The Unlikely Revival Of A Great Middle Eastern Railroad
March 15th, 2025
Via Noema, a report on how a railroad that once linked Damascus to Medina, its tracks and stations now crumbling into the desert or destroyed by treasure hunters, could help stitch a fragmented region back together: In the center of this city in southern Syria is a long, rectangular warehouse constructed of black basalt. It […]
Read more »Turkey’s Return To Africa
March 11th, 2025
Via Foreign Policy Research Institute, a look at Turkey’s return to Africa: What Does Turkey Want in Africa? Turkey is not the largest power interested in Africa. Its economic engagement, arms sales, and foreign aid are dwarfed by one or more of the major powers. However, its position as a minor player is often a […]
Read more »Trump, Not Turkey, Likely to Decide Somaliland’s Fate
December 16th, 2024
Via Middle East – Told Slant substack, interesting analysis of Somaliland in light of the recent Turkish-brokered agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia: Somaliland Seen Critical to Containing Iranian, Chinese Expansion in the Red Sea Turkey last week announced it brokered an understanding between Ethiopia and Somalia, in a bid to turn down the heat on an […]
Read more »Will Turkiye Brokered Deal Between Ethiopia and Somalia Lower Tensions in the Horn?
December 13th, 2024
Via The Africa Report, an article on the Turkiye brokered deal between Ethiopia and Somalia: Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a joint declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia ‘focuses on the future, not the past’, describing it as the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between the neighbours. In a […]
Read more »Turkey Eyes Niger Mining Projects Amid Competition for Uranium
October 22nd, 2024
Via Bloomberg, an article on Turkey’s interest in Niger’s mining sector: Niger and Turkey sign provisional pact for mining exploration Junta revoked French, Canadian companies’ permits last year Turkey and Niger signed a provisional pact to boost cooperation in mining, a sign of closer ties between the countries as new powers jostle for access to […]
Read more »The Power of Names: Turkey’s Shift From Central Asia to Turkestan
October 15th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report on Ankara’s efforts to strengthen its bid for influence in the region by stressing historical and cultural ties: Turkey has decided to replace the term “Central Asia” with “Turkestan” in its national history curriculum. By using the term “Turkestan,” Turkey aims to realign itself with Central Asia while also evaluating the region […]
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.