, has long been a major prize in the East-West struggle for ascendancy in Europe. In this East-West rivalry there is no way to stop foreign influences from entering Serbia, at least not in the short-term, especially given its complex […]
Read more »Serbia Secures Winter Gas Supply and Expands Green Energy Cooperation with Azerbaijan
September 27th, 2024
Via CE Energy News, an article on Serbia’s growing energy cooperation with Azerbaijan: Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka ?edovi? Handanovi?, announced that the country will have secure access to about one million cubic metres of gas from Azerbaijan this winter, enhancing Serbia’s energy security. After a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, […]
Read more »Serbia’s Strongman Ruler Leans West With Lithium Deal
August 8th, 2024
Courtesy of The Financial Times, commentary on Russia’s displeasure with the latest sign that President Aleksandar Vu?i? is integrating his economy with Europe and the US: While the world was waiting eagerly to see if President Joe Biden would renounce his candidacy, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, almost unnoticed, was visiting Belgrade. Unheralded and arranged at short […]
Read more »Serbia Could Mine Lithium As Early As 2028
June 18th, 2024
Via Energy Daily, a report on Serbia’s lithium ambitions: President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia could exploit lithium as early as 2028 following new guarantees from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and the EU over the controversial project, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.According to Rio Tinto, Jadar in western Serbia holds one of Europe’s largest […]
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.